With the AFLW draft wrapped up for another year, It is time to assess how the Western Bulldogs have gone in terms of who they have brought into the club. They had four picks inside the first nine of the draft and it was essential to nail the picks here. Almost impossible not to considering that the plethora of talent that came through the Victorian draft pool.
They got what they needed out of it, they got some star midfield talent that can aid Ellie Blackburn next year. They also brought in a couple of handy forwards that should strengthen them goals-wise and they also officially brought in a daughter of a club legend on Tuesday.
My initial reaction to the draft is that I believe the club has nailed it this year. It’s safe to say that they’ve brought in some quality talent and talent that should help them bounce back from a poor 2019 campaign. How far will they bounce back however – well we’ll just have to wait and see when 2020 comes along. But for now, here are my thoughts on the seven draftees of the Western Bulldogs’ women’s team.
Pick 62 – Amelia Van Oosterwijck, Midfielder, 164 cm
Haven’t read too much about her until today and basing it from the short highlights package I saw, she’s got serious potential about her. Her biggest asset is her pace, being gifted with lightning quick pace and has a mean sidestep about her as well, which will be a delight to watch in 2020. Played nine games for Oakleigh this year and averaged 11 disposals and 5 tackles per game, which suggests that she’s strong as well around congestion. She also kicked four goals across those nine games, highlighting her abilities to push forward.
Pick 48 – Britney Gutknecht, Midfielder, 168cm
I expected her to go within the 20-30 range so I was very stoked to see her selected here at pick 48. She could be one of the big draft bargains in the Victorian pool at least, as a midfielder who is tough at the coalface. Gutknecht was a key part in the Northern Knights’ on-ball brigade in their premiership this year, averaging nearly 17 disposals and five tackles per game, as well as booting nine goals in 10 matches.. She also represented Vic Metro in the championships solidly, as well as representing Carlton’s VFLW team for four matches.
Pick 47 – Isabella Grant, Utility, 175cm
The first father/daughter selection in the history of the club and third overall in the history of the league. Isabella Grant is the daughter of the one and only Chris Grant, who as all Bulldogs supporters will know, forged a stellar career in the red, white and blue. As a key-position player, she has shown that she can play either end of the ground and play it well. She averaged 17.2 disposals for the Western Jets this year and possesses good marking hands and goal-kicking prowess, similar to her old man. If she is even as quarter-good as Chris was in the day, then the Dogs have a gem on their hands.
Pick 9 – Elisabeth Georgostathis, Midfielder, 161cm
Someone who knows what it’s like running around for the Bulldogs, Elisabeth Georgostathis will no doubt slot in seamlessly next year, having played over half a dozen games for the Bulldogs’ VFLW team this year. She showed some good footy in this time, averaging nine disposals and six tackles, whilst kicking six goals from seven matches, highlighting her abilities to play forward. As a Western Jet, she was sensational in the middle, averaging 19.6 disposals and named as their best and fairest. She was also named captain of the Jets, so it does say a little bit about her leadership credentials.
Pick 8 – Gemma Lagioia, Midfielder, 160cm
They missed out on Sophie Molan, who went to Richmond at pick seven, which I took as a bit of a blow. But then they rebounded to select someone who represented Collingwood’s VFLW premiership team and someone who will play round one next year. Gemma Lagioia is a player that not only has pace, but the skill-set to be a remarkable player in the league. She can find the ball with no worries, averaging nearly 15 disposals per game for Oakleigh this year. She also represented Vic Metro this year in the championships and averaged 10 disposals per game – she looks a genuine future star.
Pick 6 – Nell Morris-Dalton, Forward, 176cm
I’m a huge fan of Nell Morris-Dalton, which is why I was very pleased to see the Bulldogs waste no time on their second pick in the draft to secure her. Her abilities as a forward will be a welcome asset next year, given how much the Doggies struggled in this area this year. She kicked 15 goals in 11 games for the Northern Knights this year, including three in their Grand Final win and four in the Preliminary Final. She kicked four goals in three games for Vic Metro in the championships and then kicked four goals in five games for a struggling Darebin in the VFLW. She’ll be a welcome asset indeed.
Pick 1 – Gabby Newton, Midfielder, 175cm
There was some mail floating around on the morning of the Draft that the Bulldogs were going to take Gabby Newton with the first overall pick. They couldn’t have done wrong with any of the three of Newton, Lucy McEvoy or Georgia Patrikios. In Newton, the Dogs are going to get someone who has extraordinary leadership qualities, a great ability to hunt the ball and use it well and someone who has elite athletic attributes. She captained the Northern Knights to the 2019 Under-18 premiership, won the Knights’ best and fairest for the second consecutive year and represented Vic Metro in the under-18 championships.