It was an exciting end to 2023 for six Eastern Ranges AFLW hopefuls as they were drafted to the country’s highest football league for the 2024 season.
Melbourne picked up three of the six players, with the remaining heading to North Melbourne, GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs to begin their careers.
At pick number five, Alyssia Pisano was drafted to the Dees as a small forward, someone who is set to bring a lot of energy as the “162cm pocket rocket packing a powerful punch in front of goals”.
“Alyssia is exactly what we were looking for, when we referenced getting elite through the door,” the club’s AFLW List Manager Todd Patterson told Melbourne Media.
“Electric around goal, Alyssia can win you a game very quickly with her dynamite left foot.
“She has dominated at U18 level since she was 15 and we think she compliments an already dangerous forward group.”
Pisano, 18, managed to kick 38 goals from 11 games during the Talent League Girls season, impressing many and making her a sought after draft, with the Dees looking to snap her up early.
The leading goal kicker will be joined by Jacinta Hose who was selected at pick 24 as a ruck.
Plagued by injury over the last 18 months, having torn both ACL’s, Hose was not expecting her name to be included in the ballot, attending as a guest of another draftee.
“Prior and in between these injuries we viewed her as the leading ruck prospect in the available draft pool with a good jumping technique and great touch,” Patterson told Melbourne Media.
“Whilst we understand Jacinta won’t be available next season, we view tall prospects in this area of the ground as extremely hard to get access to and believe she is a great investment for us longer term.”
At 185cm tall, the Demons saw an incredible amount of athleticism in Hose, an attractive attribute to add to her ability to play up forward something the club put down to her “dangerous aerial presence”.
Hailing from Montrose Football Netball Club and joining Melbourne’s list is Delany Madigan, who at pick 55 will bring “elite physicality, a strong kick and impressive decision-making”.
“Delany is a key defender who had a strong end to the year, which was capped off by an impressive grand final performance,” Patterson said.
“Her aerial presence is a real strength, as is her decision-making, and she has great depth to her kick of the footy.
“We are excited by what Delany can add, as we bring together a different looking backline group to take us forward.”
At pick number 30, fellow Montrose player Georgia Stubs will be putting on the blue and white as she heads to North Melbourne as the Roo’s second selection in this year’s draft.
Playing at the top age for Eastern Ranges, Stubs initially played off half-back before joining as a key part of the midfield.
Finding her calling, she recorded double-digit disposals in all but two of her 14 games and also averaged 15 across her three games for Vic Metro.
“With great speed and strength, Stubs has the ability to explode away from stoppages and create separation on her opposition,” the club said.
As the only player from the east to head interstate, Mount Evelyn Football Netball Club player Indigo Linde was chosen by the GWS Giants as a midfielder.
Impressed by Linde’s athleticism as a former high level swimmer and athlete, GWS saw great potential despite Linde missing the first half of the Ranges’ 2023 season due to stress fractures.
Capping off her attractiveness to the club was her versatility as a winger come midfielder, where she was able to finish out the season strong, averaging 17 disposals, three tackles, and three inside 50s per game to place herself on the radar of AFLW clubs.
“Her coach Ash Close moved her from the wing to play more inside as the year went on where she really showed her ability to drive her legs out of congestion and use her size around the ball,” Giants AFLW list manager Tyson Bourke said.
“Indi’s weapon is her running power and we look forward to adding that to our midfield group.”
Wrapping up the Eastern Ranges’ success in the AFLW draft was Jorja Borg, 25, who was first selected on Essendon’s inaugural list but due to injury she could not debut.
Returning to draft selection, having been playing in the Bulldogs’ VFLW program, Borg is now part of the AFLW squad and will don the red, white and blue.
The 181cm ruck averaged 30.4 hit-outs, 10 disposals and three tackles from her 14 VFLW matches and was named in the VFLW Team of the Year for her efforts.
The AFLW season will get underway later this year.
