After training with West Coast last year, offensive weapon Ella Smith and energetic midfielder Sasha Goranova have been elevated to the Eagles' AFLW team for the upcoming season.
With clean hands an explosive speed to boot, Smith will fast become a member of West Coast's cauldron, where she can play as either an inside or outside midfielder.
The triple threat is also strong in the contest and possesses a defensive pressure which makes her a teammate's dream.
Averaging 14 disposals and three tackles a game across nine games this season, Smith has added another string to her bow with the ability to play up forward, where she's booted 11 goals across the year.
The Claremont skipper was also named as last year's Dhara Kerr Medallist, capping off a remarkable season after leading the Tigers to their first finals series under her captaincy.
Goranova, 21, has trained with West Coast for the past two seasons and has improved instrumentally across this period, to the point she has been offered a two-year contract with the club.
The gritty utility isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and is clean at ground level, boasting the ability to absorb contact and lay a tough tackle if needed.
Playing across all three lines in the 2022 WAFLW season, Goranova has averaged 16.4 disposals and 4.91 tackles across 12 games, while taking at least one mark per match.
An exciting young prospect, Goranova's versatility will make her a key asset for the club, with experience in both defensive and offensive structures.
Smith said being drafted to West Coast after two seasons as a train-on was the "best surprise".
“It’s been the craziest 48 hours of my life,” Smith said.
“From getting a phone call, to coming into the club and signing on, I honestly had no idea it was happening.
“It was the best surprise on what I thought was just another Tuesday.
“I called mum straight away while we were in the meeting and put her on speaker, I heard her voice so relieved and so excited.
“Her getting emotional made me emotional, because the concept of me getting signed was still so crazy.
“I’ve been training on at the club since the Academy days in 2018 and did feel a part of the group, but now I can say I’m fully in.
“I’ve seen the club grow over the last few seasons and it almost makes it better in a way that I had to wait, because I know it was so worth it to keep trying.
“’Swanny’ is also one of my idols from the early days so getting to run out alongside her will be a dream come true.
“She reached out a few days ago before this all happened and asked me how I went in the Draft Combine, and said she had her fingers and toes crossed for me.
“It made me feel like before I even entered the club, that I felt so a part of it and so welcomed, which is so important.
“There’s two sides of footy, the game, and then the relationships and the family bonds you build with the girls.
“West Coast have been so open, warm, and welcoming and I can’t wait for the upcoming season.”
