Bulleen Boomers basketballer Lauren Pearce selected by Melbourne in inaugural AFL Women’s draft

THE meteoric rise of star sportswoman Lauren Pearce reached new heights today when she was drafted by Melbourne.

THE meteoric rise of star sportswoman Lauren Pearce reached new heights today when she was drafted by Melbourne.

The 23-year-old Bulleen Boomers basketballer, who has continued to play hoops while contesting her debut football season, was selected by the Demons with pick 25 in the historic first AFL Women’s draft.

An athletic, mobile ruck/forward, Pearce was part of Darebin’s VFL Women’s flag and represented Melbourne in two AFL exhibition games.

Pearce told Leader she felt thrilled and relieved when her name was read out this afternoon.

“I’m so happy. I feel so relieved because I really wanted to go to Melbourne and now we’re waiting to see who else will be in the team and where the other Darebin girls go,’’ she said.

“It’s been great combining sports. Footy is a different sport that I enjoy and I like doing new things and having this now to work on is awesome.

“I love footy now. I’m so, so glad I got into it. Once I did, getting drafted was my goal regardless of whether I’d been playing for 50 years or one.”

Lauren Pearce in action for Bulleen.

Basketballer Lauren Pearce will continue to juggle sports after being drafted to Melbourne.

Pearce said she was unsure what the next step was in her whirlwind journey but the Demons will begin pre-season training next month.

Leading Bulleen this season, Pearce averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists in Big V’s elite tier and was an All-Star Five selection.

She formerly played WNBL and was part of Bulleen’s sole championship in 2010/11.

Pearce will continue playing Big V in 2017 after the AFL Women’s season finishes in March.