Scott Gowans was filled with pride when the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos made their first ever draft selection on Tuesday.
The AFLW coach has one of the most potent lists at his disposal, but was only focused on the youth coming through the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s National Draft.
“The last few weeks in particular have felt like we can finally impact and act on what we’ve been planning for the last few months. And today, reading out that first name ... it was a pretty proud moment,” Gowans told North Media.
The Kangaroos picked Daisy Bateman (25), Courteney Munn (36) and Tasmanian talents Chloe Haines (53), Libby Haines (56), and Nicole Bresnehan (64), taking the squad to 29, with only one cross-code rookie spot left.
“After [Emma] Kearney read out our first draft pick, I was so proud. I turned to Rhys [Harwood] and Josh [Hare] and said, ‘how good is this?’ we’re actually off and away,” Gowans explained.
“You just want to know what the team will look like, and finishing the draft takes a little more uncertainty out of it, and I’m very happy that we’ve compiled a list with great players, but that also gives us depth."
Leading into the draft Bateman was expected to go in the top 10, but when the impressive small forward slipped to the second round, North pounced.
“I’m happy and speechless … and most excited to get started and ready to get stuck into it,” Bateman said.
Though Bateman was the only one of the five draftees present at Marvel Stadium, the other draftees tuned in online.
“It feels like it taken forever to get here,” Emma Kearney said.
“We started signings in April and we’re here in the end of October and we finally have almost a full list it’s a great time for the club. I know everyone, including staff, players, male and female, are all really excited for the preseason to start.
“Overall it’s been a great day, and it’s kind of life changing for some of these young girls to get picked up.”
With the season now within reach, a few of North’s AFL listed talent took to the opportunity to welcome the new draftees.
“It’s been a pretty exciting day so far ... meeting the new draftees and seeing the emotion as the girls learn that they’re going to play AFLW,” Luke McDonald said.
“I’ve never been to the draft cause I was in Utah for mine, so it’s been an awesome process and the excitement on the girls’ faces is great to see … it’s been an amazing day”
North head of football operations Laura Kane said the support of the club has been second to none.
“It’s so great to have some of the AFL players and board members and executives down to here to watch and support all of the hard work that’s gone on,” she said.
