By Peter Ryan
Monday night’s AFLW national draft will be the first with a national pool, and without restrictions tying draftees to their state players could end up anywhere in the country.
Ash Centra is likely to go to Collingwood at pick No.1, while Gold Coast academy graduate Havana Harris is rated just as highly as Centra. Clubs are excited about the crop of players as emerging AFLW talent improves each season. Let’s take a look at each club’s picks and potential selections.
Ash Centra shapes as the likely No.1 pick at Monday’s AFLW draft.Credit: via Getty Images
Adelaide
Draft picks: 12, 43, 70, 88, 106, 124, 142
The perennial contenders just need to pick the best available player at 12 to develop their next generation. South Australian Grace Martin is a logical choice on the assumption Poppy Scholz, sister of Port Adelaide’s Matilda, will be gone by then. They don’t have to pick locals, but it makes sense to do so if Martin is around. Western Australia’s Claudia Wright is also a possibility.
Brisbane Lions
Draft picks: 15, 39, 71, 89, 107, 125, 143
Academy graduate Lilly Baker may get past the Lions’ first pick unless clubs want to punt on forcing the runners-up to use their pick 15 to grab the talented ruck-forward, who will need time to develop. The Lions need midfielders – Lavinia Cox and South Australian Martin will be under consideration if still available at pick 15.
Zippy Fish will be a top-10 selection at the AFLW national draft.Credit: Pic:Tony McDonough
Carlton
Draft picks: 5, 23, 45, 77, 95, 113, 131
The Blues will have their fingers crossed that a bid is not made on Sophie McKay before pick five, giving them the chance to land a star midfielder as well as the father-daughter selection. Zippy Fish appeals at pick five for the Blues, which would be a great result as they could then use pick 23 to take McKay.
Collingwood
Draft picks: 1, 26, 55, 73, 91, 109, 127
Midfielder Centra is expected to be the No.1 pick, which would mean joining a club as far from the low-key 90-mile beach town Seaspray – where she grew up – as Manchester United is from the Brunswick Zebras. Centra is an exciting choice as the Magpies look to win back some respect in the competition. Violet Patterson, daughter of former Magpie Stephen, is another great pick-up.
Essendon AFLW star Paige Scott has nominated for the national draft after failing to be traded.Credit: Wayne Taylor
Essendon
Draft picks: 8, 11, 29, 35, 83, 101, 119, 137
The Bombers are a wildcard but will get creative with two early picks after losing forward Amber Clarke in a trade to St Kilda and potentially forward Paige Scott, who has nominated for the draft. Utility Sarah Howley is a chance as are rucks Emma McDonald or Elli Symonds. Defender Millie Lang would be a solid pick too.
Fremantle
Draft Picks: 13, 34, 38, 51, 67, 85, 103, 121, 139
Tall defender Taya Chambers probably won’t get through to pick 34 but will be a steal if she does. Key-position prospect Alexis Gregor is on the radar and small forward Noa McNaughton could be, too, if they decide on a local. They met with Sarah Howley mid-year and could opt for the midfield speedster.
Geelong
Draft picks: 9, 16, 37, 63, 81, 99, 117, 135
Tall forward Georgie Brisbane could be great support for Aishling Moloney as their forward line evolves while a key defender would be handy too, with Charlotte Riggs or Gregor capable of filling a need.
Gold Coast
Draft picks: 19, 27, 30, 41, 74, 92, 110, 128
Academy graduate Havana Harris is rated as one of the top prospects in the draft, so the Suns’ pick 19 will be used up to match the bid when it arrives in the first three selections. They have four other academy graduates – Tara Harrington, Mia Salisbury, Nyalli Milne and Heidi Talbot – and midfielder Salisbury is likely to be next cab off the rank.
GWS
Draft picks: 3, 21, 52, 65, 75, 93, 111, 129
The question remains whether clubs should bid on Carlton father-daughter prospect McKay to keep the foot on the Blues’ throat, and the Giants could perhaps play hard ball. Otherwise, choosing India Rasheed would upset their cross-town rivals, or picking West Australian Molly O’Hehir would upset West Coast’s dreams. The Giants will just take the best player available without worrying about other clubs.
Grace Baba could be on the Hawks’ radar at the draft. Credit: The Age
Hawthorn
Draft picks: 14, 22, 28, 44, 50, 68, 86, 104, 122, 140
An inside midfielder and a key forward are on the Hawks’ wishlist. Expect them to take a key forward at 14 after baulking at using it to secure Melbourne’s Tayla Harris. Symonds is a chance assuming Grace Belloni goes inside the top 10. Grace Baba could become a Hawk later in the draft.
Melbourne
Draft picks: 2, 20, 46, 64, 82, 100, 118, 136
Fish has speed and the name to become a cult hero, so would be a strong selection for the Demons at pick two as they restock talent. The Eagles would love O’Hehir, but the Demons rate her, while any of Belloni, Scholz or Lucia Painter would be worthy choices. If former Bomber Scott remains on the board, could they back their system in?
North Melbourne
Draft picks: 36, 42, 49, 72, 90, 108
Traded out their first selection for All-Australian defender/midfielder Eilish Sheerin and are likely to draft for needs, with a key back high on their list. Baba would be a great pick if still around at 36.
India Rasheed is the daughter of well-known tennis commentator and coach Roger Rasheed. Credit: The Age
Port Adelaide
Draft picks: 17, 33, 40, 47, 53, 69, 87, 105, 123, 141
Selecting Scholz to play with her sister would be a dream result, but she will likely be gone before pick 17 – as, I suspect, will be defender Riggs. Following an active trade period forward Georgie Brisbane, midfielder Zoe Hargreaves or big-game performer Sienna Tallariti would be handy additions. Rasheed is a pipe-dream selection as support for the club runs through her family.
Richmond
Draft picks: 10, 18, 31, 56, 59, 66, 84, 102, 120, 138
There’s some talk Scholz could get this far, but I think key-position prospect Gregor and brave midfielder Hargreaves are big chances at 10 and 18, while the Tigers will aim for Scott to get through to pick 31.
St Kilda
Draft picks: 32, 57, 62, 80, 98, 116, 134
The Saints are one of the clubs that opted out of a strong draft to get ready-made talent in the door to push for finals. They secured Nicola Barr, Clarke and Charlotte Baskaran. They need talls, so will choose what is available. Lang is a chance.
Sydney
Draft picks: 4, 58, 76, 94, 112, 130
The Swans have their eye on midfielder Rasheed as they look to gain more strength inside the contest. If Rasheed goes before then, O’Hehir or Belloni would be excellent choices.
West Coast
Draft picks: 6, 24, 54, 60, 78, 96, 114, 132
O’Hehir, the wing/defender from Western Australia, would be the dream result at six. But if she is gone, they will still get an excellent player. Lucia Painter or Sierra Grieves could be available, but Emma McDonald could be too good a future prospect to pass up if on the board.
Last year’s No.1 pick Kristie-Lee Weston-TurnerCredit: Getty
Western Bulldogs
Draft picks: 7, 25, 48, 61, 79, 97, 115, 133
Local Grieves shapes as the obvious pick if she remains available as the Western Jets midfielder is explosive and competitive, but there will be many exciting prospects, including Riggs or Sara Howley.
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