Tasmanian duo Brooke Barwick and Georgia Clark widely tipped to go early in AFLW draft

Tasmania’s top two AFLW draft prospects have spoken about what it would mean to hear their names called on December 18.

Georgia Clark and Brooke Barwick are Tasmania’s top two AFLW draft prospects. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While they may have gone through entirely different years, two of Tasmania’s top football prospects are set to continue what has been a groundbreaking year for the state at Monday’s AFLW draft.

Both Brooke Barwick and Georgia Clark are widely tipped to go inside the top 30 picks in next week’s draft with both players catching the eye of a number of clubs.

And while Clark has continued her stellar rise for the Tasmania Devils this season, Barwick has had to watch-on from the sidelines as she recovered from an ACL injury.

Brooke Barwick has been tipped by some experts to go as high as number 3 despite missing the season with an ACL injury. Picture: Linda Higginson

Despite missing the entire year, Barwick is expected to go inside the first round following a breakout 2022 campaign.

Selected in the All Australian side after a stellar season as a bottom-age player for the Allies, she averaged 15 disposals while also playing nine matches for the Devils.

A member of the AFL National Academy this year, Barwick said while it was tough to miss an entire season that she was confident the challenges she’d faced would hold her in good stead should her AFLW dreams be realised early next week.

“It was definitely hard watching on from the sidelines as my teammates ran out,” Barwick said.

“But I think it was just a switch of mindset to being positive and the things I can learn outside of the game and hopefully that improves when I go back to playing.

“I think it’s so important to have that metal resilience along with the physical resilience because footy is so mental as well so if you can be strong off the field you are going to do well on it.”

One player who Barwick watched have a fantastic season was Clark, with the undersized key forward booting 17 goals and earning Coates Talent League Team of the Year honours for the second straight season.

Georgia Clark is also tipped to go inside the top 10-15 picks. Picture: Anthony Corke/Solstice Digital

“It’s been a very busy year,” Clark said.

I’ve had good patches and a lot of opportunities playing for the Allies and the Academy camps and training. I’ve learnt a lot from this year.

“It (draft week) is definitely a surreal experience. It’s a mix of emotions and all the hard work comes up to this moment. It will be a dream come true really.

Both girls are products of the Claremont and Glenorchy football clubs with fellow Devils teammates Tunisha Kikoak, Mackenzie Ford and Jasmyn Thompson also in the mix.