LAST night 26 players were added onto AFL Women’s lists as part of the 2023 AFLW Supplementary Draft. In this article we take a look at a few of the Talking Points.

>> 2023 AFLW Supplementary Draft: Every Pick

WHICH PAST PLAYERS HAVE ENDED UP BACK ON LISTS?

From the very first pick that went as expected with Erin Hoare returning to the Geelong, there were seven past AFLW players who returned to the elite level. Like Hoare, Jasmin Stewart left the AFLW on her own volition but will return as a Power player after being selected at Pick 2.

Further down the order, ex-Eagle Katelyn Pope was picked up by Port Adelaide with Pick 12, while Selena Karlson found her third AFLW club after stints at Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. Beth Pinchin (St Kilda), Annise Bradfield (GWS GIANTS) and Yvonne Bonner (Adelaide) landed at their new clubs after previously playing at Brisbane, Gold Coast and GWS GIANTS respectively.

DRAFT BOLTERS?

South Fremantle’s Tahleah Mulder had quite the rise in a short space of time, with the midfielder/forward recruited to the Bulldogs after performing strongly in the Perth Football League. She immediately stepped up to the WAFL Women’s level, and while there might have been temptation to give her a full season before selecting her, Fremantle opted to grab Mulder without West Coast in the draft.

Similar to Mulder, Irish talent Joanne Cregg had quite the first season at Subiaco thus far, and was tipped to go in the draft to the Dockers. However like her new Dockers teammate, Cregg only had the four games at the level, so Fremantle has backed the former Gaelic star to continue that rise at AFLW level.

THE YOUNG AND THE OLD OF IT

There were just two 2004-born player taken in the Supplementary Draft, with one of those being Northern Knights co-captain Lulu Beatty. She was picked up by Carlton with Pick 5 after a best on ground performance for the Knights against Murray Bushrangers on the weekend. The other was GWS GIANTS recruit Caitlin Miller out of Southport and the Gold Coast Suns Academy. The only other teenager to be picked up was Norwood’s Georgie Jaques who went to Port Adelaide and does not turn 20 until October.

The oldest player picked up was the very first pick, with Erin Hoare going to the Cats. She was also the tallest selection taken, with the 194cm ruck returning to the Cats after a stint in the United Kingdom studying. Hoare will look to add to her 11 AFL Women’s game in Season Eight.

WHAT ABOUT THE PASSES?

Western Bulldogs passed twice during the Supplementary Draft, with those two picks set to be former Lion, Brianna McFarlane and former GIANT, Maggie Gorham. That leaves Gold Coast with the other selection to pick from those left over in the draft and perhaps did not nominate Queensland. The clubs have the next couple of days to confirm their selections.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE UNLUCKY ONES LEFT ON THE BOARD?

Collingwood VFLW midfielder and former Glenelg star Jessica Bates is at the top of the list, with the hope that a season at the black and whites might see her selected at the end of the year. North Adelaide ruck Isabelle Starmer was heavily linked to Port Adelaide, but the Power opted for Jaques, leaving the tall talent as available. Ex-AFL listed players such as Iilish Ross and Christina Bernardi also had links to clubs but did not find homes.