Midfield prodigy Ash Centra has headlined the primary AFLW nationwide draft, being taken because the primary choose by Collingwood.
Centra was taken on the historic night time for the league, with its first nationwide pool; versus beforehand, when aspiring draftees might nominate for his or her most well-liked state to play in.
Nonetheless Centra will stay in her residence state of Victoria, because the highly effective midfielder/half-back hails from Seaspray, a small city simply south of Sale.
Ash Centra was thought of by many to be one of the best participant on this 12 months’s draft. (Morgan Hancock/AFL Pictures/by way of Getty Pictures)
Centra had an inkling she may go as the highest choose, after some constructive suggestions from Collingwood, however mentioned she nonetheless could not fairly consider it.
“Nothing’s set in stone, so to be learn out as primary, I am tremendous grateful,” Centra mentioned. “It hasn’t actually sunk in.”
The 18-year-old will make a helpful addition to the Magpies, who’ve achieved only one win this 12 months.
Throughout 12 matches for the Gippsland Energy on this 12 months’s Expertise League, she averaged 27.1 disposals, 4.2 clearances and 1.5 targets.
Ash Centra will make a helpful addition to the Magpies. (Darrian Traynor/AFL Pictures/by way of Getty Pictures)
Centra began the season with a powerful four-goal, 47-disposal efficiency and completed with a starring function for Vic Nation within the Underneath-18 Nationwide Championships.
She earned a second consecutive Underneath-18 Ladies’s All-Australia honour, cementing herself as a prime prospect.
“I sat down with my Gippy [Gippsland] coach initially of the season and my purpose was [to] attempt to be recognised because the primary prospect, and searching again, so grateful for the assist,” Harris mentioned.
Havana Harris was an academy participant for the Gold Coast Suns. (AAP: James Ross)
At choose two, Gold Coast matched Melbourne’s bid to take Suns Academy product Havana Harris.
Former inaugural participant and commentator Kate McCarthy referred to Harris as a “soccer unicorn”, capable of play as a ruck, ahead and midfielder with a excessive leap and explosive velocity.
Harris mentioned having a slew of different Suns Academy prospects on this 12 months’s draft — together with Mia Salisbury, Tara Harrington, Nyalli Milne and Heidi Talbot — made the expertise much less daunting.
Havana Harris, a Gold Coast Suns Academy product, was probably the most extremely rated gamers on this 12 months’s draft. (Josh Chadwick/AFL Pictures/by way of Getty Pictures)
“I’ve already had a whole lot of women attain out, so it is made it rather a lot simpler for me,” Harris mentioned.
Following Harris, Melbourne took South Fremantle rising expertise Molly O’Hehir at quantity three, Better Western Sydney took Sara Howley at quantity 4 and Sydney took Zipporah “Zippy” Fish at quantity 5.
Molly O’Hehir was taken at choose three within the first nationwide draft by Melbourne. (Picture by Dylan Burns/AFL Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
O’Hehir mentioned she was misplaced for phrases.
“I am a yapper and often I discuss away, however I do not even know what to say proper now,” O’Hehir mentioned.
“I did not consider it, like I form of forgot to stand up at first. I simply heard it and was shocked however I am so, so pleased. So excited.”
Zipporah “Zippy” Fish was taken by Melbourne. (Darrian Traynor/AFL Pictures/by way of Getty Pictures)
Fish was a reputation that drew a whole lot of consideration main into the draft. The Larrakia, Wongi, Noongar and Nunga girl from West Australia is already identified for her velocity and athleticism — reflecting her nickname properly.
Poppy Scholz was taken by Carlton subsequent at choose six, her final title already a well-known one inside the AFLW after her sister Matilda received the 2024 Rising Star and Mark of the Yr.
One other acquainted title, Sophie McKay, was taken by Carlton, who matched Geelong’s bid to take her as a father-daughter choice at choose 17.
McKay’s older sister Abbie was the primary participant chosen beneath the father-daughter rule in 2018 by Carlton.
Rounding out the highest 10, West Coast took Lucia Painter at choose seven, the Western Bulldogs took Emma McDonald with choose eight, Essendon took Grace Belloni with choose 9 and Geelong selected Alexis Gregor at choose 10.
Former Bomber Paige Scott was taken by Richmond at choose 31.
Paige Scott delisted themselves from Essendon on the conclusion of the 2024 season. (Michael Willson/AFL Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
Scott was taken at quantity eight within the 2022 draft and was an rising expertise on the membership. Nonetheless, after a deal fell by throughout the commerce interval this 12 months, they selected to appoint for the draft quite than signal one other contract with Essendon.
The Bombers mentioned whereas they had been upset to lose Scott, there was no animosity between the membership and participant.
