NAB League 2019: Isabella Grant headlines Western Jets’ AFLW prospects

Isabella Grant is a member of the AFLW Academy and will be looking to stake her claim for a spot at the top level during the NAB League season.

Western Jets star Isabella Grant in action. Picture: AFL Victoria

The daughter of an AFL great headlines Western Jets’ draft prospects as the club targets an improved NAB League season in 2019.

Isabella Grant, whose father Chris played 341 games in a decorated career for the Western Bulldogs, is a member of the AFLW Academy and will be looking to stake her claim for a spot at the top level.

The midfielder is in the Jets’ leadership group and will be a key factor in her team’s chances of rebounding from a 1-8 campaign last year.

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Western Jets’ female talent co-ordinator Claudia Davey said Grant’s fitness was her strength.

“She always puts a lot in outside of training and at training to keep up to scratch, so that when she’s playing a game she’s not getting too tired or anything and can focus on her skills and execution,” Davey said.

“It’s a good asset to have and hard to maintain, especially through the off-season, so it’s good she always comes back fit and ready to go and to work on her skills and fundamentals.

“She’s going really well and just getting back into all our training since the academy trainings are finished.

“She’s down to earth, a great leader and very talented obviously.”

Forward Cleo Saxon-Jones and defender Isabelle Pritchard are also members of the AFLW Academy, while midfielder Elisabeth Georgostathis is another player to keep an eye on.

“She’s an incredible player. Her workrate is just enormous, both in training and in games,” Davey said of Georgostathis.

“She’s definitely one to watch this year.”

The Jets opened the season with a 27-point loss against Calder Cannons on Saturday, with Grant, Ruby Tripodi and Georgostathis listed as their best players.

They will next tackle Murray Bushrangers in an away fixture on March 17.

“It was a bit tough last season, but I think the girls have been working together for a few years now, especially in that 18s age group,” Davey said.

“Just over half of them have been here for a couple of years now.”