South Australia continues to enhance its standing on the national stage after having a record 14 players selected in the 2019 AFLW Draft in Melbourne today.
After having six players chosen in 2017 and nine last year, SA extended its record into double figures for the first time as the standard of the SANFL Statewide Super Women’s League gains respect.
SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill said the bumper South Australian women’s draft haul was further evidence of the continual growth and development of talent identification and elite pathways in this state.
“The SANFL Statewide Super League Women’s competition is certainly now providing a real pathway for players to achieve their dream of getting onto an AFLW list, which is very encouraging for our League and the pool of talent in SA,” Neill said.
“It’s certainly going to be a competition which is valued by those already in the AFLW system, but also by those who aspire to get to that level.”
Adelaide Football Club selected a mixture of youth and experience with its eight selections, headlined by dual South Adelaide premiership ruck Montana McKinnon at No.14.
The Crows then selected SANFL Best and Fairest winner Najwa Allen at No.37 after the 25 year-old Norwood star averaged 25.4 disposals in 2019.
Highly-rated emerging South Australians Jaimi Tabb (Eagles), Caitlin Could (Glenelg) and West Adelaide pair Madison Newman and Chelsea Biddell also found a home at West Lakes.
AFLW All-Australian Courtney Gum was snapped up by the Crows at No.83 while Panthers premiership player Nicole Campbell was another wise head chosen to don the red, gold and blue.
Glenelg’s Lucy Bellinger and Norwood’s Hannah Dunn were the surprise packets in being selected by Brisbane and the Gold Coast respectively inside the top 25 picks.
Redleg Hannah Priest, North’s Brittany Perry, South’s Cheyenne Hammond and Norwood’s Ebony O’Dea were the other SANFL Women’s players to get an AFLW opportunity across the border.
SA could still have a handful of other players join AFLW clubs as the Free Agency window now opens.
SANFL’s 2019 AFLW Draftees
Montana McKinnon (South Adelaide) – Adelaide, No. 14
Lucy Bellinger (Glenelg) – Brisbane, No. 20
Hannah Dunn (Norwood) – Gold Coast, No. 22
Najwa Allen (Norwood) – Adelaide, No. 37
Hannah Priest (Norwood) – St Kilda, No. 41
Brittany Perry (North Adelaide) – Gold Coast, No. 42
Nicole Campbell (South Adelaide) – Adelaide, No. 46
Jaimi Tabb (Woodville-West Torrens) – Adelaide, No. 53
Cheyenne Hammond (South Adelaide) – Gold Coast, No. 57
Caitlin Gould (Glenelg) – Adelaide, No. 68
Courtney Gum (South Adelaide) – Adelaide, No. 83
Ebony O’Dea (Norwood) – Collingwood, No. 89
Madison Newman (West Adelaide) – Adelaide, No. 100
Chelsea Biddell (West Adelaide) – Adelaide, No. 102
Listen to the podcast on the SA AFLW Draftees with SA Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill on the SANFL website
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