NOW the AFL Women’s Draft is done and dusted for another year, we look back at who each club selected, and summarise their drafts in three words, as well as have a brief look at what the clubs might have picked up yesterday.

ADELAIDE:

14. Montana McKinnon (South Adelaide)
37. Najwa Allen (Norwood)
46. Nicole Campbell (South Adelaide)
53. Jaimi Tabb (Woodville West Torrens)
68. Caitlin Gould (Glenelg)
83. Courtney Gum (South Adelaide)
100. Madison Newman (West Adelaide)
102. Chelsea Biddell (West Adelaide)

Three words: Height and experience

It is scary to think just how good this reigning premiers’ outfit could get and deserve to be premiership favourites to make it three flags in four years. Lose a ruck? Pick up the best one in the country. Lose an MVP to a long-term injury? Pick up another one. Need more midfield depth? Pluck the eyes out of the underrated SANFL Women’s competition. A remarkable haul, picking up some talls in Gould and Biddell as well as the incredibly talented McKinnon. Then going midfield depth with SANFL Women’s best and fairest Allen, as well as Campbell and Tabb, then All-Australian defender in Newman. Gum needs no introduction returning to the AFL Women’s. A few players were unlucky not to be picked too…

—

BRISBANE:

3. Lily Postlethwaite (Maroochydore)
15. Isabel Dawes (Maroochydore)
16. Catherine Svarc (Wilston Grange)
17. Hannah Hillman (Coorparoo)
20. Lucy Bellinger (Glenelg)
28. Tahlia Hickie (Coorparoo)
45. Selina Priest (Coolangatta-Tweed)
60. Dakota Davidson (University of Queensland)
75. Maria Moloney (University of Queensland)

Three words: Versatility the key

Picked up two of the best Under-18 available talents in Postlethwaite and Dawes who will provide a hard edge as well as slick skills and talent beyond their years. They opted for height, but versatile height with Tahlia Hickie able to play ruck but fill in up forward, while Bellinger can play a role at either end after her season in Glenelg. Add in the experienced Svarc, the highly rated Hillman, and then a couple of roughies late from the University of Queensland, and the Lions will have some genuine Round 1 starters from this haul.

—

CARLTON:

2. Lucy McEvoy (Geelong Falcons)
13. Grace Egan (Richmond VFLW)
26. Brooke Vernon (Dandenong)
36. Sharnie Whiting (Williamstown)
44. Serena Gibbs (Eastern Ranges)
52. Vaomua Laloifi (Western Bulldogs VFLW)
59. Courtney Jones (Southern Saints)

Three words: Strength and defence

Whether it was accidental or not – highly unlikely – every player Carlton picked has somewhat of a hard or aggressive edge to their game. All seven selections have strong bodies made for AFL Women’s football, the vast majority play in the defensive half. Vernon, Laloifi and Egan could slot straight into the back six. Whiting could play at either end, Jones the same as a smaller option, Gibbs can rotate through the ruck or be that tall forward chopping out Darcy Vescio and Tayla Harris, and then there’s McEvoy who can do anything on the football field.

—

COLLINGWOOD:

67. Kaila Bentvelzen (Casey Demons)
74. Jordan Membrey (Hawthorn VFLW)
82. Alana Porter (Oakleigh Chargers)
89. Ebony O’Dea (GWS Giants/Norwood)
94. Machaelia Donna Roberts (NT Thunder)

Three words: Need for speed

With the picks Collingwood had, it was always likely to be mature agers, and all bar one were just that. Bentveltzen can play up either end but performed strongest as a defender, while Membrey makes her way back onto the Collingwood list after being delisted. O’Dea rejoins the ranks after previously playing at the GIANTS and has been coached by incumbent leader Steve Symonds at Norwood, while Porter and Roberts provide much needed speed to the Magpies’ outfit and will add to the stronger bodies acquired over the last couple of seasons, including Bri Davey.

—

FREMANTLE:

12. Roxanne Roux (East Fremantle)
21. Mim Strom (Swan Districts)
35. Ann McMahon (East Fremantle)
51. Emma O’Driscoll (Swan Districts)
66. Sarah Garstone (Claremont)
81. Janelle Cuthbertson (Perth Angels)
85. Bianca Webb (Swan Districts)

Three words: Youth the priority

Snapped up the two highest rated top-age talents in Roux and Strom with their first two selections, then scooped up over-agers O’Driscoll and Garstone, as well as Webb late. It meant five of the Dockers’ picks were 18 or 19-year-olds giving them plenty to work with in the future. McMahon is highly rated over in Western Australia as a versatile midfielder, while Cuthbertson is the surprise packet, likely to provide a spark for the Dockers.

