World Footy News

The AFL national women’s league clubs today named their marquee players at press conferences in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

The 16 players will be the faces of the inaugural women’s teams; Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, GWS Giants, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.

Among them is 20 year old Sabrina Fredrick-Traub who currently plays full forward for South Fremantle.  Fredrick-Traub was born in England and moved to Australia when she was seven and she began playing football with the boys to help get used to Australian life.  She was named as one of two marquee players for the Brisbane Lions

Left: Sabrina Fredrick-Traub Image courtesy AFL Media

AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan said the players will become heroes of their clubs.

“These women are the first ever female players to be listed at AFL clubs and their future as elite football players starts today. They will carry the hopes of their clubs, of our league, and we hope their own legion of fans,” he said.

“We’ve seen them play and they are without doubt the best players our game has to offer. And importantly, off the field they demonstrate passion, determination and a hunger to inspire and encourage young Australian girls who love our game that anything is possible.”

The strength of women’s football in Western Australia is reflected in their eight marquee players. Victoria has seven players while Tayla Harris is the only Queenslander.

Six West Australians will relocate to other cities to play in the national competition.

The Darebin Falcons (VFL Womens) has four players while the Coastal Titans (WAWFL) has three players.

Marquee Player Profiles

Adelaide Crows

Kellie Gibson

Age: 20

Forward

In 2016 made the move to SA club Morphettville Park

Originally from Swan Districts WA

5 x WA youth girls representative

2 x WAWFL premiership player

Played Rugby 7s and went to the Youth Olympics in 2014 and won a gold medal

Selection #48 in 2013 Draft

Played with Western Bulldogs 2013, 2015

Played with Melbourne 2014

SANFL Community Programs Coordinator  

 

Chelsea Randall

Age: 25

Forward

Plays with Swan Districts in WAWFL

3 x All-Australian

2 x WAWFL Best and Fairest

Selection #3 in 2013 Draft

Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014 & 2015

Represented Western Australia 2015 & 2016

Swan Districts Regional Manager - East Pilbara

 

Brisbane Lions

Sabrina Frederick-Traub
Age: 20

Full forward

Plays with South Fremantle in WAWFL

2 x youth girls All Australian

Played with Melbourne 2015

Played Western Australia 2015, 2016

2016 Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassador

Kicked three goals in the 2015 AFL Women's Exhibition Match

Currently studying sports psychology at Murdoch University

Moved to Australia, from England, when she was seven and she began playing football with the boys to help get used to Australian life.

 

Tayla Harris

Age: 19

Forward/Ruck

Plays with Zillmere in QWFL

5 x youth girls All-Australian

Selection #17 in 2014 Draft

Played with Melbourne 2014, 2015

Played with Brisbane Lions academy team 2016

Brisbane Lions Community Officer

 

Carlton

 

Brianna Davey

Age: 21

Defender/midfielder

Played with the Western Bulldogs 2015 & 2016

Playing with the St Kilda Sharks

Played for Melbourne Victory 2010–2015 in W League

Played for Melbourne City 2016 in W League

Former goalkeeper for the Matildas

Played Australian football until 13 years

Currently studying to be a teacher

 

Darcy Vescio
Age: 23
Full forward

Plays with Darebin Falcons

Selection #3 2014 Draft
Played for Western Bulldogs 2014 and 2015
Victorian state team 2013 & 2015

3 x premiership player with the Darebin Falcons
2016 Australia Post AFL Multicultural Ambassador
Comes from a Chinese and Italian background
Starting playing footy at age five

Graphic designer

 

Collingwood

 

Moana Hope
Age: 28
Full forward

Plays with St Kilda Sharks

Selection #10 in 2014 Draft
Played for Western Bulldogs 2014 and 2015

Has won multiple League goal kicking awards
5 x Victorian State representative

200+ games in the VWFL
Starting playing footy at age 13 with the boys

Traffic operations manager

 

Emma King
Age: 22
Ruck

Plays with Coastal Titans in WAWFL
Selection #1 in 2014 Draft

Played with Western Bulldogs 2014, 2015

2 x WA State representative

2 x WAWFL player

Has a twin sister, one of two sets in the family

Has just completed her architecture degree

 

Fremantle

 

Kiara Bowers

Age: 24
Midfielder

Plays with Coastal Titans
Selection #19 in 2013 Draft

Played with Melbourne in 2013, 2014, 2015

5 x WA State representative

4 x WAWFL League Best & Fairest

3 x WAWFL player

Area Manager for Hendry

 

Kara Donnellan

Age: 24
Midfielder

Captains Swan Districts in WAWFL
Selection #5 in 2013 Draft

Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014, 2015

3 x WA State representative

3 x Vic State representative

3 x All-Australian

2 x Club B&F at Swan Districts

Originally from Victoria

Justice and High Performance Manager at Swan Districts

 

GWS Giants

 

Renee Forth

Age: 29

Midfielder

Captains Coastal Titans in WAWFL

2012 Club Best and Fairest

Selection #41 in 2013 Draft

4 x WA Representative

Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014

Played with Western Bulldogs in 2015

Electrician

 

Emma Swanson

Age: 21

Midfielder

Selection #29 in 2013 Draft

Plays with East Fremantle in WAWFL

4 x Club Best and Fairest

Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014, 2015

4 x WA Representative at seniors and youth girls’ level

Youth Girls All Australian

AFL Game Development Officer

 

Melbourne

 

Mel Hickey

Age: 31

Defender

Selection #11 in 2013 Draft

3 x Victorian player

4 x premiership player with the Darebin Falcons

2 x All-Australian

Grew up in Mildura, a distant relation to Geelong great Reg Hickey

Fitness consultant

 

Daisy Pearce

Age: 28

Midfielder

Melbourne captain 2013, 2014, 2015

Selection #1 in 2013 Draft

Captains the Darebin Falcons

8 x premiership player

4 x Victorian player

4 x All-Australian

6 x VWFL Premier Division B&F – Helen Lambert Medal

Previously a midwife and now an intern with Melbourne FC

 

Western Bulldogs

 

Ellie Blackburn

Age: 21

Midfield

Plays with Melbourne Uni

Selection #13 in 2013 Draft

2 x Victorian Representative

Played with Melbourne 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

All-Australian at both senior and youth girls’ level

50+ senior games in the VWFL

Grew up barracking for Hawthorn

Store manager

 

Katie Brennan

Age: 23

Forward

Originally from QLD now living in Victoria playing with the Darebin Falcons

Selection #22 in 2013 Draft

Victorian State Representative on 2 occasions

QLD State Representative at both senior and youth girls’ level

3 x premiership player with the Darebin Falcons

3 x All-Australian

Strength and conditioning coach

Craig Starcevichtoday announced the signings of our two women's marquee players.

WATCH: https://t.co/imVqPerGwF pic.twitter.com/C69RLmyvw4

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) July 27, 2016