AFL Women’s draft: Every pick and all the reaction
There was famous names and two twin success stories — and one was left ‘gobsmacked’ after receiving the surprise of her life. Recap all the action from the AFLW draft.
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Jasmine Fleming kept quiet in the car on the journey to Marvel Stadium on Wednesday night.
Little did her former Australian cricketer father Damien and elite netballer mother Wendy know, Fleming’s status as the top Victorian pick and the first-ever draft pick for Hawthorn was all but sealed for a long-awaited “Covid normal” AFLW draft.
RE-CAP ALL THE DRAMA AND EVERY PICK BELOW
The draft has been held online for the last two seasons, but the entire Fleming family — including Jasmine’s two younger siblings — were on hand with their emotion the cherry on top on the biggest night of her sporting life.
“I kept it really quiet and didn’t tell the family, so it was nice to see their reaction,” she said.
“(The Hawks) were nice enough to tell me before – I’m a nervous wreck, so that was really good. I don’t show it, but it was really nice to know and to see some of my best friends that have been picked up, it was really fun.
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“I’m actually pretty good at keeping secrets, but I was doing a lot of interviews, so I didn’t want it to spill out.
“So if I didn’t tell anyone, it kept me in the zone. Also what went through my head was a bit of … you’re never too sure. At that moment when your name gets out, it kind of hits you.
“My little sister and brother (finding out on the night) made it that little bit more special.”
Damien Fleming couldn’t hide his pride.
After a sporting career that spanned the globe with an international bowling career that included World Cups and Ashes series, being on hand as Jasmine’s dad as she forges her own path will go down as one of his proudest moments — especially given the family’s fanaticism for the Hawks.
“Being Hawthorn supporters, brainwashing isn’t good but when it comes to AFL clubs it’s OK,” he laughed.
“And so all the kids went for Hawthorn and funnily enough, Wendy followed her brother, Gary (O’Donnell) at the Bombers but barracked for Hawthorn as a kid so it was easy to get her back. But just absolutely thrilled.
”You just want them to stake their own claim. To think it’s less than 10 years and we’ve got these numbers and they’re semi-professional is unbelievable but very happy from now on to be known as Jasmine’s father.”
Father’s legacy fuelling No.1 pick
AFL Women’s number one pick Montana Ham says the legacy of her late father will continue to fuel her football journey as she prepares for the biggest move of her life.
Ham, 18, lost her father Roy seven years ago but said he had taught her everything she knew on her way to becoming the competition’s newest top draft pick and the Swans’ first-ever draft selection.
The teenager, who delivered a blistering season for the Western Jets and Vic Metro to be considered a standout choice for the top selection, nominated New South Wales as her destination of choice and will split her time between finishing Year 12 and her AFLW dream.
But she knows her dad will be there with her every step of the way.
“He would be over the moon and super proud,” Ham said.
“I can see him out in the crowd and see his face (in my mind) – he’d be lighting up.
“He was a huge influence when it came to my footy. He taught me everything.”
Ham said that “the basis of footy was always there for me whenever I needed”, and that she considered Roy her “number one supporter”.
“I know that he’d be looking over me super proud. To do it for him is something that I’m really grateful,” she said.
“He’d be alright with the Swans (being my team) – he’d just be more happy that my dream has come true.”
Ham will finish her schooling at her college in Keilor as her AFLW career kicks into gear, and plans to be in the classroom during the week before heading to Sydney on weekends to train and play.
She said being picked at No. 1 was “a flood of emotions” after grappling with the decision to nominate New South Wales over her home state of Victoria, but the lifestyle and hopes of studying at the University of Technology Sydney in coming years.
“I’ve been up there for a few holidays, and it’s a great place,” she said.
“I love the fact that the city is on the water. The water’s a big part of who I was growing up – I always went down to the coast for surfing.
“Being able to live 20 minutes from the beach is something I’m really looking forward to.
