Victorian footballers take next step in AFLW journey
The growth and strength of women’s football in Victoria was on show at the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft on Tuesday night, with 28 players from the state picked up by teams at the elite level.
27 Victorians were selected by teams in their home state, but in maybe the worst kept secret of the draft, Vic Metro and Oakleigh Chargers representative Charlie Rowbottom, who joined the East Malvern Knights when in year nine, was picked up by Gold Coast with the first pick. 59 players were drafted overall.
Highlighting the strength of women’s football in the state, there were seven Victorian players drafted in the top 10. These players come from community clubs right across the state including Romsey, Horsham, Kew Comets and Colac.
Since the inception of AFLW in 2017, the number of women and girls participating in community club football has grown by 163 per cent and total women and girls participating in all programs is up 54 per cent.
Women and girls football has been embraced by community leagues and clubs across Victoria, helping many of the 2021 draftees develop into elite-level players and creating opportunities for so many females to participate in the game.
Victorian players selected in NAB AFLW Draft, and the community clubs they were part of (where applicable):
ROUND ONE
1. Gold Coast - Charlie Rowbottom - Oakleigh Chargers / East Malvern JFC
2. Geelong - Georgie Prespakis - Calder Cannons / Romsey
4. St Kilda - Ella Friend - Greater Western Victoria Rebels / Horsham Saints
5. Richmond - Stella Reid - Oakleigh Chargers / Kew Comets
7. Geelong - Zali Friswell - Calder Cannons / Aberfeldie
9. Geelong - Gabbi Featherston - Geelong Falcons / Colac Imperials
10. Carlton - Annie Lee - Geelong Falcons / Geelong Amateurs
11. Carlton - Keeley Sherar - Eastern Ranges / Norwood
12. St Kilda - Ashleigh Richards - Dandenong Stingrays / Beleura
13. North Melbourne - Tess Craven - Geelong Falcons / Drysdale
15. Geelong - Annabel Johnson - Geelong Cats
16. Richmond - Emilia Yassir - Calder Cannons / Pascoe Vale
ROUND TWO
19. North Melbourne - Tara Slender - Bendigo Pioneers / Strathfieldsaye
22. Western Bulldogs - Amanda Ling - Oakleigh Chargers / Whitehorse Colts
23. Carlton - Brooke Vickers - Oakleigh Chargers / Blackburn
25. Western Bulldogs - Aurora Smith - Murray Bushrangers / Shepparton United
26. Carlton - Imogen Milford - Casey Demons / Southport
27. Western Bulldogs - Elizabeth Snell - Bendigo Pioneers / Kyneton
28. North Melbourne - Kimberley Rennie
29. Collingwood - Eliza James - Oakleigh Chargers / Oakleigh JFC
32. Collingwood - Eloise Chaston - Eastern Ranges / Donvale
33. Collingwood - Imogen Barnett – Collingwood / Old Trinity
ROUND THREE
41. Melbourne - Georgia Campbell - Eastern Ranges / Knox
42. Melbourne- Tahlia Gillard - Calder Cannons / Essendon Doutta Stars
45. Melbourne - Alison Brown - Casey Demons
ROUND FOUR
50. Richmond - Ingrid Houtsma - Geelong Falcons / Geelong Amateurs
51. North Melbourne - Jasmine Ferguson – Collingwood / Gippsland Power
ROUND FIVE
54. Richmond - Akec Makur Chuot - Richmond
