NAB League 2019: Tess Flintoff starring in first season at Eastern Ranges

Dual sport talent Tess Flintoff could be forced to make a decision between cricket and football in the coming years after impressing in her first season at Eastern Ranges.

Cricketer Tess Flintoff is one of Eastern Ranges’ top prospects. Picture: Hamish Blair

Dual sport talent Tess Flintoff could be forced to make a decision between cricket and football in the coming years after impressing in her first season at Eastern Ranges.

At just 16, Flintoff has shown she is one of the NAB League club’s brightest prospects.

She was named in Eastern’s best players five times in her first six games and is showing signs of being an AFLW talent.

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Flintoff is also a talented cricketer. She has captained Victorian underage teams and plays Premier Cricket for Ringwood, where she was the side’s leading runscorer last season with 229 runs.

Eastern female talent co-ordinator Jessie Mulholland said Flintoff could be faced with deciding which sport to play in the coming years.

The midfielder has averaged 20 disposals, six marks and five inside-50s this year.

“We’re pretty flexible to work in with her and if that means we leave her for a year and bring her back in her draftable year if Cricket Vic is up to that, we’re happy to work in with both Tess and her family,” Mulholland said.

“We’ve got to make sure their load management is handled properly so they’re not fatigued for either sport.

“We’d be absolutely more than happy to work in with everyone involved to make sure if that’s either or both of what she wants to do.”

Top-age pair Serena Gibbs and Laura McClelland have both signed with VFLW club Hawthorn for 2019 and shapes as two draft prospects.

Gibbs is also a star netballer.

“She came through one of our alternate testing days and she was an absolute stand out,” Mulholland said of Gibbs.

“Her kicking technique was spot on and the only she said she knew how to do it was kicking in the back yard with dad.”

Eastern will play its final home-and-away game against Sandringham Dragons at RSEA Park on Sunday.

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