Brisbane Lions AFLW draft choice Jesse Wardlaw a rising star of football after sporting childhood

Brisbane Lions AFLW draft choice Jesse Wardlaw is now a rising star of the football code, but her pathway in sport was not clear cut.

Brisbane Lions AFLW draft choice Jesse Wardlaw is now a rising star of the football code, but her pathway in sport was not clear cut.

The past student of Slacks Creek State School and then John Paul College, Wardlaw dabbled in many sports including cross country and basketball, netball and touch rugby before entering the Australian football fray.

She was a particularly outstanding player in netballer where she most recently played with Wildcats.

But John Paul College teacher Lisa O’Donnell, the wife of former Essendon star Gary O’Donnell, had already spied her athletictalent as a year 11 student.

Wardlaw learned her Australian football craft with Coorparoo before the Lions came knocking in November.

“We are so proud of everything Jesse has achieved in sport,’’ said her mother Toni.

“But being drafted into the Brisbane Lions at such a young age, and being relatively new to the game, is a true testamentof her determination and hard work.

“This is something she has been striving for since she started in the Met East school pathway program two years ago,’’ ToniWardlaw said.