AFLW Draft: Victorian Country’s best chances to be picked up
The AFLW Draft is being held on Wednesday night. Find out who Vic Country’s top prospects are.
Victorian Country clubs are expected to feature prominently among the top picks in the AFLW draft on Wednesday night.
The AFLW competition, which began in 2017 with eight clubs, will expand next year with the addition of Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney.
The move to an 18-team competition creates more opportunities for female players with those from country clubs among those to cash in, according to AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan.
“It is a challenging year with four brand new sides,” he said.
“But the whole standard of young athletes coming into AFLW is getting better from year to year, the standard of coaching is getting higher.”
Sheehan said Covid interruptions of the past two years had slowed the progress of women’s football, particularly in regional areas.
“It has been challenging for all sport to get that continuity going once again,” he said.
“We’d by lying to say it’s all smooth sailing.
“It has to rebuild itself again because it had only been going three or four years and then Covid came along.”
VIC COUNTRY’S DRAFT HOPES
AMBER CLARKE (Narre North Foxes, Dandenong Stingrays)
Clarke is the reigning NAB League best and fairest winner who has caught the eye with her blistering pace from stoppages. She had a presence up forward kicking 18 goals and averaging almost 18 possessions per match across 10 matches and also earned All-Australian selection in a big year.
YASMIN DUURSMA (Foster, Gippsland Power)
Another member of the famous Foster football family, Duursma is set to follow older brother Xavier into AFL ranks. She is a talented left-footer who has stepped up at every level she has played and averaged almost 15 possessions in matches for Vic Country.
MACKENZIE EARDLEY (Beleura, Dandenong Stingrays)
Eardley has made her mark in defence all season. She is a great reader of the play and has also gone forward with impact. Eardley came under notice when she averaged 16.5 possessions for Vic Country where her efforts earned her All-Australian honours.
EMILY EVERIST (Golden Square, Bendigo Pioneers)
Everist is a code switcher who has moved across from soccer. She slotted into a defensive role with the Pioneers and took her game to another level when she represented Vic Country.
TAYLAH GATT (Beleura, Dandenong Stingrays)
Gatt is a highly-rated midfielder who had a great year for the Stingrays with the ability to break the lines with her undeniable pace over the ground. She has made two appearances for Vic Country including a best-on-ground game against Vic Metro.
ZARLIE GOLDSWORTHY (Lavington, Murray Bushrangers)
Another soccer convert, Goldsworthy is a high possession winner with an average of nearly 25 a match for the Bushrangers as well as kicking 14 goals. She earned All-Australian honours after starring roles for NSW-ACT and the Allies.
ZARA HAMILTON (Belconnen, Murray Bushrangers)
Hamilton has pieced together a huge body of work at club and representative level with NSW-ACT and the Allies. Across nine games for the Bushrangers she averaged 24 possessions a match, playing mostly in the midfield. She is a fierce tackler given her rugby league background.
KEELEY SKEPPER (Shepparton United, Murray Bushrangers)
Skepper has had a big year being voted the MVP for Vic Country and earning All-Australian honours. She is a left-footer who reads the play extremely well and also prepared to regularly lay strong tackles.
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