Netball star Sharni Layton set to be latest AFLW code-hopper
SHARNI Layton is set to be the AFLW’s latest code-hopper, being chased by five clubs across Australia to pull on the boots in the 2019 season.
SHARNI Layton is set to be the AFLW’s latest code-hopper, being chased by five clubs across Australia to pull on the boots in the 2019 season.
The former netball star is set to turn into a star key defender and even ruckman in the AFLW after a glittering career for the Australian Diamonds.
Many AFLW officials expect her to eventually land at Collingwood, where she would join new Irish Gaelic footballer Sarah Rowe, who this week signed on as a Pies rookie.
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It would allow her to remain at the Holden Centre after this year retiring from the Magpies netball team after a long international career.
But she is being pursued by clubs across Australia and is yet to make an official announcement on where she plays.
Layton would be one of the most high-profile faces of the league along with former WNBA star Erin Phillips.
The league is looking for new marketable players with Melbourne’s star midfielder Daisy Pearce pregnant with twins and set to miss the third AFLW season.
The league announced a seven-week schedule for the 2019 season that will start on the weekend after Australia Day and cross over with the men’s AFL season.
Layton can be paid up to a tier-one salary ($22,000) but clubs can top that up with significant sums with their their official ASAs under the salary cap.
Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander told the Herald Sun last month she would be the perfect marketable package for the AFLW but would have to prepare for a full contact sport with new skills.
Layton, 30, retired from netball after representing Australia 46 times and winning two World Cups and Commonwealth Games gold.
The popular media performer has spoken openly about her battle with mental health, which saw her step out of international netball and seek professional help.
As a schoolgirl Layton helped take her team to the state championships as a footballer and kicks the ball well.
“I would have loved her to stay in netball. She is a netballer number one and I don’t want to underplay the skill required to play AFL,” Alexander said.
“But there are no issues with her athletic capability. It’s just working on the skills of the game. We had Erin Hoare who made a good transition across to the AFL as a ruck (with Melbourne). So there is no reason why she can’t.
“It will be entirely up to her. She would have to be ready for the collisions. Those sort of random collisions happen in netball too but she would need to put on a bit more lean muscle to cope with those collisions and impact injuries.”
Originally published as Netball star Sharni Layton set to be latest AFLW code-hopper