Six years ago, Grace Baba did not have much interest in Aussie rules.
Her schedule was jam-packed full of soccer games, endless hockey training sessions and hanging out with friends. But the transition to high school opened a new opportunity.
AFLW draft hopeful Grace Baba is waiting for the suspense to be over. Credit: Justin McManus
“A lot of my primary school friends went to different high schools which means I had to make new friends,” Baba explained. “At my high school, all the girls were playing [Aussie rules], so I thought I better give that a go.”
On Monday night at Marvel Stadium, Baba will wait with bated breath for her name to be read aloud during the AFLW draft.
This year’s draft will be fully national, with all nominees available to be selected by any of the 18 clubs.
Baba had a mixture of nerves and excitment ahead of the draft, but was looking forward to the suspense finally being over.
“To be honest, I don’t really mind which club picks me,” she said. “As long as I get to play footy, that’s all I want to do.”
The 174-centimetre defender is Australian-born and of South Sudanese heritage and comes from a large, sport-obsessed family with seven siblings – six brothers and one sister – which helps to keep her “grounded and humble.”
“All of us played heaps of sport, especially my brothers, so they’d never admit how cool it is to be drafted,” she laughed. “My family are super happy though.”
Baba comes from a large sport-obsessed family with seven siblings.Credit: Justin McManus
Baba started playing footy in year eight. But the COVID-19 pandemic halted her season before it even started, an interruption she described as “really frustrating”.
After a two-year-hiatus, Baba rejoined and was later invited to play for the Eastern Ranges. She joined the AFLW Academy in 2024.
“I really love the competitiveness of footy,” Baba explained. “It has a different type of physicality compared to soccer or hockey which I really enjoy.”
An unfortunate ankle injury sidelined Baba for three games this season, but she was back on her feet and guided her side to another Talent League girls’ grand final against the Oakleigh Chargers.
Baba only began playing football in year 8.Credit: Justin McManus
Eastern Ranges lost by 18 points, a result Baba said was “pretty tough”.
Touted for her fierce determination on field and defensive pressure, Baba ranked first in the national draft combine’s vertical jump at 67 centimetres.
The softly spoken 18-year-old admires Hawk Emily Bates’ game style and says she hoped to embody the Hawthorn captain’s “hard-working nature”.
“I really look up to her [Bates], the way she plays, her work ethic and attitude on and off the field,” she said.
Emily Bates won the 2022 AFLW best and fairest award. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Baba joins several Victorian draft hopefuls including likely No.1 pick Ash Centra, Geelong Falcons star Sara Howley and the Bendigo Pioneers’ Lou Painter.
Sandringham Dragon Sophie McKay will aim to move to Carlton under the father-daughter rule, following in the footsteps of father Andrew who played for the Blues in the 1990s and early 2000s.
McKay’s sister Abbie is co-vice captain of the Blues’ AFLW side.
The top-five draft contenders include West Australian Zippy Fish and South Australian India Rasheed – daughter of former tennis player turned coach Roger Rasheed.
Two retiring champions AFLW stars Steph Chiocci and Stacey Livingstone have nominated for the draft, keeping their options open if a team needs a top-up or injury replacement player next season.
Several former AFLW players have also nominated for Monday’s draft including recently delisted Lauren Brazzale, Alana Gee, Verity Simmons, Phoebe Monahan and Erin McKinnon.
The AFLW draft will be held at Marvel Stadium on Monday night.
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