Kyneton celebrates as former junior Ainslie Kemp is drafted into AFL Women’s league by Melbourne

KYNETON has a knack of producing forwards bound for the big league.

Ainslie Kemp (pictured left) lays a bump playing for VU Western Spurs in the VFL Women’s competition. Picture Yuri Kouzmin.

KYNETON has a knack of producing forwards bound for the big league.

Western Bulldogs spearhead Jack Redpath was plucked from the Bendigo Football League club in 2012 and has since played 25 AFL games and booted 41 goals.

Kyneton was celebrating on Wednesday when another forward and one of its former juniors Ainslie Kemp was chosen with pick No. 88 by Melbourne in the AFL Women’s draft.

“We are really thrilled for her,” Kyneton president Rob Waters said.

“She’s been a part of state teams and rep teams and has been a really elite junior women’s footballer for some time now.

“For her and the other girls that have been in the same boat to have an elite competition to aspire to be a part of is also brilliant.”

The 19-year-old forward spent 2016 with VFL Women’s club VU Western Spurs, slotting 15 goals from 18 games.

She also featured for the Demons in an exhibition match against Brisbane Lions in May, booting a memorable goal from outside 50m which stuck with Melbourne’s recruiting staff.

“She plays predominantly up forward, but she’s got versatility and is capable of playing in the midfield,” Melbourne’s AFL women’s recruiting manager Anthony DeJong said.

“She’s a clever, developing player and we think she’s a really good prospect for us at Melbourne.”

Waters said Kemp would be an inspiration for other aspiring AFL players from the region.

“She came up through our juniors and has always been an elite athlete and a really good footballer at a time when it would have gone against the norm I think for young girls to want to be that,” he said.

“Her persistence has paid off.”

Kyneton Youth Girls star Alicia Rooth, who represented Vic Country this year, is another Tiger hoping to follow in Kemp’s footsteps.

Kyneton will field a Youth Girls under-15 team next year and have a Senior Women’s side in the Victorian Women’s Football League.