When Brooke Boileau heard her name called out at the AFLW National Draft on Monday night, she wasn’t sure it was real.

Boileau was watching the Draft with her family, friends and local footy teammates at her SANFLW Club South Adelaide, and was overcome with emotions when the Crows picked her with their first selection of the night.

But what made the moment even more special, according to the draftee, was having three-time Premiership Crows stars Anne Hatchard, Sarah Allan and youngster Keeley Kustermann surprise her.

“To actually hear my name get called out was so surreal,”  Boileau said.

 “When my name got called, Hatchy and all the girls walked through the door and surprised me, which was so nice.

“It was so cool, just seeing them, I broke down in tears, that was how I knew the moment was real.”

Boileau, 18, is renowned for being strong in the contest and having an enormous workrate.

She enjoyed an outstanding national championships for SA, averaging the third-most disposals and clearances across the carnival.

Boileau was named in the under-18 All Australian team and had a strong SANFLW season with the Panthers, being named in the Team of the Year and taking out South Adelaide’s Coaches’ Award.

“I’d say I’m pretty attacking, I am a contested ball winner and I like to go in for the footy pretty hard,” Boileau said.

“Defensively, I’m pretty good with tackling and probably have a bit of footy smarts, and being aware of my surroundings as well.”

The South Australian was one of three selections for Adelaide, with the Club also drafting Tamara Henry from Victoria and Lily Tarlinton from Queensland.

Adelaide’s draft haul follows the re-signings of stars Niamh Kelly, Jess and Sarah Allan, Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff ahead of the 2024 AFLW season.