—

GEELONG:

11. Millie Brown – father-daughter selection (Murray Bushrangers)
34. Gemma Wright (Carlton VFLW)
50. Nicole Garner (Casey Demons)
65. Mia Skinner (Geelong Falcons)
80. Amy McDonald (Geelong VFLW)
98. Madison Maguire (Geelong VFLW)

Three words: Close ties important

With three players from the Geelong system – the VFL Women’s side and one of those from the Falcons – the Cats kept their local flavour alive in their selections. They had to pay up for Brown with their first pick, but the running defender was worth it. With the talented Skinner up the other end, the Cats looked to fill holes with experience, such as McDonald and Maguire, while Gemma Wright came in from Carlton, and Garner crossed the bay from Casey.

—

GOLD COAST:

18. Serene Watson (Bond University)
22. Hannah Dunn (Queanbeyan/Norwood)
38. Alexia Hamilton (Queanbeyan)
42. Brittany Perry (North Adelaide)
57. Cheyanne Hammond (South Adelaide)
69. Dee Heslop (Yeronga)
86. Jade Pregelj (Yeronga)
91. Georgia Breward (Coolangatta-Tweed)

Three words: Value for picks

If Mia King and Isabella Grant were rated as steals, then you have to consider Georgia Breward as one too. Highly rated junior coming off an ACL injury, she will be much better than her pick 91 suggests. The SUNS grabbed some great youth defensive talent in Heslop and Watson, the high-flying Hamilton who missed out last year after representing the Eastern Allies, and some experience from the SANFL Women’s in Dunn, Perry and Hammond. They are ready to compete from early on.

—

GWS:

4. Maggie Gorham (Belconnen)
23. Lisa Steane (Nelson Bay)
29. Annalyse Lister (Darebin Falcons)
61. Sarah Halvorsen (Newcastle City)
76. Emily Goodsir (East Coast Eagles)
90. Georgia Garnett (East Coast Eagles)
95. Tait Mackrill (UNSW Eastern Suburbs)
97. Rebecca Privitelli (UNSW Eastern Suburbs)
99. Lisa Whiteley (UNSW Eastern Suburbs)

Three words: Keeping it local

Like most years, the GIANTS always focus on the locals with obviously that being the accessible talent pool. It meant many of the players have represented the GWS GIANTS’ VFL Women’s side in Mackrill, Privitelli, Goodsir, Whiteley and Steane, while the speedy Gorham is highly rated and another Canberra player. Lister is the exception coming from Darebin, while Garnett is the highly rated youngster and future leader who is a steal at pick 90 – not that it matters given the standalone access to the draftees.

—

MELBOURNE:

54. Jacqueline Parry (Queanbeyan Tigers)
72. Brenna Tarrant (East Coast Eagles)
77. Gabrielle Colvin (Darebin Falcons)
78. Krstel Petrevski (Calder Cannons)

Three words: Nice defensive cover

The Demons picked out a number of surprise players with limited picks available, predominantly looking at the defensive end of the field. Tarrant is the pick of the Under-18 duo, named full-back in the All-Australian side hailing from New South Wales. Petrevski is the cousin of Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton and Brisbane’s Cedric Cox so has footballing blood in the family, and while still raw has plenty of upside as a skilful midfielder-defender. Colvin can also provide defensive support as a tall option, while looking up the other end, Parry was AFL Canberra’s leading goalkicker in a premiership side.

—

NORTH MELBOURNE:

10. Ellie Gavalas (Western Bulldogs VFLW)
32. Sarah Wright (Carlton VFLW)
49. Mia King (Launceston)
64. Tahni Nestor (Melbourne University)
79. Abbey Green (Launceston)

Three words: King 49? Unbelievable.

You will not find a greater steal in this draft than Mia King at pick 49. A clear first-round talent, the Kangaroos have access to King through the club’s link to Tasmania and to grab the All-Australian inside midfielder with 49 is remarkable. They sprung a surprise picking up experienced midfielder Gavalas at pick 10 to buck the trend of the first nine, then went for experience outside of King, with Carlton’s runner-up best and fairest winner Wright, one from their own backyard in former Blue, Nestor, and Launceston’s Green to add to the Tasmanian link.

