AFLW draft 2018: Eastern Ranges pair Emerson Woods and Mikala Cann shape as top picks
HAWTHORN premiership pair Emerson Woods and Mikala Cann appear set to be among the first AFLW draftees to roll off Eastern Ranges’ production line.
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HAWTHORN premiership pair Emerson Woods and Mikala Cann appear set to be among the first AFLW draftees to roll off Eastern Ranges’ production line.
Both are viewed as top prospects ahead of the third AFLW draft after playing in the Hawks’ VFLW grand final win over Geelong last month.
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Eastern Ranges coach Tom Humphrey said Cann could be one of the first names called out when the draft is held on October 23.
“I think Mikala and Emerson are certainties … Mikala possibly top 10 and Emerson in the top 20,” Tom Humphrey said.
“With Mikala’s form in the second half of the year with Hawthorn, she was probably their most dynamic inside mid with her tackling pressure.
“I think AFLW sides are desperate for that kind of pressure and she can put that on to get the ball on to the outside as quick as possible.”
Both attended the recent AFLW draft combine with Ranges teammate Charlotte Wilson, with Woods set a new record of 3.129 seconds for the 20m sprint.
Woods also logged top-three finishes in the yo-yo test, agility test and 2km time trial.
“Her pace, athletic prowess and her aerobic capacity is certainly going to put her at the forefront of teams,” Humphrey said.
Key defender Wilson, who was co-captain at Ranges this year and played five games at Southern Saints in 2018, also set a new benchmark for the standing vertical jump with a leap of 56cm.
“She has just outstanding leadership qualities,” Humphrey said.
“If a club was looking to build on their culture, then Charlotte is certainly a person you’d go for.”
Ruck Sarah Kendall is also tipped to be snapped up in the draft.
Kendall has spent the past two years at Eastern and played in Hawthorn’s semi-final win over Collingwood but missed out on grand final glory.
“In her last game at Vic Metro this year she played really well,” Humphrey said.
“She was outstanding in the ruck getting into the teens in possessions and entries inside 50.”
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