Former Mount Evelyn Senior Football Club player Bridget Deed has been selected as the inaugural recruit for the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFLW competition.
In an emotional moment, Deed was handed her guernsey by Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard, surrounded by her Eastern Ranges teammates after their win over Oakleigh on Friday 18 February.
This is a big step for the Hawks as the club prepares to take part in season seven at the end of the year.
Goddard said she had been following Deed’s game closely, offering her the first AFLW list spot in a historic moment for the Hawthorn Football Club.
The Eastern Ranges captain made a dominant start in the 2022 NAB League season, averaging 32 disposals and eight tackles, catching the eye of AFLW List Manager Mitchell Cashion.
“Bridget has performed at an extremely high level across the first month or so of NAB League,” Cashion said in a Hawthorn Football Club release.
“She is a proven ball-winning midfielder who can impact the game both on the inside and out.
“She also uses it well, with her left-foot kick a clear strength of her game.
“We think she has huge potential so we’re looking forward to watching her development in our program.”
The 18-year-old has also been a valued member of Hawthorn’s VFLW program where she has been able to progress her game immeasurably over the summer.
CEO Justin Reeves said Deed’s arrival was a “hugely exciting development for the program”.
“We have been building some really strong foundations ahead of our launch into the AFLW competition,” Reeves said.
“But to be finally signing our first player today is another level of excitement and we think Bridget represents exactly the type of character and cultural fit that we want to build our list around.”
