AFL NSW/ACT at the 2015 AFL Women’s Draft

By Caitlin Arnold

Following AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan’s push for a nation-wide women’s Australian Football League by 2017, there is an extra level of interest surrounding Monday night’s 2015 AFL Women’s Draft.

Extending on last year’s stand-alone exhibition match between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Demons’ female squads, two games will be held in 2015 with each set to showcase 50 of the best female footballing talents from around the country – including New South Wales and the ACT.

AFL NSW/ACT Female Programs Manager Libby Sadler is excited by the prospect of her region’s female footballers being able to show off their high level of skill to a wider audience.

 “The exhibition game raises the profile of our elite female footballers and provides them with an aspirational target as we build towards a national women’s league,” says Sadler on the 2015 exhibition matches.

“The players have put on a great display of our talent in the lead up to the 2015 AFL Women’s Draft with solid performances in the AFL Victoria Draft Exhibition match, and strong follow up performances in our AFL Canberra versus AFL Sydney representative game.”

To allow for some new faces to enter the two teams, only six players from each of the 2014 selected sides will return this year, leaving 38 positions available to over 250 nominated players from across the country.

This will make way for some younger players to come through the ranks and experience the bright lights of the big time, including a handful of promising contenders from the New South Wales and ACT region.

Names such as Canberra’s Heather Anderson and Karina Demant, as well as AFL Sydney’s Maddy Collier and reigning AFL Sydney Best and Fairest award winner, Stephanie Walker are all being touted as possible draftees.

“Heather Anderson is a solid chance after consistently strong displays during her football career. She played exceptionally well in Victoria during the recent Draft Exhibition game, and also played some super footy in our local representative derby. 

“She has elite fitness, reads the play exceptionally well, and attacks packs and the footy with vigour.

“Karina Demant from AFL Canberra is a strong full-forward who again played well in the AFL Victoria Draft Exhibition match, and is a chance to be drafted by either team.

“Maddy Collier and Steph Walker both put on strong displays in each of the recent games, and are developing into consistent and talented footballers. 

“They are both a chance for the draft and have put themselves forward with sturdy performances across both programs.

“There are also some other dark horses for selection including up-and-coming young player, Jodie Hicks from Hay.”

Another promising contender from the AFL NSW/ACT region is Courtney Gum whose stellar AFL career puts her in good stead for another call up to the Melbourne squad having been drafted last year. 

As the 2014 winner of the Representative Player of the Year award at AFL Sydney’s Phelan Medal presentation – the first female to take out the honour – Gum would lend a wealth of experience to a side filled with young debutants.

“With an exceptional history at a state representative level and another strong display in 2014 with the UNSW Eastern Suburbs Stingrays, any call up to the exhibition match would be well deserved.

“Regardless of the final selections for 2015, the New South Wales and ACT candidates have displayed exceptional skills, professionalism and drive across both exhibition games. 

“They have set a foundation that highlights the strength of our talented females and have laid a promising platform for the future.”

The Demons will host the Bulldogs for the first of the exhibition matches in Round 8 at the MCG with the second match taking place in Round 20 when the Bulldogs host the Demons at Etihad Stadium.

The 2015 AFL Women’s Draft will take place on Monday, 20 April 2015 at 7pm AEST at Etihad Stadium. Watch it live here.