By Russell Bennett
“ANYTHING is possible – that’s the attitude we have to instil into these girls. One big year, and anything is possible for them.”
Those were the words from Cranbourne VWFL coach Kris Smith less than an hour after the conclusion of the inaugural AFL Women’s draft in which 11 players from the south-east were selected – seven of those from Cranbourne alone.
The draft started with a bang, with Cranbourne alum Bianca Jakobsson taken with the third overall pick by Carlton.
She was later followed into the new competition by fellow Eagles Kirsten McLeod (pick 28), Danielle Hardiman (35), Hayley Wildes (44), Breann Moody (67), Courtney Clarkson (124), and Jas Grierson (135).
Smith said he was “incredibly proud” to see so many players from the south east picked up – one of which was former Keysborough gun Jaimee Lambert with the fifth overall pick.
“I knew we’d get four drafted – guaranteed,” Smith said of his former Eagles players. “I was actually saying six almost guaranteed, but to get seven was great.
“They’re all really good kids – they’re great human beings, and they’re just so easy to work with.
“None of them expected to get drafted – they went in with a really good attitude that if they didn’t get drafted, that’s fine, they’d just work harder next year.”
Smith raved about the upside of Breann Moody’s game. Still only 19, she wasn’t even playing football last year. Now, she’s an AFL Women’s player.
Smith continued on – raving about the rest of his sensational seven, one of which he referred to as a “young BJ” (Jakobsson).
“Jas Grierson is an 18-year-old,” he said.
“Clubs had spoken to me about her so I knew they were interested in her.
“I liken her to a young BJ.
“She plays that similar role, she’s tall and lanky and a good runner and has a great leap and great hands, and kicks left and right foot.
“She’s got all the tricks in the book and I’m sure she’ll play some AFL games and she’ll impress.”
Smith said he was surprised McLeod slipped to pick 28.
“She’s a real excitement machine and I was surprised she didn’t go higher, to be honest, because I rate her that highly,” he said.
“You can’t buy what she’s got, which is electric speed. If she gets goal-side of her opponent anywhere within 60 metres from goal no one will get near her.”
Hardiman is one Smith described as “a superstar”.
“She was best on ground in our grand final last year at centre-half back and she’s an amazing intercept mark – I can’t speak highly enough of her,” he said.
“Her and BJ came through the Youth Girls system together and she’s that ultimate professional as well. Her work ethic is great, she’s committed and she’ll excel.”
And then there’s Jakobsson, herself.
“She had her heart set on either Carlton or the Bulldogs so for her to get to Carlton… she was rapt,” Smith said of the lifelong Blues fan.
“I call her the ultimate professional – she does all the work, and more.
“I get to training and she’s been there half an hour before me running laps.
“She’ll stick around after training and have shots at goal if she’s got time.
“She’s a really hard worker, she’s a great kid, and I said at presentation night she’ll be a future leader of a club.
“She’s that excited about it and I know she’ll definitely go really well. She’ll be able to run up and down those wings and just kill her opponents like she does at VFL level.”
Smith has known her for six years, but said in the past 18 months particularly she’d really come out of her shell as a leader and motivator for the other girls at the club.
“Down at Cranbourne we put a lot of work into the girls to get them to that level, and our goal now is to say: ‘we got seven drafted this year, let’s get 20 drafted next year’,” he said.
“Let’s develop the rest of our list to that level so that we can get more players drafted into the AFL.”
Smith said days like today are why he coaches footy.
“It’s about getting the girls to the next level,” he said.
“That’s what it’s always been about for me. I took this job in 2015 and there was all this talk about the AFL, and I said I wanted to coach these girls and get them to that level. For me it’s a proud moment and I’m really excited – excited for footy in the south east because Pakenham is starting a team, and Officer, and Narre Warren and we’ve got a VFL side at Cranbourne so we can funnel them in and develop more and more south east girls playing at the top level.”
The local players selected in the AFL women’s draft…
Bianca Jakobsson [Carlton] – pick #3
Jaimee Lambert [Western Bulldogs] – #5
Hannah Scott [Western Bulldogs] – #21
Kirsten McLeod [Western Bulldogs] – #28
Danielle Hardiman [Carlton] – #35
Hayley Wildes [Western Bulldogs] – #44
Breann Moody [Carlton] – #67
Katie Loynes [Carlton] – #110
Courtney Clarkson [Western Bulldogs] – #124
Al Downie [Carlton] – #129
Jas Grierson [Melbourne] – #135
Marquee players…
Ellie Blackburn [Western Bulldogs]
Kara Donnellan [Fremantle]
