AFLW Draft wrap: Geelong lands local bolter and father-daughter prospect as mature-age gun and Falcons slider find homes

Geelong added two players to its list, including a highly touted father-daughter talent. Meanwhile, a mature-age Cat and a Geelong Falcon also found homes.

See who found homes from the Geelong region.

Geelong has snared father-daughter prospect Bryde O’Rourke and pulled a first-round surprise in Monday’s AFLW Draft.

O’Rourke, an athletic utility, joined the club as the first father-daughter selection of the night at pick 23 after taking local Geelong Falcons key forward Chantal Mason.

The Cats received a rival bid from Melbourne on O’Rourke with the second pick of the second-round, which the club duely matched.

The father-daughter system allows clubs to match a bid if a selection they hold is within 18 spots, the Cats using their second-round pick (which began the night at 32) to secure the talent.

O’Rourke had been touted as a potential first-round pick and is the daughter of former player Ray, who played two games for the club back in 1969.

Bryde O'Rourke joined the Cats as a father-daughter pick. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

The speedy outside runner has great versatility and averaged 16.1 disposals and kicked six goals for the Pioneers this season, also representing Vic Country at the national championships.

Meanwhile, Mason led the Coates Talent League goalkicking with 36 majors, bagging 21 goals in the space of four games with big hauls of 7.2 and 6.1

Despite this strong form, she had polarised clubs with sources indicating she was no guarantee to find a home.

But the Cats pounced on the St Joseph’s spearhead with their first choice at pick 18, who can develop under the likes of Jackie Parry and Aishling Moloney.

The Cats opted to pass on their third and final selection on the night.

AFLW football boss Brett Johnson said O’Rourke will compliment Geelong’s current mix.

“Bryde is an exciting and athletic player, who has had an exceptional year with the Pioneers and Vic Country,” Johnson said.

“She will fit in well in our group, she has strong offensive attributes and is damaging with ball in hand.

GEELONG DRAFTEES

Geelong had opted to nominate O’Rourke over tied VFLW best and fairest winner Charlotte Simpson, who was made to wait before joining St Kilda as a father-daughter pick with the club’s final selection at 47.

Simpson was eligible to join Geelong as well given her father, Sean, had played for 114 games for Geelong and seven for St Kilda, but the Cats chose to nominate O’Rourke as a father-daughter instead in the lead-up to the draft.

It came after the St Joseph’s ball-magnet, the brother of recently delisted forward Sam, had a breakout season for Geelong’s VFLW side as a midfielder

Charlotte Simpson won the VFLW best and fairest with Geelong, but ended up becoming a Saint. Picture: Brad Fleet

The 19-year-old is tipped to thrive in the Saints engine room next year after averaging 22.8 disposals, 6.7 clearances and 5.5 tackles at VFLW level last season.

Grovedale talent Chloe Adams was tipped to be the first Geelong Falcon taken on the night but slid to pick 37, where she was snapped up by Essendon.

The helmet-headed Adams, who can be used as a midfielder or a defender, won the second-most disposals in the Coates Talet League and ranked second for tackles, averaging 25.1 disposals and 8.3 tackles per game.

While she was only available to Victorian clubs after nominating her home state, she looms as a draft steal regardless given her promising offensive and defensive mix and strong leadership qualities, and the fact she only turned 18 last week.

Same goes for Simpson who is ready-to-go at AFLW level.

Originally published as AFLW Draft wrap: Geelong lands local bolter and father-daughter prospect as mature-age gun and Falcons slider find homes