World Footy News

The momentum continues to build towards the AFL Women's league 2017 kick-off.  In less than 24 hours most of the players for the league's inaugural season will have been allocated to clubs via tomorrow's draft to be held in Melbourne.

And for the first time (in men's and women's drafts) there is the possibility that there will be internationals that have learnt and played the game in their own country up for grabs. 

The AFL tell us there have been around 1300 players register for the draft, and although they have not issued that list, they have confirmed that Kim Hemenway (USA), Katie Klatt (USA) and Kendra Heil (Canada) have all nominated.  They have also confirmed that  Aimee Legault (Canada) has unfortunately not nominated despite speculation that she would.

It is also expected there may be a number of Australian based Irish players such as Gill Behan, who plays for the UTS Shamrocks in Sydney, that may be drafted.

Players have had to nominate a state.  So for example Kim Hemenway has nominated NSW, which means she can only initially be drafted by GWS.  However should she fail to be drafted tomorrow she may be offered a "free agency' place by any other club after the draft (by October 30). Hemenway will not be at the draft tomorrow as she will be preparing to head to Sarasota to play with the New York Magpies at the USAFL's National Championships.

Katie Klatt and Kendra Heil have nominated from Victoria so tomorrow they can be taken by any of the four Victorian clubs and again if not drafted, can be listed by any club during the free agency period.

Of course it would be fair to say that the teams in the competition have not really had a fair chance to assess the talent outside Australia and for many players the 2017 AFL International Cup next year may be their best opportunity to be seen by the scouts and be given a shot at the big time in next year's draft. 

The pre-draft listing of Kate Shierlaw from the Wimbledon Hawks was a huge vindication of the game played by women outside Australia, and although Kate learnt to play the game in London she is an Australian.  To have foreign players drafted from the game in their own country would be an even bigger deal and open the way for those women playing footy around the world to know they are part of the pathway to this elite competition.

The eight NAB AFL Women’s teams will draft the majority of their players with 145 players selected in total. Depending on their number of pre-signed players, each team will select between 15 and 19 players.

The Draft will be streamed live on the AFL website: http://www.afl.com.au/womens  

 

The Draft will follow a ‘snaking order’ after the first round.

 

The first round will proceed as follows:

 

1. GWS Giants

2. Brisbane Lions

3. Carlton

4. Fremantle

5. Western Bulldogs

6. Collingwood

7. Adelaide

8. Melbourne

 

Clubs will have the following selections:

 

Adelaide 18 Selections

7, 10, 23, 26, 39, 42, 55, 58, 71, 74, 87, 90, 103, 106, 119, 122, 134, 136

 

Brisbane Lions 18 Selections

2, 15, 18, 31, 34, 47, 50, 63, 66, 79, 82, 95, 98, 111, 114, 127, 1128, 141

 

Carlton 19 Selections

3, 14, 19, 30, 35, 46, 51, 62, 67, 78, 83, 94, 99, 110, 115, 126, 129, 140, 142

 

Collingwood 19 Selections

6, 11, 22, 27, 38, 43, 54, 59, 70, 75, 86, 91, 102, 107, 118, 123, 132, 137, 144

 

Fremantle 18 Selections

4, 13, 20, 29, 36, 45, 52, 61, 68, 77, 84, 93, 100, 109, 116, 125, 130, 139

 

GWS Giants 15 Selections

1, 16, 17, 32, 33, 48, 49, 64, 65, 80, 81, 96, 97, 112, 113

 

Melbourne 19 Selections

8, 9, 24, 25, 40, 41, 56, 57, 72, 73, 88, 89, 104, 105, 120, 121, 134, 145

 

Western Bulldogs 19 Selections

5, 12, 21, 28, 37, 44, 53, 60, 69, 76, 85, 92, 101, 108, 117, 124, 131, 138, 143

 

 

Teams have already made marquee, rookie and priority player selections.

 

The remaining three places on the club lists of 27 will be available for ‘free agency’. Free agents are those players who have nominated for the Draft but were not selected and may now consider options to play interstate. Free agents must be selected prior to October 31.
 

World Footy News wishes all women registered for the draft tomorrow the best of luck.