The AFLW Draft is upon us for another year, with another batch of young females set to come through the ever growing system that is the AFL Women's. Last year I did a Mock Draft of the women's league which was a lot of fun to do, so I'm bringing it back this year.
How the female players get drafted is much different to how the guys get drafted as the AFLW prospects can nominate a specific state or region in the case that they want to play for a Victorian club – players have the choice of selecting Melbourne Metro, Geelong or both.
Last year I did the first two rounds, this morning I will just write about the 12 talented prospects that I think will go in the first round. Many of these draftees have the potential to become a star in the AFLW – much like what Chloe Molloy and Monique Conti, who were respectively taken with the third and fourth overall picks in last year's AFLW draft.
So without wasting any more time, let's go through the first round of the 2018 AFLW Draft.
1. Geelong – Nina Morrison (Midfielder, Geelong Falcons)
Expect the Geelong Falcons product to be the Cats' first pick in the draft. It's been talked about since Prespakis nominated to go to the Metro area, but nonetheless, the Cats still have a very talented young lady here with Nina Morrison. Her endurance is outstanding, has a terrific work-rate and is an elite ball-winner in just her second year of football. Dominated in the Under-18 Championships, named as Vic Country's MVP and one of two Players of the Championship, along with Prespakis.
2. Geelong – Sophie Van De Heuval (Midfielder, GWV Rebels)
This looms as one of the more interesting sub-plots in this year's AFLW Draft, as she has nominated for both regions of Victoria. She is every chance to go to Geelong with the second pick in the draft, but in the off-chance she gets passed up with their first two picks, It is almost guaranteed that she'll go to Melbourne. She is gifted with outstanding pace and agility and she is also very capable when she pushes forward, good in both one-on-one and in the air.
3. Carlton – Madison Prespakis (Midfielder, Calder Cannons)
If we were talking about talent, then this young lady should be the number one pick, but she won't be, having passed on Geelong's advances and is a dead certainty to be selected by Carlton, who have the first pick of the Melbourne Metro talent pool. She is the complete midfielder, who is elite at winning contested ball and is an astute user of it when she's on the outside. Given that the Blues struggled immensely when Bri Davey went down with injury, they would love a player of Prespakis' calibre.
4. Fremantle – Sabrina Duffy (Defender, Peel Thunderbirds)
Having supported Fremantle since she was very little, the Dockers will find themselves with a very good player here. She captained WA in the Under-18 Championships and throughout that time, she has been sensational in any position on the ground. Even though her best footy is as a defender, she can play roles in the middle and up forward and it's her ability to adapt quickly that has Fremantle rating her extraordinarily highly. Should be the Dockers' first selection this year. 5. Collingwood – Katie Lynch (Forward, Oakleigh Chargers) Given how decimated Collingwood are on key position players, following the departures of Mo Hope, Jasmine Garner and Jess Duffin, as well as losing Chloe Molloy to a season-ending foot injury, selecting Katie Lynch here sounds logical as it gets. She possesses strong hands, is a good kick for goal and was named an All-Australian in the Under-18 Championships.
6. Melbourne – Tyla Hanks (Midfielder, Gippsland Power) Having nominated Melbourne Metro, meaning Geelong can't pick her up, Tyla Hanks looks likely to fall to either one of Melbourne or Collingwood who have the next picks in the Melbourne Metro Draft Pool - I think she's a better fit at the Demons given that they will miss Daisy Pearce next season. She has the potential to become a superstar in the AFLW - her leadership qualities are unique, but effective, but her ability to win the ball and use it well will have her taken in the first round easily. 7. Geelong – Olivia Purcell (Midfielder, Geelong Falcons)
She could've easily have gone in amongst the top-two selections – having nominated to go to the Geelong region, but because the Cats are guaranteed to get her, they will look at getting a talent who could get snapped up by a rival club such as Van De Heuval. Purcell has amazing endurance and loves to tackle and harass the ball carriers when she doesn't have the footy in her hands. 8. Adelaide – Nikki Gore (Midfielder, South Adelaide)
Adelaide fans will get excited for Nikki Gore, who should provide some assistance in an Adelaide midfield that underperformed this year. Gore was named as the SANFL Women's breakthrough player award this year – which is awarded to the best player under 21. She is about as hard working as it gets, with her ability to win the football in congestion a highlight in her game. Combine that with her solid pace, she will be a welcome asset in the Crows team in 2019.
9. Brisbane – McKenzie Dowrick (Defender/Midfielder, Subiaco) This one should excited Brisbane supporters as they somehow managed to persuade WA-girl McKenzie Dowrick to come over to the Lions. She can play a variety of positions and play them well. Coming out of half-back, she has an elite kick and is a very excellent reader of the play. When in the middle, she can hunt the ball as well as she recieves it on the outside. No matter what position she plays, the Lions will have themselves a very good player here. 10. Western Bulldogs – Mikala Cann (Midfielder, Eastern Rangers) Given that the Western Bulldogs lost hard-at-it players such as Emma Kearney and Jenna Bruton, the Dogs selecting Mikala Cann with this pick sounds logical. Cann won a VFLW Premiership with Hawthorn this year and has showed that she can tackle, logging nine tackles against the Cats in the Grand Final and averaged 7.6 tackles per game in six VFLW games this year. She is also a very elite runner and could become somewhat of a pressure player. 11. Collingwood – Emerson Woods (Midfielder, Eastern Ranges) Another one from Hawthorn's VFLW premiership team this year, Emerson Woods possesses pace that is nearly unmatched and showed time and time again in the Under-18 Championships that she could be a very handy player in any Victorian team. She's also a very good tackler and could be used as pressure forward somewhere down the line. 12. GWS – Alyce Parker (Midfielder, Thurgoona) Looms as perhaps the biggest steal of the draft, having nominated to join Greater Western Sydney, who don't have their first pick until the end of the first round, which stands at the 12th pick. I say a steal as she was perhaps one of the best performers in the Under-18 Championships and was named All-Australian captain in the process. She's extremely athletic and uses the ball extremely well. Some have likened Parker to Dusty Martin in the way he bursts out of packs and fends off opposition.