—

RICHMOND:

7. Sophie Molan (GWV Rebels)
25. Laura McClelland (Eastern Ranges)
31. Ella Wood (GMV Rebels)
40. Sarah Sansonetti (Northern Knights)
43. Holly Whitford (Melbourne University)
55. Nekaela Butler (GWV Rebels)
58. Cleo Saxon-Jones (Western Jets)
71. Laura Bailey (Richmond VFLW)
73. Emma Horne (Eastern Ranges)
84. Kate Dempsey (Richmond VFLW)
87. Ciara Fitzgerald (Northern Knights)
93. Emily Harley (Oakleigh Chargers)
96. Lauren Tesoriero (Richmond VFLW)

Three words: Rebels, Tigers, Knights

A really underrated draft by the tigers, they just targeted all areas of the field. First they looked at young talent, then experienced heads, keeping players from the same clubs together to ease the introduction into the AFL Women’s. The trio of Rebels lead by Molan will be superb, Sansonetti provides great defensive cover, McClelland can play anywhere and Saxon-Jones is arguably the best contested mark from the Under 18s. Add in some of their highly rated Richmond VFL Women’s players – including Horne who joins McClelland at the Tigers, and remarkably, the recruiting manager in Tesoriero who is coming off an ACL injury. Whitford gets a second chance after being delisted by the Pies too.

—

ST KILDA:

5. Georgia Patrikios (Calder Cannons)
24. Rosie Dillon (Hawthorn VFLW)
27. Nicola Xenos (Oakleigh Chargers)
30. Tarni White (Coorparoo)
33. Tamara Luke (Hawthorn VFLW)
41. Hannah Priest (Norwood)
63. Pass

Three words: Speed and X-factor

This is going to be an exciting team, with St Kilda picking up one of the top three Victorians in Patrikios who will provide terrific outside ball use to compliment Dillon and the rest of the inside brigade, while Priest can play a multitude of roles in the defensive half. Xenos has that break-neck speed coming off half-back or on the wing, while White could be the pick of the bunch with the right development given her obvious talent as an Under 18s All-Australian at just 16-years-old. Luke will also add experience in the ruck for the new side.

—

WEST COAST:

19. Imahra Cameron (Swan Districts)
39. Sophie McDonald (Claremont)
56. Tarnee Tester (Subiaco)
70. Katherine Orme (Claremont)
92. Talia Radan (Hawthorn VFLW)
101. Chantella Perera (Hawthorn VFLW)

Three words: Defensive cover, check.

The defensive end was a clear target for the Eagles in this draft, picking up young cross-coding key defender Sophie McDonald – who they announced pre-draft they would select – as well as experienced tall Radan who crosses the Nullarbor for her third AFL Women’s opportunity, joined on the plane by Hawks’ teammate Perera. Tester is a highly rated goalkicker in Western Australia to break the trend, while Cameron provides that explosive pace and good skills to the team in the forward half. Outside of drafting your recruiter, your social media manager would be a close second in terms of remarkable stories, but experienced Orme can now have a more hands-on experience at training.

—

WESTERN BULLDOGS:

1. Gabby Newton (Northern Knights)
6. Nell Morris-Dalton (Northern Knights)
8. Gemma Lagioia (Oakleigh Chargers)
9. Elisabeth Georgostathis (Western Jets)
47. Isabella Grant – father-daughter selection (Western Jets)
48. Britney Gutknecht (Northern Knights)
62. Amelia Van Oosterwijck (Oakleigh Chargers)
88. Pass

Three words: Hello again, Burkey.

They were never going to lose in this draft, and the Bulldogs stuck to what they know, with little doubt new coach Nathan Burke having a massive say in the draftees. It is rare that a coach at the elite level has the chance to have coached every single draftee, but that is the situation for Burke, who picked up seven Vic Metro Under-18 players from his undefeated team this year. Newton is as versatile as they come, Gutknecht and Georgostathis provide versatility in their halves as well as a hard-edge on the inside, Lagioia has that outside speed along with Van Oosterwijck who is a unique prospect as a pure small forward. Morris-Dalton was a bolter in the draft but the Dogs did not want to take any chances, and she joins Grant inside 50, of whom the latter was picked up for relative peanuts considering her upside, and the benefit of having so many top-end picks and a massive gap to the next selection.