The first Crows women’s squad is about to have a sudden influx of talent.
Eighteen players – the majority from South Australia and the Northern Territory – will have their names called by the Crows at Wednesday’s inaugural AFL Women’s Draft in Melbourne.
They will join the six women already signed by the Club, including marquee recruits Chelsea Randall and Kellie Gibson.
More than 140 players from across Australia nominated to be selected by the Crows at the draft, offering coach Bec Goddard and the list management group some interesting options as they seek to build a competitive squad for the inaugural 2017 competition.
The first AFL women’s draft starts at 12.45pm (SA time) on Wednesday and representatives of the eight inaugural clubs will pick 145 players.
GWS will have the first pick in the draft but – like Adelaide (pick 7), Fremantle (pick 4) and Brisbane (pick 2) – has no competition for the players who have nominated for its squad.
Carlton (pick 3), Collingwood (pick 6), Melbourne (pick 8) and Western Bulldogs (pick 5) will compete for all the Victorian talent, which accounted for nearly 700 of the 1100 nominations.
The women’s draft will follow a snaking order, with the club holding the number one pick then having the last pick in the second round (16).
The Draft will be streamed live on afl.com.au and there will also be comprehensive coverage of the Crows selections on afc.com.au and our social media platforms.
Players not selected in the draft will have one more chance to secure spots on team lists this year, with the eight clubs able to select up to three “free agents” by the end of the month.
The Adelaide/NT team has 21 spots to fill on its list, adding to the six players already signed – Randall and Gibson, Ange Foley, Courtney Cramey and rookies Jasmine Anderson and Erin Phillips.
Pre-season training for the eight clubs is due to start on November 21. Clubs are expected to play one practice match each in January, with the competition set to start in the first week of February.
The Draft will follow a ‘snaking order’ after the first round:
1. GWS Giants
2. Brisbane Lions
3. Carlton
4. Fremantle
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Collingwood
7. Adelaide
8. Melbourne
Clubs will have the following selections:
Adelaide 18Selections
7, 10, 23, 26, 39, 42, 55, 58, 71, 74, 87, 90, 103, 106, 119,122, 134, 136
BrisbaneLions 18 Selections
2, 15, 18, 31, 34, 47, 50, 63, 66, 79, 82, 95, 98, 111, 114,127, 1128, 141
Carlton 19 Selections
3, 14, 19, 30, 35, 46, 51, 62, 67, 78, 83, 94, 99, 110, 115,126, 129, 140, 142
Collingwood 19 Selections
6, 11, 22, 27, 38, 43, 54, 59, 70, 75, 86, 91, 102, 107, 118,123, 132, 137, 144
Fremantle 18 Selections
4, 13, 20, 29, 36, 45, 52, 61, 68, 77, 84, 93, 100, 109, 116,125, 130, 139
GWSGiants 15 Selections
1, 16, 17, 32, 33, 48, 49, 64, 65, 80, 81, 96, 97, 112, 113
Melbourne 19 Selections
8, 9, 24, 25, 40, 41, 56, 57, 72, 73, 88, 89, 104, 105, 120,121, 134, 145
Western Bulldogs 19Selections
5, 12,21, 28, 37, 44, 53, 60, 69, 76, 85, 92, 101, 108, 117, 124, 131, 138, 143
