Daria Bannister is Tasmania’s newest AFL Women’s star with the Western Bulldogs showing faith in her ability and potential on Wednesday.
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The Dogs called the 18-year-old Launceston Football Club premiership forward-midfielder’s name out in Melbourne, adding Bannister to its list with pick 19 through the AFLW draft.
Bannister was the only Tasmanian selected this year and joins four other state players in the fledgling competition – including new teammate Ellyse Gamble at Whitten Oval.
“I’m very excited and stoked to begin a journey over there,” said the Launceston College student, who was watching at home with friends when she received the news.
I was shocked… overwhelmed and speechless.
- Daria Bannister
“I was shocked… overwhelmed and speechless.
“I’m looking forward to greater exposure of the knowledge of football and learning about everyone else’s football journeys and how they got to where they are now, and learn from that.”
Bannister trained with the Bulldogs earlier this year and said Launceston’s successful season no doubt played a part in her getting selected.
“Our games were sent to the AFLW to review and I was pleased with how the season played out,” she said.
AFL Tasmania development manager Leigh Elder said Bannister was clearly the state’s best chance heading into the draft. Bannister’s Blues teammates Courtney Webb, Georgia Hill, Mia King and Southerners Loveth Ochayi and Jacinta Limbrick are all still a chance to be picked up this week during the free agency period or the rookie draft on Friday.
A pre-season draft will also take place on November 13.
“There was only 19 picks for Victorian-based clubs so there was not a lot of opportunities… so to get one in Tassie, we are very happy with that,” Elder said.
“We believe with the four that we currently have, to have an increase was a big tick in the box, but we think we have four girls outside of Daria ready to step up and are ready for the level.
“We are hopeful that one or two of them get the opportunity this year or as the competition expands. It will be our and their expectation that they are, but obviously that needs to play out.”
Other Tasmanians in the AFLW include Gamble, Jess Wuetschner, Britt Gibson (Brisbane) and Emma Humphries (Melbourne).
