Diamond Creek young gun Chloe Molloy in mix to be selected with pick No.1 in AFLW draft

SHE gave up a potential basketball career in America to pursue her AFL dream and young gun Chloe Molloy is in the mix to go pick No.1 in the AFLW draft despite an injury in the VFL Women’s Grand Final.

Chloe Molloy grew up supporting Collingwood but says she’d be happy to play for any AFLW club. Picture: Kylie Else

CHLOE Molloy felt the bone jarring crunch as she was sandwiched between two opponents, hitting the Etihad Stadium turf clutching her shoulder.

Within seconds she was back on her feet and lining up for a goal deep in the pocket, a quick snap that sparked Diamond Creek’s spirited but fruitless comeback against eventual VFL Women’s premiers Darebin.

“I asked my physio yesterday ‘how did I get up?’, that was the most pain I’ve ever felt in an injury,” Molloy, the AFLW’s potential No.1 draft pick said.

“He said pretty much it’s your body responding. He said your brain wouldn’t have sent the pain to the spot yet because your body knew you had to kick the goal.”

Chloe Molloy (left) starred for Diamond Creek in the VFL Women’s competition this year.

Molloy avoided a break, but sprains and ligament damage will force her to miss Wednesday’s draft combine testing.

“It’s pretty gutting that I can’t test … I wanted to prove myself, having that high standard (of expectation) I wanted to prove myself to these girls and compete,” the niece of AFL journeyman Jarrod Molloy said.

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Molloy played football as a youngster but turned her focus to basketball in her teens where she was a development player for WNBL side Melbourne Boomers.

She was all set to play basketball at a college in America last year, but when she witnessed the first AFLW draft, she knew where her heart was and gave up her spot to pursue an AFL career.

“I’d signed the papers and then the women’s draft came around and I just wanted to be out there with them kicking the footy,” she said.

Chloe Molloy grew up supporting Collingwood but says she’d be happy to play for any AFLW club. Picture: Kylie Else

“That’s the one thing that kept me here.”

So a little over a year ago she returned to football and made an immediate impact claiming the TAC Cup best and fairest and then she was joint winner of the VFLW goal kicking alongside Katie Brennan.

With the Bulldogs holding pick No.1 in the October 18 draft, Molloy could soon be Brennan’s teammate if they go for the small forward ahead of another potential No.1 pick, taller goal kicking-midfielder Isabel Huntington.

If the Bulldogs opt for Huntington, it’s likely Molloy will be a Magpie, the team she grew up supporting.

She also plays under Collingwood captain Steph Chiocci at the Creekers.

“I’d give my heart and soul to any club that took me,” Molloy said.