First AFL women’s draft in history
Alysia Thomas-Sam
Tonight, the Jack Ryder Room on level 2 of the Melbourne Cricket Ground was filled to capacity with an earnest crowd of anxious attendees consisting of friends, family and nominees donning the colours of their respective clubs from all around Victoria.
As everyone excitedly took their seats, each jostling for a good position, they became witness to a monumental event in our national sport, the first ever AFL women’s draft.
This draft signals an appreciation for the existence of women’s football and primarily a step forward in recognising the value of women as a part of football community and the remuneration of an elite status sanctioned by the most elite level, AFL.
Over 250 players aged 17 and above nominated in the AFL women’s draft.
As the Melbourne Football Club representatives sit on the right side of the room and the Western Bulldogs Football Club opposing on the left side of the room, Justice Linda Dessau gets the top 10 picks of the first AFL women’s draft underway.
Number one draft pick in the first AFL women’s draft pick in history is Daisy Pearce of Darebin Falcons and will represent the Melbourne Football Club on Saturday 29 June.
A five time All-Australian, player of the championship in 2007, one of the few players to represent Australia against Ireland in the International series, played in the 2007 EJ Whitten match. Daisy Pearce is an unrivalled competitor and has more than deservedly earned her place as the first draft pick.
Second draft pick goes to Stephanie Chiocci of Diamond Creek who will play for the Western Bulldogs.
In 2009, at the national championships at Patterson’s stadium, Gary Ablett described Stephanie as being so good she could play for an AFL team.
The rest of the top 10 draft picks were chosen as follows:
3. Chelsea Randall of Swan Districts WFC
4. Aasta O’Connor of the Darebin Falcons FC
5. Kara Donnellan of Swan Districts WFC
6. Karen Paxman of the Darebin Falcons FC
7. Kirby Bentley of East Fremantle WFC
8. Katie Loynes of Diamond Creek FC
9. Lou Wotton of the Eastern Devils FC
10. Emma Keaney of Melbourne University FC
The Darebin Falcons represented the Victorian Women’s Football League proudly with a massive 7 draft picks within the top 20.
While in total, Victorian players dominated the draft with 27 draft picks out of the 50 with the remaining picks going to players within the other respective states.
The number one draft pick, Daisy Pearce, recognises the former attitudes to women’s football at the AFL level and has had her ultimate dream fulfilled with tonight’s draft selection.
“To think I’d be standing here is well beyond what I thought I’d do in football, growing up playing footy, it was a dream to play AFL but you realise pretty soon it’s not going to happen.” she says.
As the patrons of this historical event cry, kiss and hug with immense joy, the Jack Ryder Room overlooks a colossal patch of green grass that signifies the amount of small steps these important people have made to empower a giant leap in AFL history.
In 45 days the 50 draft picks chosen tonight will march onto this famous patch of grass donning the Demons and Bulldogs colours to change the landscape of elite Australian Football with the first inaugural AFL women’s game at the MCG.
Last Modified on 15/05/2013 23:02