Geelong is one of five AFLW clubs that will receive priority draft assistance in 2021. Image: geelongcats.com.au
The AFL Commission has announced that five clubs in the AFL Women’s competition will receive priority assistance at the 2021 AFL Women’s draft.
Assistance will be given to the Gold Coast Suns, Geelong, West Coast, St Kilda and Richmond, with each club to receive priority selections at this year’s AFL Women’s draft, detailed in an AFL media release on Friday.
It comes after Thursday’s announcement that the AFL Women’s competition will expand to a full 18 teams by 2023, which will see each AFL club have a corresponding women’s side.
The decision to provide priority assistance to the five clubs was made in consideration of a number of factors pertaining to the teams’ last two AFLW seasons, according to the release.
“The AFL Commission considered a range of factors including the win/loss record of these Clubs over the past two seasons, percentage, performance against teams above and below them on the ladder and an assessment of their respective list profiles,” the release detailed.
MORE WOMEN’S FOOTY STORIES
How each club is placed in the 2023 AFLW expansion plan
How to be an AFLW athlete and juggle another two professions
‘I didn’t tell anyone I played footy’ – Debbie Lee on the VWFL: Part 1
Each club will retain its first pick of the draft, the priority picks granted on the condition that the clubs are not to trade their first pick, which are already the first five of the draft.
However, clubs will be able to trade the priority selections they receive, as with their other draft picks.
The Gold Coast Suns and Geelong will each receive two priority selections, both in the first round, as well as access to two mature-age players from their respective regions.
At present, the Suns’ priority picks are the sixth and eighth in the draft, while the Cats’ are the seventh and ninth.
The West Coast Eagles will receive selections in the second and third round of the draft, currently picks 24 and 41.
St Kilda and Richmond will both receive their priority selections in the second round, currently picks 25 and 26 respectively.
Each club’s priority selections are detailed in the table below.
| Club | Priority Selections |
| Gold Coast | 6; 8; Access to two QLD mature-age players prior to the draft |
| Geelong | 7; 9; Access to two regional mature-age players prior to the draft. |
| West Coast | 24; 41 |
| St Kilda | 25 |
| Richmond | 26 |
The full draft order can also be found in the tables below, with priority selections in bold.
Round One
| Selection | Team |
| 1 | Gold Coast Suns |
| 2 | Geelong |
| 3 | West Coast Eagles |
| 4 | St Kilda |
| 5 | Richmond |
| 6 | Gold Coast Suns |
| 7 | Geelong |
| 8 | Gold Coast Suns |
| 9 | Geelong |
| 10 | GWS GIANTS |
| 11 | Western Bulldogs |
| 12 | Carlton |
| 13 | North Melbourne |
| 14 | Fremantle |
| 15 | Melbourne |
| 16 | Collingwood |
| 17 | Adelaide |
| 18 | Brisbane |
Round Two
| Selection | Team |
| 19 | Gold Coast Suns |
| 20 | Geelong |
| 21 | West Coast Eagles |
| 22 | St Kilda |
| 23 | Richmond |
| 24 | West Coast Eagles |
| 25 | St Kilda |
| 26 | Richmond |
| 27 | GWS GIANTS |
| 28 | Western Bulldogs |
| 29 | Carlton |
| 30 | North Melbourne |
| 31 | Fremantle |
| 32 | Melbourne |
| 33 | Collingwood |
| 34 | Adelaide |
| 35 | Brisbane |
Round Three
| Selection | Team |
| 36 | Gold Coast Suns |
| 37 | Geelong |
| 38 | West Coast Eagles |
| 39 | St Kilda |
| 40 | Richmond |
| 41 | West Coast Eagles |
| 42 | GWS GIANTS |
| 43 | Western Bulldogs |
| 44 | Carlton |
| 45 | North Melbourne |
| 46 | Fremantle |
| 47 | Melbourne |
| 48 | Collingwood |
| 49 | Adelaide |
| 50 | Brisbane |
The dates for the AFL Women’s trade and draft periods are yet to be announced.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
About Author
