Two drafted in historic night

The first-ever AFL Women’s Exhibition game will be played as a curtain-raiser during AFL Women’s Round on Saturday June 29, prior to the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs match. It will be the first time AFL clubs have competed in an AFL sanctioned women’s match.

The MCG will play host to the Melbourne Women’s FC vs. Western Bulldogs Women’s FC match, with Australia’s best female talent on display.

In honour of the support by Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs football clubs, the women will sport the jumpers of both teams. Michelle Cowan and Peta Searle have been appointed coaches of the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs teams respectively.　

Following a coin toss, Melbourne had the first selection, before AFL Commissioner Linda Dessau announced the top 10 players. The Draft was held in Melbourne at the MCG with players from Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth joining via video-link.

Fifty players were selected from over 250 nominees.

Stand-out NSW state player Courtney Gum, from UNSW-ES Stingrays, was selected at pick 25 for the Melbourne Demons. Gum starred for NSW in the midfield at the 2011 National Championships and was voted Player’s Player by her teammates.

She won the AFL Sydney Women’s League Best and Fairest in 2012 and was also her club’s Best and Fairest in the same season.

In only her fourth season of AFL, Gum was a member of the 2012 talent squad and is currently in the leadership group of the NSW state side to contest the 2013 National Championships.

She is a strong and versatile player, with her elite kicking skills and strong marking making Gum a formidable forward and midfield option.

“I’m really, really excited, it’s amazing,” Gum said.

“It’s a great opportunity, a bit nerve-racking but I can’t wait to get play on the MCG.

“I love AFL, just the skills – marking, kicking, the physicality and endurance, as well as the camaraderie with all the other girls; it’s just a fantastic sport.”

Jennifer Lew is a defender from Sydney University and was selected at pick 35 for the Melbourne Demons. Lew is also in her fourth season of AFL, and competed at the 2011 National Championships. Last year she was a member of the talent squad and voted Player’s Player in the 2012 tri-series against the ACT.

After winning the Sydney University Best and Fairest Award in 2012, she is now a member of the 2013 NSW team for the National Championships and is also in the side’s leadership group.

Lew is a determined backline workhorse who is known and respected for being one of the toughest tacklers in the AFL Sydney Women’s competition.

“We’re going to be playing in front of a big crowd who have probably never watched women’s football before so it’s a good chance for them to see what it’s all about and see how different it is from the men’s,” Lew said.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge and it will give me a kick start to improve myself over the next six weeks.”