Harris, Centra most popular in ‘Dream Spine’ game
NUMBER one pick contenders Havana Harris and Ash Centra headlined the most nominations from their fellow peers in a new game we put to eight fellow AFLW Draft prospects. In ‘Dream Spine’, the eight players were asked to select two defenders, two midfielders, a ruck and two forwards.
Eight AFLW Draft prospects:
- Emma Juneja (Sydney University/NSW-ACT)
- Tatyana Perry (Palmerston Magpies/Northern Territory)
- Tara Harrington (Bond University/Queensland)
- Mackenzie Williams (North Hobart/Tasmania)
- Georgie Brisbane (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
- Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
- Claudia Wright (Claremont/Western Australia)
- Lou-Lou Field (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
Of the eight teams, Harris earned seven votes (six as a ruck, one as a forward) to be the most voted player among her small subset of peers. Centra also was named in a dual position with five midfield votes and one forward vote for a total of six.
While the pair were the most vote in there respective positions, the defence and forwardlines also had an outright nominee. Vic Metro defender Sienna Tallariti landed in five of the eight sides, polling two more votes than Glenelg’s Poppy Scholz, both of whom are among the best defenders in this year’s AFLW Draft.
Up the other end, Vic Metro forward Emma McDonald got the most popular nod with four votes ahead of AFLW Academy teammate India Rasheed, and Vic Country forward Claire Mahony. In midfield, the second position was also split with overall AFLW Under 18s MVP Sierra Grieves named three times, the same amount as West Australian speedster Zippy Fish.
In total, 23 players were named from the eight coaches to fill the seven spots. While just the three rucks were named – Harris, Zoe Besanko and Lilly Baker – the defence had the most variety with eight different players filling the 16 possible spots. The forwardline had nine players from the 16 spots, while the midfield had seven.
The other players to earn two nominations were defenders Grace Baba and Charlotte Riggs, midfielder Sarah Poustie, defender/midfielder Molly O’Hehir and midfielder/forward Sophie McKay.
FULL TEAMS:
Emma Juneja:
Defenders: Poppy Scholz (South Australia), Sienna Tallariti (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Zippy Fish (Western Australia), Sierra Grieves (Vic Metro)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: India Rasheed (South Australia), Emma McDonald (Vic Metro)
Tatyana Perry:
Defenders: Charlotte Riggs (South Australia), Grace Baba (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Zippy Fish (Western Australia), Molly O’Hehir (Western Australia)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: Georgia McKee (South Australia), Sophie McKay (Vic Metro)
Tara Harrington:
Defenders: Poppy Scholz (South Australia), Heidi Talbot (Queensland)
Midfielders: Ash Centra (Vic Country), Mia Salisbury (Queensland)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: India Rasheed (South Australia), Emma McDonald (Vic Metro)
Mackenzie Williams:
Defenders: Poppy Scholz (South Australia), Sienna Tallariti (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Zippy Fish (Western Australia), Sierra Grieves (Vic Metro)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: India Rasheed (South Australia), Ash Centra (Vic Country)
Georgie Brisbane:
Defenders: Grace Baba (Vic Metro), Sienna Tallariti (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Ash Centra (Vic Country), Sarah Poustie (Vic Metro)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: Georgia Knight (Vic Metro), Claire Mahony (Vic Country)
Holly Ridewood:
Defenders: Sienna Tallariti (Vic Metro), Daisy Flockart (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Sarah Poustie (Vic Metro), Ash Centra (Vic Country)
Ruck: Zoe Besanko (Vic Country)
Forwards: Claire Mahony (Vic Country), Emma McDonald (Vic Metro)
Claudia Wright:
Defenders: Charlotte Riggs (South Australia), Millie Lang (Vic Country)
Midfielders: Ash Centra (Vic Country), Sophie McKay (Vic Metro)
Ruck: Lilly Baker (Queensland)
Forwards: Havana Harris (Queensland), Emma McDonald (Vic Metro)
Lou-Lou Field:
Defenders: Molly O’Hehir (Western Australia), Sienna Tallariti (Vic Metro)
Midfielders: Ash Centra (Vic Country), Sierra Grieves (Vic Metro)
Ruck: Havana Harris (Queensland)
Forwards: Claire Mahony (Vic Country), Georgie Brisbane (Vic Metro)
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