Launceston’s best hopes of inaugural AFLW draftees met with prospective clubs for the first time on Tuesday.
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TSLW premiership stars Courtney Webb, Georgia Hill and Daria Bannister joined Tigers standout Loveth Ochayi as the four Tasmanians invited among 42 other top prospects from around Australia to the AFLW draft combine at Etihad Stadium.
AFL Tasmania development manager Leigh Elder said Tasmanian players were all open to nominate for the AFLW draft on October 18.
The draft also comes in the wake of North Melbourne last week being awarded one of two new AFLW licences for the 2019 season, the club in a joint bid with AFL Tasmania and the state government.
“None of our girls at the draft combine will say no to an opportunity of playing in 2018,” Elder said.
“It’s only going to broaden their experience, give them greater knowledge and get them in a high-performance environment, which is exactly what we want them to do.”
Elder also cleared up any misgivings that Tasmanians wanting to play in the Kangaroos inaugural side in 2019 would be forced to defer from the 2017 draft for a year.
Contracts are set at just 12 months for first-year draftees ahead of a further four clubs joining the AFLW in 2020.
“Reality is this is an opportunity for the Tassie girls to get that experience interstate and be prepared whether it’s an opportunity to remain at the club they get selected or turn to Tasmania to play the highest level,” Elder said.
Under current AFLW rules, players can also nominate their home states and should they not be drafted to any preferred clubs, they are entitled to become free agents.
Elder said it’s a win-win for Tasmanian AFLW hopefuls.
“The way I see it, our players will be able to select Tasmania as the state they prefer to be nominated for (in 2019),” he said.
“Anyone who first selects Tasmania, then the Tassie Kangaroos licence gets the first right to pick them.”
Players underwent medical screening and psychological testing with the eight AFLW clubs on Tuesday.
The draft combine will test the abilities on Wednesday in sprints, agility, endurance, time trials, beep tests, vertical jump and football skills.
“Every one of the 46 invited to the draft combine can play,” Elder said, “but it’s more of an opportunity to understand their character.”
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
