Georgie Cleaver, Kaitlyn Srhoj and Ella Slocombe all in contention to be first picked West Australian at AFLW draft ahead of combine testing

It’s still unclear who Western Australia’s first-picked prospect at the AFLW draft will be with three players still in contention ahead of Sunday’s combine reports ELIZA REILLY.

East Fremantle’s Georgie Cleaver is one of the most sought-after WA prospects ahead of the AFLW draft combine. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

It’s still unclear who Western Australia’s first-picked prospect at the AFLW draft will be with three players still in contention ahead of Sunday’s combine.

East Fremantle Ruck/forward Georgie Cleaver, Peel Thunder winger Kaitlyn Srhoj and Claremont draft bolter Ella Slocombe are widely viewed as WA’s three best talents, the trio almost guaranteed to be selected later this year after strong top-age seasons. But there’s no clear favourite to have their name read out first, with all three appealing to AFLW clubs for different reasons.

Srhoj was a member of the AFLW National Academy this year and was named in the Under-18 All-Australian side. Slocombe has gone from not being guaranteed a spot in WA’s team at the start of the year to a first-round contender despite an injury setback. And Cleaver won a grand final with East Fremantle but is a dual-sport star, representing Australia in netball at the youth Commonwealth Games.

Peel Thunder winger Kaitlyn Srhoj was named in the All-Australian Under 18 side. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s a really tough one,” WAFC Female Talent Manager Trent Cooper said. “Clubs may be reticent to use their first pick on someone who’s not guaranteed to commit to footy for the entire time.

“At some stage, Georgie may be told that she can’t play both but she’s going to do everything she can until that point. We’ve been really supportive of that as has netball. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Kaitlyn or even Ella as that first pick.

“I think it will depend on what clubs are looking for and needing. But Georgie is a utility and clubs looking to develop her in a particular position could take her first.

“They could go in any order. The rest are going to be more on a needs basis. They’re all draftable prospects but it could be a matter of what clubs need.

“Normally it’s quite simple. This year, it’s quite difficult to pick who the first one will be.”

West Perth defender Liliana Grassenis, Swan Districts midfielder Jaime Henry, overage East Fremantle prospect Mylee Leitch and Claremont wing/forward Eva O’Donnell will also test in front of recruiters on Sunday. But Anjelique Raison (East Fremantle) won’t participate due to illness.

Cooper said draft combine results will take on greater importance this year with talk players will get the chance to nominate for a national pool, deviating from a history of state-based drafts.

Ella Slocombe has been a draft bolter this year after her performances for Claremont and Western Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“When I was coaching, we knew all the players within the state,” he said. “You knew who was quick, who could jump, who was agile and the 2km was the most important one. But this year with a possibility of players going nationally, if someone tests really well, a club on the east coast might go and do more research on that player.

“This year, I think the combine will be more important than it has been in the past.”

Having been on the other side of the draft as Fremantle’s head coach, Cooper is well-versed in what it will take for WA’s hopefuls to make their dreams a reality. The WAFC has been running training sessions for the past four to six weeks, tailoring sessions to improve draft combine testing results.

“We’ve been training alongside the boys, doing some things together with them and some things separate,” Cooper said. “We’ve been individualising what they need to improve on.

“For instance, Georgie Cleaver’s agility test was elite, beating half of the boys because she’s come off a netball season. But her 2km time trial was off the pace because she’s only been training short distances for netball. We’ve built that up and she’s done really well.

“We’ve gotten them all familiar with the testing and we think they’ll do really well. The 2km is going to be quite important in the 16-a-side AFLW game.”

Testing will take place on Sunday at Curtin University.

Originally published as Georgie Cleaver, Kaitlyn Srhoj and Ella Slocombe all in contention to be first picked West Australian at AFLW draft ahead of combine testing