Chloe Molloy recognised as VFL Women’s Rising Star after outstanding debut season

CHLOE Molloy capped a superb debut season with VFL Women’s club Diamond Creek when she was crowned the competition’s rising star.

Chloe Molloy take a mark for Diamond Creek in the VFL Women's competition. Picture: Russ Cunham

CHLOE Molloy capped a superb debut season with VFL Women’s club Diamond Creek when she was crowned the competition’s rising star on Monday.

The teenager has burst onto the scene since giving up a promising basketball career to pursue football, winning the TAC Cup Girls best and fairest and goalkicking award with Calder Cannons.

The Whittlesea local joined Diamond Creek at the end of the inaugural TAC Cup season and quickly established herself as one of the league’s emerging talents.

Touted as a possible No. 1 AFL Women’s draft pick, Molloy finished the VFL home-and-away season with 32 majors to be recognised as the leading goalkicker alongside Darebin Falcons star Katie Brennan.

The niece of former Fitzroy, Brisbane and Collingwood forward Jarrod Molloy followed in Seaford’s Sarah Hosking’s footsteps as a winner of the Rising Star award.

“She’s just a terrific kid,” Creekers coach Scott Gowans said.

“To win the TAC Cup goalkicking and then come and do it in senior footy is pretty special.”

Chloe Molloy celebrates a goal against VU Western Spurs in VFL Women’s. Picture: Lawrence Pinder.

Molloy has played a variety of roles for Diamond Creek this year, starting the season deep forward but also spending time in midfield and defence.

She polled the most votes of any Creekers player in the VFL Women’s best and fairest count, finishing 12 behind eventual winner Brennan with nine.

Molloy would become teammates with Brennan if she was snapped up with the first selection in the draft by the Western Bulldogs.

However, she is also in the frame to join her Diamond Creek co-captain Steph Chiocci at the club she supports — Collingwood — which holds pick no.3.

Chloe Molloy shows off her leading goalkicker and TAC Cup premiership medal with Calder Cannons. Picture: Getty Images.

Molloy has booted 54 goals in TAC Cup Girls and VFL Women’s this year from 20 matches.

“There’s players that have got equal skills and are as quick as her,” Gowans said.

“What the difference is, it’s the balance and her ability to read the play.

“That’s just something that she seems to be born with. It’s amazing, her sidestep and the way she keeps her feet.”

Molloy will be out to cap a dream debut season with Diamond Creek in the VFL Women’s grand final after booting two goals in the Creekers’ upset win over Darebin Falcons on Sunday.