Two Launceston Football Club stars who drove contrasting roads to the AFLW draft have had their dreams fulfilled as Abbey Green and Mia King were selected by North Melbourne.
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Taken at pick 49, King had previously been touted as someone ready to slot straight into a midfield role and North Melbourne obviously agreed, taking the Scotch Oakburn student with their third selection.
Attending the draft as a potential first-round pick, the 18-year-old was understandably over the moon with her selection.
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"I was just waiting in the room for the names to be called out and honestly, it was the best feeling when they said my name," she said.
"I was so nervous, I think I'm still shaking a little bit. It is honestly just a dream come true and I'm so excited."
Thanking the coaches that have shaped her as a player, King reserved special thanks for mum Lucy.
"Mum takes me to all my games so I wouldn't be able to get to where I am without her and I'm really thankful for everyone that's played a little role in my football career."
Flying back to Launceston directly after her draft commitments, the newly-drafted midfielder will sit her year 12 exams in the next two weeks before moving onto her new life at North Melbourne.
Hampered by a strained MCL sustained in the fourth quarter of Eastern Allies' final national championships game against Victoria Metro 12 weeks ago, King was named most valuable player at that carnival, adding to her draft credentials.
Blues and now Kangaroos team-mate Green forged a different path to the North Melbourne list since taking up the sport.
The ruck-forward has been a standout player in the State League competition for several seasons, named in three consecutive teams of the year before a VFLW opportunity arose which she took with both hands, collecting 17 disposals and 10 hit-outs for Melbourne University Women's Football Club.
Encouraged to nominate for the draft by both North Melbourne and Melbourne, the 23-year-old was selected with the Kangaroos' final pick, no.79, enabling her to stay in Tasmania.
Able to individually nominate for the Kangaroos through their Tasmanian alliance and the part-time nature of the AFLW competition, the Blues pair join Launceston team-mates Daria Bannister and Chloe and Libby Haines as well as fellow Tasmanians Emma Humphries, Nicole Bresnahan, Brittany Gibson and 2020 draftee Ellie Gavalas at the club.
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