“Mum’s going to stay here. It’s a bit daunting (to move away) – a new challenge for me but I have a lot of good people around me and a good support network. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
9:46PM DRAFT OVER
And that’s a wrap!
Thank you for joining our live coverage of the AFLW draft.
There was no shortage of storylines — none more heartwarming than Zoe Wakfer turning from support crew to AFLW player.
We also saw a crosscoder join the AFLW ranks in former Melbourne Stars player Georgia Gall.
There will be plenty of analysis and reaction to come from the draft so stay tuned!
PICK 87 GWS - PASS
PICK 86 GWS - TESS CATTLE
Ainslie
END OF ROUND 7
PICK 85 FREMANTLE - TAHLIA REID
Maribyrnong Park
PICK 84 GWS - CAMBRIDGE MCCORMICK
Eastlake
END OF ROUND 6
PICK 83 FREMANTLE – AMY MULHOLLAND
Subiaco
PICK 82 GWS - JODIE HICKS
Macquarie University
PICK 81 ST KILDA - CAITLIN MATTHEWS
Oakleigh Chargers
END OF ROUND 5
PICK 80 PORT ADELAIDE - LILY JOHNSON
West Adelaide
PICK 79 MELBOURNE - PASS
PICK 78 BRISBANE - KIARA HILLIER
Maroochydore
PICK 77 FREMANTLE - MEGAN KAUFFMAN
PICK 76 COLLINGWOOD - PASS
PICK 75 GWS - MADISON BRAZENDALE
Tasmania Devils
PICK 74 ST KILDA - DEANNA JOLLIFFE
Southern Saints
END OF ROUND 4
PICK 73 GEELONG - ASH VAN LOON
PICK 72 MELBOURNE - GEORGIA GALL
Euroa
PICK 71 ADELAIDE - MCKENZIE DOWRICK
Dowrick becomes a three-club player, having played for the Eagles and Brisbane previously.
PICK 70 BRISBANE - CHARLOTTE MULLINS
Lions Academy/Aspley
PICK 69 ADELAIDE - KIERA MUELLER
Sturt
PICK 68 WESTERN BULLDOGS - BROOKE VERNON
Carlton AFLW
The Dpgs have swooped on the delisted Blue, who was a late axing from their list.
PICK 67 CARLTON - JESSICA JONES
North Melbourne VFLW
One of the oldest players taken in this draft, Jones is a 30-year-old key defender who can make an impact right away for the Blues.
PICK 66 GWS - MEGHAN GAFFNEY
Tasmania Devils
PICK 65 GOLD COAST - PASS
PICK 64 GWS- FLEUR DAVIES
Southport/Suns Academy
The Suns Academy product is off to the Giants. At the draft, Davies was made to wait but her AFLW dream has been achieved.
