EXPANSION club Geelong have picked midfielder Nina Morrison with the No. 1 selection in the AFLW draft.
The 17-year-old Geelong Falcons on-baller was the hot tip for the honour. The Cats did not surprise with the second pick, taking Sophie Van De Heuvel, and as expected Carlton used the No. 3 selection to recruit Madison Prespakis.
Those selections were followed by a moment of history when Carlton selected Abbie McKay at pick No. 16 with the AFLW’s first father-daughter selection.
Her Dad is Blues great Andrew McKay.
In Tuesday’s state-based draft, Victorian players could also nominate their region — metro, Geelong or all of Victoria.
It means Geelong may have missed out on the player widely regarded as the most talented footballer nominated for this year’s draft.
The metro nomination of Prespakis means Carlton may have scored the biggest win on draft day with the No. 3 overall selection.
The 17-year-old from outer-suburban Sunbury was best afield on August 31 at the national under-18 exhibition match in Adelaide.
Geelong, however, was extremely pleased with its draft haul, swooping on Morrison and Van De Heuvel and Rebecca Webster in the first round.
Morrison, 17, played well for Victoria in their win over an Allies composite team.
She tested extremely well in the AFLW draft combine.
Morrison, a hard-running outside midfielder, was widely-tipped to go to the Cats in the expansion club’s first draft.
But the 17-year-old from the Geelong Falcons said she did not know until her name was called.
“It’s a pretty weird thing to consider — two years ago, even at the start of this year, I never thought I would be in the sort of position I am,” Morrison said.
“It’s a big thing to wrap my head around, but I’m sure I will get there. “I’m super-excited and can’t wait to get into pre-season … just get stuck into it.”
Morrison and Prespakis have been the national U18’s standouts this year, winning the TAC Cup best and fairest award and also being named the joint MVPs at the national championships.
Van De Heuvel is a state-level cricketer and the right-arm fast bowler plans to continue in the two sports.
It was a big day in more ways than one for GWS recruit Alyce Parker, who was taken at the end of round one with the No. 12 selection.
The recruit from Thurgoona, near Albury, went from the draft to a three-hour agriculture exam for her HSC.
Adelaide recruited Danielle Ponter, the niece of Essendon great Michael Long, with pick No.48.
North Melbourne stole the show in the fifth round of the draft when it was able to recruit twins Chloe Haines and Libby Haines within three picks of each other.
Chloes Haines was taken with the No. 53 overall selection.
Libby Haines was then taken with the Roos next pick at No. 56 in the draft.
Before the twins had their names called, Adelaide picked the cousin of Hawthorn legend Cyril Riolo when they recruited Danielle Ponter with the No. 48 overall pick.
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 1
1. Geelong: Nina Morrison (Geelong Falcons, VIC)
2. Geelong: Sophie Van De Huevel (GWV Rebels, VIC)
3. Carlton: Madison Prespakis (Calder Cannons, VIC)
4. Fremantle: Jasmin Stewart (Claremont, WA)
5. Collingwood: Jordyn Allen (Dandenong Stingrays, VIC)
6. Melbourne: Tyla Hanks (Gippsland Power, VIC)
7. Geelong: Rebecca Webster (Murray Bushrangers, VIC)
8. Adelaide: Nikki Gore (South Adelaide, SA)
9. Brisbane: Paige Parker (Coorparoo, QLD)
10. Western Bulldogs: Eleanor Brown (Sandringham Dragons, VIC)
11. Collingwood: Katie Lynch (Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
12. Greater Western Sydney: Alyce Parker (Thurgoona Bulldogs, NSW)
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 2
13. Collingwood: Mikala Cann (Eastern Ranges)
14. Geelong Cats: Olivia Purcell (Geelong Falcons)
15. Melbourne: Madeline Brancatisano (Northern Knights)
16. Carlton (Father-Daughter selection): Abbie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
17. Fremantle: Sabreena Duffy (Peel Thunder)
18. Collingwood: Lauren Butler (GWV Rebels)
19. Collingwood: Maddie Shevlin (Casey Demons VFLW)
20. Geelong Cats: Denby Taylor (Geelong Falcons)
21. Carlton: Jayde Van Dyk (Hawthorn VFLW)
22. Brisbane Lions: Natalie Grider (AFL Queensland)
23. Western Bulldogs: Aisling McCarthy (Ireland)
24. Geelong Cats: Georgia Clarke (GWV Rebels)
25. North Melbourne: Daisy Bateman (Oakleigh Chargers)
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 3
26. Western Bulldogs: Kate Bartlett (Peel Thunder)
27. Carlton: Charlotte Wilson (Eastern Ranges)
28. Fremantle: Philipa Seth (East Fremantle)
29.Collingwood (Club Compensation): Sophie Alexander
30. Adelaide Crows: Jessica Foley (Fitzroy)
31. Melbourne: Jordann Hickey (NT Thunder)
32. Collingwood: Georgia Gourlay (Casey Demons VFLW)
33. Brisbane Lions: McKenzie Dowrick (Subiaco)
34. Western Bulldogs: Selena Karlson (St Kilda AFLW)
35. Geelong Cats: Rene Caris (GWV Rebels)
36. North Melbourne: Courtney Munn (St Kilda AFLW)
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 4
37. Adelaide Crows: Chloe Scheer (Central District)
38. Carlton: Emerson Woods (Eastern Ranges)
39. Fremantle: Courtney Stubbs (Subiaco)
40. Carlton: Rhiannon Watt (St Kilda VFLW)
41. Adelaide Crows: Katelyn Rosenzweig (Central District)
42. Carlton: Jessica Edwards (Collingwood VFLW)
43. GWS Giants: Brittany Perry (North Adelaide)
44. Melbourne: Shelley Heath (Dandenong Stingrays)
45. Brisbane Lions: Lauren Bella (Bond University)
46. Western Bulldogs: Jessie Davies (Bulldogs VFLW)
47. Geelong Cats: Maighan Fogas (Geelong VFLW)
48. Adelaide Crows: Danielle Ponter (AFL Northern Territory)
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 5
49. Fremantle: Parris Laurie (Claremont)
50. Collingwood: Jordan Membrey (Wilston Grange AFC)
51. Adelaide Crows: Hannah Martin (West Adelaide)
52. GWS Giants: Lisa Whiteley (South Adelaide)
53. North Melbourne: Chloe Haines (Burnie)
54. Brisbane Lions: Tori Groves-Little (Coorparoo AFC)
55. Geelong Cats: Elise Coventry (Geelong VFLW)
56. North Melbourne: Libby Haines (Burnie)
AFLW 2018 DRAFT ROUND 6
57. Fremantle: Laura Pugh (West Perth)
58. GWS Giants: Ingrid Nielsen (UNSW Bulldogs)
59. Brisbane Lions: Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw (Coorparoo AFC)
60. Geelong Cats: Madeline Keryk (Geelong VFLW)
— with AAP
