Crows select South Adelaide midfielder Nikki Gore with their first pick in AFLW draft
LAST week she finished Year 12. And on Tuesday South Adelaide midfielder Nikki Gore’s dream of becoming a professional footballer became a reality after being secured by the Crows as their top pick at the 2018 AFLW draft.
NIKKI Gore says all her hard work, dedication and determination has finally paid off after becoming one of six new Crows to fly into the AFLW nest.
The Crows secured the 17-year-old midfielder with their first pick — No. 8 — at the AFLW draft in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Gore took to the stage at Marvel Stadium and received her new guernsey from Adelaide co-captain Chelsea Randall.
Gore, who helped lead South Adelaide to the SANFLW premiership this year, was honoured to don the jumper of the club she grew up supporting.
“It was pretty incredible (and) it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it’s pretty awesome,” Gore said.
“All the hard work has paid off. It’s a dream come true. I’m a little emotional too, but it’s exciting times.
“It’s a privilege to receive the get the guernsey from Chelsea and I’m excited to see what’s to come.”
Gore gave up mainstream school at the end of Year 9 to study online to allow her more flexibility for training. She finished Year 12 last Friday and started a Certificate IV in Fitness on Monday.
Adelaide also selected former Australian and state basketball Jess Foley (Sturt), North Adelaide youngster Chloe Scheer, Katelyn Rosenzweig (North) Hannah Martin (West Adelaide) and the Northern Territory’s Danielle Ponter.
Ponter is the niece of Essendon legend Michael Long and first cousin of Hawthorn four-time premiership star Cyril Rioli.
Scheer, a forward/midfielder, won the SANFLW Star Search Award for the best player under-21 in 2017.
But she was forced to sit on the sidelines this year after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Modbury in the Adelaide Footy League women’s competition last July.
Scheer praised the Crows for showing faith in her after she had not played for about a year.
“Over the past 12 months I’ve been with the Crows and they have supported me with my rehab and physio sessions,” Scheer, 19, said.
“I’ve feel like family with the Crows.
“It’s amazing to get drafted, especially with Rosie (Katelyn) because we have been through state together.
“I told her as soon as I did my knee that one day we will get drafted together and now that it’s real, its unbelievable.”
Rosenzweig was equally as thrilled the two would be playing together.
“I cried just as much as she did when she tore her ACL,” she said.
“We were messaging each other during the draft. I was like: ‘It’s official, you play for the Crows’ and then at the next pick I said: ‘And, now so do I’.
“It’s pretty exciting stuff.”
Martin, the SANFLW’s reigning best and fairest winner, was looking forward to working with assistant coach, Peter Caven.
The 21-year-old, who grew up on the Yorke Peninsula, said it was a relief she was now teammates with Gore and Rosenzweig because it meant she no longer had to play against them.
“Training together, playing together will be an amazing experience,” she said.
Other South Australians picked at the AFLW draft were Brittany Perry, Ebony O’Dea and Lisa Whiteley who all went to Greater Western Sydney, as well as Jessica Edwards who was picked up by Carlton.
Perry, O’Dea and Whiteley join South Adelaide premiership coach Krissie Steen, who is an assistant at the Giants and ex-Panthers star Courtney Gum, who is also in their playing ranks.
Edwards captained North in its inaugural SANFLW campaign last year.
But she only lined up in a handful of games for the Roosters this year after moving to Melbourne to play with Collingwood’s VFL team.