END OF ROUND 3
PICK 63 ST KILDA - HANNAH STUART
Southern Saints
PICK 62 ESSENDON - AMELIA RADFORD
Essendon VFLW
PICK 61 PORT ADELAIDE - AMELIE BORG
North Adelaide
PICK 60 RICHMOND — KATELYN COX
Hawthorn
PICK 59 FREMANTLE - TARA STRIBLEY
Swan Districts
PICK 58 RICHMOND - EILISH SHEERIN
Inner West Magpies
PICK 57 BRISBANE - DEE HESLOP
Gold Coast
PICK 56 COLLINGWOOD - CASSIDY BLAIR
Dandenong Stignrays
PICK 55 GEELONG - ABBEY MCDONALD
Calder Cannons
PICK 54 GEELONG - CASSIDY MAILER
Murray Bushrangers
PICK 53 WEST COAST - MIKAYLA WESTERN
Claremont
PICK 52 GOLD COAST - JASMYN SMITH
Bond University
PICK 51 NORTH MELBOURNE - GRACE MATSER
Bass Cpast
PICK 50 NORTH MELBOURNE - CHARLI GRANVILLE
Hawthorn VFLW
Classy small forward? Check ✅
— North Melbourne Women's (@NorthMelbourneW) June 29, 2022
The goals at Arden Street are in serious danger from Charli Granville 😉
PICK 49 MELBOURNE - SAMANTHA JOHNSON
Casey Demons
END OF SECOND ROUND
PICK 48 CARLTON - LILY GOSS
Carlton VFLW
PICK 47 WEST COAST - JAIDE BRITTON
Peel Thunder
PICK 46 ESSENDON - MIA BAN DYKE
Geelong Falcons
PICK 45 PORT ADELAIDE - YASMIN DUURSMA
Gippsland Power
PICK 44 MELBOURNE - MAEVE CHAPLIN
Casey Demons
PICK 43 WEST COAST - EMILY ELKINGTON
PICK 42 GEELONG - BROOKE PLUMMER
Northern Knights
PICK 41 BRISBANE - ELLA SMITH
Aspley
PICK 40 ADELAIDE - KEELEY KUSTERMANN
West Adelaide
Welcome to the Club, Keeley 💙â¤ï¸ðŸ’›#weflyasonehttps://t.co/pI3SeuhD1E
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) June 29, 2022
PICK 39 NORTH MELBOURNE - SOPHIA MCCARTHY
Williamstown
PICK 38 RICHMOND - CHARLEY RYAN
Dandenong Stingrays
PICK 37 WESTERN BULLDOGS - HEIDI WOODLEY
Calder Cannons
END OF FIRST ROUND
PICK 36 WEST COAST - ZOE WAKFER
South Fremantle/Western Australia
What a moment! Zoe Wakfer was at the draft to support her sister, and she has been left stunned as the Eagles picked her up with the final pick of the first round — not even wearing a club polo!
“I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest,” she said.
Zoe Wafker was at Marvel Stadium to support her twin Lauren... and then the Eagles picked her in a massive surprise!
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) June 29, 2022
This is honestly amazing â¤ï¸#AFLWDraft | #AFLWpic.twitter.com/lnuhML0IXo
PICK 35 ESSENDON - MIA BUSCH
Eastern Ranges
PICK 34 GOLD COAST - CLARE RANSOM
Tasmania Devils
Tassie's own Claire Ransom follows Cam Joyce up to the Suns!#AFLWDraft | #AFLWpic.twitter.com/473oreYplu
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) June 29, 2022
PICK 33 GEELONG - MIA SKINNER
Geelong VFLW
PICK 32 - ESSENDON - STEPHANIE WALES
Her twin sister joined Hawthorn earlier and now Stephanie becomes a Bomber.
PICK 31 PORT ADELAIDE - ELLA BOAIG
PICK 30 COLLINGWOOD - CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Oakleigh Chargers
PICK 29 WESTERN BULLDOGS - KEELY COYNE
Sandringham Dragons
PICK 28 NORTH MELBOURNE - TAYLAH GATT
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
PICK 27 FREMANTLE - MADELEINE SCANLON
Claremont/Western Australia
PICK 26 HAWTHORN - LAURA ELLIOTT
Western Jets/Vic Metro
PICK 25 HAWTHORN - EMILY EVERIST
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
PICK 24 WEST COAST - ABBYGAIL BUSHBY
Swan Districts/Western Australia
PICK 23 PORT ADELAIDE - SACHI SYME
Norwood/South Australia
PICK 22 HAWTHORN - LUCY WALES
Casey Demons/VFLW
A massive bolter, with Wales not even on a a VFLW list at the start of the year.
PICK 21 WESTERN BULLDOGS - RYLIE WILCOX
Northern Knights
Looms as a potential steal of this draft for the Western Bulldogs having being touted as a top-10 selection.
