Adelaide Crows draft eight new players into their AFLW team. Who are they?
The Crows have picked up eight new players in the AFLW draft, designed to complement the depth and experience that already exists in the premiership-winning side. Meet them here.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- What next for rampaging AFLW Crows?
- Gill fronts AFLW players in CBA fight
- ‘We are well prepared’: Matthew Clarke geared up for start date
- How to make the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
A teenage ruck star, a quick midfielder and a 38-year-old veteran of women’s football: the Crows have added height, speed and experience to the star-studded AFLW team with its eight picks in Tuesday’s AFLW Draft.
As widely anticipated, the reigning premiers picked up 182cm ruck Montana McKinnon with their first pick at No. 14.
Two-time South Adelaide premiership player McKinnon, 18, had to choose between attending her high school graduation and the draft, but was only too happy to head east and be at the Melbourne Showground, to receive her new Crows guernsey on stage from the club’s co-captain Chelsea Randall as the team’s only first-round pick.
Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
With the coveted No. 1 pick going to Northern Knights mid-forward Gabby Newton who was picked up by the Western Bulldogs, the Crows next picked up tall Norwood midfielder Najwa Allen, 25.
Originally from Canberra, Allen was taken in the second round with pick No. 37, and her midfield experience could help fill the void left by premiership player Hannah Martin who tore her ACL in July, with doubt also hanging over Erin Phillips and whether she will make it back from her knee rehab in time for the 2020 AFLW season.
Allen is also the reigning 2019 SANFLW best and fairest, and winner of the this year’s SANFLW Coaches Trophy.
She relocated from Canberra to Adelaide to play in the local competition entirely with the desire to play AFLW and it paid off.
“I moved here because I love footy and I wanted the chance to challenge myself at a higher level at SANFLW and now this has come about, it’s a pinch-yourself moment,” the personal trainer and exercise physiologist said.
In the third round of picks, South Adelaide’s Nicole Campbell was picked to join team-mate, McKinnon, with the Crows No. 46 selection, while Woodville-West Torrens’ midfielder Jaimi Tabb — known for her fierce tackling — was taken with pick No. 53.
The fourth round saw the Crows pick up Glenelg tall Caitlin Gould, (pick 68), who enjoyed a standout first season in the SANFLW, as well as former GWS Giant and women’s football veteran Courtney Gum (pick 83).
The club’s final two picks at 100 and 102, saw West Adelaide pair Madison Newman and Chelsea Biddell drafted into the AFLW.
She was given a scare when the draft was delayed just before the No. 100 pick due to a “technical difficulty”.
“I thought: ‘Of course this is happening to me’, but it sort of added to the drama I guess and made it that more special in a way waiting for that little bit longer.”
Newman has been playing alongside McKinnon this year for the Central Allies (a composite SA/NT team) in the under-18 national championships and praised the skills of her fellow draftee.
“She’s just an absolute champion,” Newman said. “She gives absolutely everything on the field. You just expect her to mark every ball you kick to her.
“She’s a really good talent and I think the Crows have done a pretty good job picking her at No. 1, it’s really exciting.”
Among the South Australian footballers to be picked up by other clubs were Lucy Bellinger (Glenelg to Brisbane), Hannah Dunn (Norwood to Gold Coast), Hannah Priest (Norwood to St Kilda), Brittany Perry (North Adelaide to Gold Coast), Cheyenne Hammond (South Adelaide to Gold Coast), Ebony O’Dea (Norwood to GWS to Collingwood), Tait Mackrill (Adelaide University to GWS) and Lisa Whiteley (South Adelaide to GWS).
Former Crows defender Talia Radan, who was a part of Adelaide’s inaugural premiership team in 2017, was picked up by West Coast after she’d spent time at Hawthorn in the VFLW.