Drafted! Meet the latest additions to Brisbane Lions’ AFLW squad
Athletic, clean, good footy brain, very skilful by hand and foot. Brisbane has unlocked an absolute gem with pick No.3 of the AFLW draft in star midfielder Lily Postlethwaite.
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The selection of dual All-Australian and Queensland U18 captain Lily Postlethwaite with pick No.3 headlined Brisbane’s AFLW draft selections as the Lions chase redemption in 2020.
2019 proved a tough year for Craig Starcevich’s side with Brisbane failing to play a finals fixture after two successive grand final appearances in 2017 and 2018.
But the acquisition of 17-year-old Lions Academy star Postlethwaite along with eight other players has ears burning at the Den.
The Maroochydore youngster has already proven herself a midfield star of the future after debuting for Brisbane during the QW Winter Series and received the 2019 QAFLW Rising Star award to cap an outstanding season.
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Starcevich was full of praise for Postlethwaite following her unveiling as Pick 3, lauding the teenager’s professionalism and work ethic.
“She’s athletic, she’s clean, she’s got a good footy brain and is very skilful by hand and foot,” Starcevich said.
“She was right at home in our QW Winter Series team, playing against older and bigger bodies.”
Fellow Maroochydore midfielder and QW Winter Series debutant Isabella Dawes was Brisbane’s next selection at Pick 15 after testing well in October’s combine before Wilston Grange veteran Cathy Svarc and Mackay standout Hannah Hillman were chosen with Picks 16 and 17 respectively.
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The 27-year-old Svarc was a member of the Lions AFLW train on squad in 2019 and will challenge for a place in Brisbane’s halfback line while 184cm Hillman plays in the ruck and won the combine’s 2km time trial.
South Australian utility Lucy Bellinger became the Lions’ only interstate draftee after being selection with Pick 20 before Lions Academy tall Tahlia Hickie was taken with Pick 28.
Foundation Lion Selina Priest capped a remarkable comeback from her 2017 delisting after being selected with Pick 45 while University of Queensland teammates Dakota Davidson (Pick 60) and Maria Moloney (Pick 75) rounded out Brisbane’s selections.
Starcevich was thrilled to welcome the players after a “difficult” selection process, saying each would help “create strong internal competition” at the club.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast Academy product Serene Watson made history as the Suns’ first selection after being taken at pick 18 overall.
Canberra-based duo Hannah Dunn and Alexia Hamilton were next selected with pick 22 and pick 38 respectively before former WBBL cricketer Brittany Perry was taken at pick 42.
Cheyenne Hammond (pick 57), Dee Heslop (pick 69), Jade Pregelj (pick 86) and Georgia Breward completed Gold Coast’s eight draftees.
Suns head of women’s football Fiona McLarty said the club was excited to welcome its newest recruits
“We’re thrilled to have taken part in our first-ever AFLW draft and to get eight quality players onto our list for 2020,” McLarty said.
“We targeted a mixture of youth and experience in the draft and also players who have experienced different levels of competition interstate to go with our home-grown talent.”
22 of Gold Coast’s 30 players hail from Queensland with four from the Northern Territory and two each from Canberra and South Australia.
Originally published as Drafted! Meet the latest additions to Brisbane Lions’ AFLW squad