PICK 20 GWS - ZARLIE GOLDSWORTHY
Allies/NSW-ACT/Murray Bushrangers/Lavington
LAUREN SAYS: Border talent who nominated New South Wales as her destination of choice. A member of the AFLW Academy who has a strong soccer pedigree as a former young Matilda that has switched her hand to football seamlessly. A strong and physical inside midfielder who brings plenty of grunt.
PICK 19 GOLD COAST - ALANA GEE
Southport WFC
Gee was rated as the top Queensland prospect in the pool and the midfielder has been plucked from the Suns’ Academy.
PICK 18 CARLTON - MIA AUSTIN
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
A great marking target up forward who will help bolster Carlton’s forward stocks.
PICK 17 CARLTON - KEELEY SKEPPER
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
PICK 16 ST KILDA -.J’NOEMI ANDERSON
St Mary’s/Northern Territory
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: Has strong contested ability and is particularly strong overhead, making her an asset both the midfield and up forward. Made a big impact in the NT last year, winning the rising star award and has been on the radar of a number of clubs in recent years. Younger sister of North Melbourne player Jed Anderson, with two other siblings having also played AFL.
PICK 15 WEST COAST - LAUREN WAKFER
South Fremantle/WA
The ruck will be sidelined for her entire first season with an ACL injury suffered a few weeks before the draft but she shapes as a talented prospect with high upside.
PICK 14 WEST COAST - ELLA ROBERTS
Peel Thunder/WA
She may be the best talent in the draft and West Coast have been able to snare her with pick 14, the first WA selection of the draft.
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: Widely regarded as the best player in this year’s draft pool, Roberts is capable of playing both as a tall forward and a midfielder. Athletic and dynamic, Roberts should provide a huge help to struggling West Coast after nominating to remain in WA despite interest from elsewhere.
PICK 13 SYDNEY - ALICE MITCHELL
Gunnedah and District Bulldogs AFC
PICK 12 SYDNEY - MONTANA BERULDEN
Hawthorn VFLW
PICK 11 SYDNEY - CYNTHIA HAMILTON
Allies/NSW-ACT/GWS Giants Academy/Queanbeyan
LAUREN SAYS: The Canberra product is an excellent ball user and will be a welcome addition to Sydney’s first AFLW squad after nominating for the NSW draft pool. The younger sister of Lexi Hamilton, who recently moved from North Melbourne to the Swans.
PICK 10 HAWTHORN - BRIDIE HIPWELL
Old Brighton Grammarians
PICK 9 HAWTHORN - CHARLOTTE BASKARAN
Vic Metro/Western Jets/Aberfeldie
A good get for Hawthorn, with Baskaran in the mix to be taken earlier in the piece.
LAUREN SAYS: Premiership-winning midfielder who has a number of strings to her bow with leadership capabilities beyond her years, named skipper of the NAB League team of the year. Finished runner-up in the league best and fairest award and is noted for her composure and cleanliness with the footy.
PICK 8 ESSENDON - PAIGE SCOTT
GWV Rebels
The powerful forward is the first bolter of the draft so far.
How good!?!
— Essendon FCW (@essendonfcw) June 29, 2022
When Paige found out she became a Don. pic.twitter.com/tB4QQt12z3
PICK 7 PORT ADELAIDE - SARAH GOODWIN
South Australia/Glenelg/Goodwood Saints
LAUREN SAYS: A rebounding defender and winger, Goodwin is among the more creative players in this year’s draft pool with the ability to provide plenty of run.
PICK 6 HAWTHORN - HANNAH EWINGS
SA/North Adelaide/SMOSH West Lakes/Roopena-Whyalla
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: The Mornington Peninsula product has been noted for her marking ability with her versatility in defence a key plus. Was named as an All-Australian after a promising Vic Country campaign and has height on her side at 183cm.
PICK 5 SYDNEY - SOFIA HURLEY
Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons/Port Melbourne
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: Outstanding athletically, Hurley is a midfielder with neat skills. Like Montana Ham, Hurley opted to nominate for the NSW zone. She was named on the interchange bench of the All-Australian team.
