AFLW Draft Wrap: Five players land at Eagles’ nest
West Coast has drafted five young talents who will join the Eagles’ squad in their 2022 campaign
A key defender with a clean marking ability, Western Australia’s top ranked midfielder in this year’s AFLW Academy and a tall utility have rounded out the Eagles’ top three picks of this year’s draft.
AFLW List Manager Jordan Loxley and Head Recruiter Chad Morrison were pleased with the outcome garnered from National picks 3, 21, 24, 40, and 47.
Tonight the club secured Charlie Thomas from the Subiaco Lions, alongside Peel Thunder’s Courtney Rowley and Beth Schilling.
Thomas looks set to inject some needed height into the Eagles’ forward line, while Rowley will be utilised as an outside midfielder in the West Coast engine room.
The 17-year-old may also spend time playing onball, after claiming more than nine tackles per game, alongside an average of 22.7 disposals and 95.7 fantasy points in the AFL Women’s Under 19s Championships.
Meanwhile pick 24 Schilling looks set to play as a key defender with an ability to pinch hit in the ruck if needed.
At pick 40, former basketballer Sarah Lakay is set to be utilised as a tap ruck, who possesses the ability to play forward with a strong overhead mark.
And the final name nominated by West Coast was Claremont’s medium defender Emily Bennett, who showcases an ability to read the play off of half-back and win one-on-one contests in the defensive arc.
List Manager Jordan Loxley says the draftees will integrate well into the current playing group.
“Really pleased with how the draft panned out for us tonight, a lot of work has been put in by a lot of people throughout the year, particularly from our Head Recruiter Chad Morrison which has come into fruition tonight,” he said.
“All really good people, one of the main characteristics we look for in players is good quality people, and they’re all that – as well as talented.
“We cannot be more happy with the talent that we’ve brought in, with a good mix of key position players and midfielders who will complement our existing squad well.
“All the players that we’ve brought in tonight are great people who will fit in well at the club.”
Draftees
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 3 – Charlie Thomas
Get to know pick No. 3 and No. 1 in the WA State Draft, Charlie Thomas!
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 3 – Charlie Thomas
Get to know pick No. 3 and No. 1 in the WA State Draft, Charlie Thomas!
Thomas is a tall utility who possesses a strong football knowledge with ability to read the play. The AFL Women’s Academy Member is also known for her accuracy when disposing of the ball through congestion and is composed under pressure. Despite spending several months on the sidelines with a wrist injury in the 2021 season, the 17-year-old has focussed on improvement of strength and endurance and will have the ability to compete with more mature-age players when recovered.
What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:
“Really excited to bring Charlie in with our first pick, it was quite an easy decision for us, despite only playing the one game of footy this year. High quality talent, can play all over the ground, and an exceptional person, so really excited to bring Charlie into the club.”
What she said:
“Got a call during the week last week to come in with my parents, pretty unsure what it was going to be about.
“Tried not to think about it too much, so I didn’t go in with any expectations.
“Then got here, all the coaches were there, got told I was going to get picked which was really, really good.
“It felt really good.”
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 21 – Courtney Rowley
Get to know pick No. 21 and No. 3 in the WA State Draft, Courtney Rowley!
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 21 – Courtney Rowley
Get to know pick No. 21 and No. 3 in the WA State Draft, Courtney Rowley!
Rowley was Western Australia’s top ranked midfielder in this year’s AFLW Academy, and is a classy talent who possesses a combination of speed and skill which will make her an extremely damaging player in the Eagles’ engine room. Rowley lines up mostly on the outside, but played onball in the AFL Women’s Under 19 Championships and took home more than nine tackles per game, alongside an average of 22.7 disposals and 95.7 fantasy points.
What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:
“Probably the best performed player in this year’s WA draft pool, a real high possession winner who can find the ball inside and outside of the contest. Can also go forward and kick goals. Another really high quality person, who we think can impact at some stage throughout the course of next season.”
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 24 - Beth Schilling
Get to know pick No. 24 and No. 4 in the WA State Draft, Beth Schilling!
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 24 - Beth Schilling
Get to know pick No. 24 and No. 4 in the WA State Draft, Beth Schilling!
Schilling is a key defender with an ability to ruck if needed. The versatile half-back has a proven aerial ability with clean marking skills, making her a vital asset to the Eagles’ defensive system in 2022. Schilling is also able to take on the contest and battle it out at ground level, making her a prominent utility off the half-back line and in the midfield.
What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:
“Really competitive key back, she’s a quality intercept marker who can lock down on her opponent as well. Uses the ball well and is super competitive. Another really good person, which was one of the reasons we were really excited to bring her in.”
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 40 - Sarah Lakay
Get to know pick No. 40 and No. 7 in the WA State Draft, Sarah Lakay!
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 40 - Sarah Lakay
Get to know pick No. 40 and No. 7 in the WA State Draft, Sarah Lakay!
Lakay hails from a basketball background and has utilised her height as a ruck in at the League and WAFLW competition. With a strong overhead mark and inherent athleticism, Lakay was one of the standout rucks from this year’s draft pool. The 18-year-old broke the all-time AFLW Draft Combine records in both the standing vertical jump (72cm) and the running vertical jump (82cm), displaying her incredible leap which will slot seamlessly into the Eagles’ engine room.
What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:
“Sarah’s a ruck, who had a really, really exceptional back end of the year, particularly her grand final. A good quality tap ruck, who can also go forward and mark it. Her Combine was exceptional, with her 20 metre sprint and her vertical leap, so we’re really excited and think she has a huge upside.”
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 47 - Emily Bennett
Get to know pick No. 47 and No. 9 in the WA State Draft, Emily Bennett!
The AFLW Draft File: Pick No. 47 - Emily Bennett
Get to know pick No. 47 and No. 9 in the WA State Draft, Emily Bennett!
Bennett is a consistent defender who showcases natural ability both offensively and defensively, while also compounding the most tackles (16) of any player to record double-digit rebound 50s (12) at the AFLW Women’s Under 19s Championships. Bennett is able to match up and win one-on-one contests with opponents and is a reliable rebounder inside the defensive 50 arc. The 19-year-old also possesses a strong overhead mark with an ability to compete at ground level which will make her pressure off of the half-back insurmountable for the Eagles in 2022.
What AFLW list manager Jordan Loxley had to say:
“Em had an exceptional Under 19s State Carnival, probably unlucky not to be in the All-Australian team. Uses the ball really well off of half-back, she’s tough, competitive and finds a lot of the footy. As a 19-year-old she’s played some really quality footy for Claremont this year as well and we’re rapt to bring her in. Another quality player and person.”