PICK 4 ESSENDON - AMBER CLARKE
Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays/Narre North Foxes
This pick was set to shape the draft and the Bombers have pulled the first surprise of the night in taking excitement machine Clarke.
PICK 3 PORT ADELAIDE - HANNAH EWINGS
SA/North Adelaide/SMOSH West Lakes/Roopena-Whyalla
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: An inside-midfielder who’s this year not only enjoyed a SANFLW premiership with the Roosters, but an exceptional Under-18s national championships, where she kicked five goals in three games and earnt one best-on-ground accolade. Has an excellent kick, strong hands, and has been labelled “a Dustin Martin-type who can play on-ball and then go forward and hit the scoreboard” by the SANFLW’s talent manager, Robbie Neill. Sure to make an immediate impact.
PICK 2 HAWTHORN - JASMINE FLEMING
Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers/Ashburton
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: An athletic and speedy midfielder who can be damaging with ball in hand, Fleming is one of the standout Victorians in this year’s draft crop. Also a gun cricketer, she has elite sporting pedigree as the daughter of Test cricketer Damien Fleming and former netball Wendy O’Donnell.
Jas Fleming grew up as a Hawthorn supporter and now she gets to join the club she has always loved!#AFLWDraft#AFLWpic.twitter.com/vIr1rGRgZd
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) June 29, 2022
PICK 1 SYDNEY - MONTANA HAM
Vic Metro/Western Jets/Keilor
No surprises here with Montana Ham becoming the top pick of the 2022 draft class.
LAUREN WOOD SAYS: Ham is considered a class above in the midfield, recently claiming the Australian Under 18s best player award against the All-Stars to only further stamp her papers. She was spotted in her early teenage years and was training with Under 18 players at just 13 years of age, with a full pathway at the Western Jets.
Not too many dry eyes in the house for this one â¤ï¸
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) June 29, 2022
Meet Montana Ham, the first pick in the 2022 @NAB#AFLWDraftpic.twitter.com/pX66I1g6Za
7:24pm DAUGHTER OF A GREAT
One of the big names to watch is Jasmine Fleming, the daughter of cricketing great Damien.
Fleming was also a talented cricketer but chose the Sherrin over the Kookaburra and looms as one of the top prospects available in this year’s draft.
7:19pm WHO WILL GO NUMBER ONE?
Western Jets midfielder Montana Ham is the highly touted No.1 pick for the Swans, after the Victorian surprised by nomianting New South Wales as her drafted state.
7:17pm FULL NOMINEES LIST
Who is in line to be picked up tonight?
Here is the full list of nominees for the AFLW draft, featuring more than 600 women and girls from across the country.
FULL LIST
7:10pm AFLW DRAFT MINUTES AWAY
Welcome to our live coverage of the AFLW Draft!
We’ll be bringing you every pick live plus expert analysis and all the talking points.
It all kicks off at 7:30pm AEST, so the wait is almost over.
Here is how the first round looks, with expansion club Sydney holding the No.1 pick in the draft.
THE EARLY PICKS
FIRST ROUND
1. Sydney
2. Hawthorn
3. Port Adelaide
4. Essendon
5. Sydney
6. Hawthorn
7. Port Adelaide
8. Essendon
9. Hawthorn
10. Hawthorn
11. Sydney
12. Sydney
13. Sydney
14. West Coast
15. West Coast
16. St Kilda
17. Carlton
18. Carlton
19. Gold Coast
20. GWS Giants
21. Western Bulldogs
22. Hawthorn
23. Port Adelaide
24. West Coast
25. Hawthorn
26. Hawthorn
27. Fremantle
28. North Melbourne
29. Western Bulldogs
30. Collingwood
31. Port Adelaide
32. Essendon
33. Geelong
34. Gold Coast
35. Essendon
36. West Coast
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