Murray Bushrangers’ strong field of AFLW talent recognised at draft

The Goulburn Murray region has demonstrated its sporting strength after the region was well represented at last night’s AFL Women’s Draft. 

It was a historic moment for the sport, with all 18 teams participating in the draft as each field a women’s side for the first time in AFLW history.

“It just goes to show that there’s a real pathway for young girls now to become professional sports people,” Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson said.

“The AFL has really committed to supporting girls coming up into the program and making it much more realistic to have a career in a sport.”

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Drafted from the region were Keeley Skepper, Zarlie Goldsworthy, Sophia McCarthy, Cassidy Mailer and Georgia Gall, all products of the Murray Bushrangers.

The first name to be called was 18-year-old Skepper, who was in Melbourne for the draft.

The Wodonga local could barely contain her excitement after she was picked up by Carlton at number 17 of the draft.

“[I’m] over the moon. I can’t wipe the smile off my face … I was so excited when my name got called out,” she said.

She was awarded Vic Country’s Most Valuable Player at the national championships earlier this year and has averaged more than 24 disposals, four tackles and four inside 50s across her nine NAB league games.

The former Shepparton United midfielder paid homage to her coach Dean Walton, who she said had played a huge part in her career so far.

“I think he’s a big part of the reason I got drafted,” she said.

“He was so helpful … if I was feeling down about my footy he was always there to pick me up and he [created] such a good vibe around the club.”

Young talent

With this season tipped to start earlier than previous years, Skepper will now have to juggle football with her final year of school.

It was a similar story for 17-year-old Goldsworthy, who is currently completing her HSC at Albury High.

After being selected by Greater Western Sydney at pick 20, she said she was committed to travelling back and forth from the region while managing school and GWS commitments.

“There will be a lot of flights involved,” she said.

“The Giants have been really good at supporting me with that.”

Hailing from Thurgoona, sport is in the young gun’s blood — she is a former Young Matilda and has a strong background in soccer and cricket.

“I think I was just training a bit too much with soccer and I just got a bit burnt out,” she said.

“I always had a passion for AFL. When I moved back to Albury, I just decided to pick up the ball again and have a go at it.”

She has not looked back since and Wilson said it seemed to come naturally for the all-rounder.

“Zarlie could easily have come in at the first couple of picks but she nominated NSW and the Giants as her club of preference, so she went down to number 20,” he said.

“She had a tremendous year. [It was] her first year of football at the Murray Bushrangers coming from a soccer background.”

Across the region

Meanwhile, North Melbourne snapped up McCarthy with pick 38 and Mailer at pick 54.

Both have been involved in the Bushrangers program since around 2018.

Euroa’s Gall will head to Melbourne and she’s no stranger to professional sport having played Women’s Big Bash Cricket.

GWS also announced Wagga’s Hamilton would be listed on the squad.

While this season marks a major milestone for AFLW, Wilson said there is still a way to go in achieving equality.

“[The AFL] are looking at gender equality across the board and one day, hopefully, there will be that gender equity in pay and opportunities for girls coming into AFLW,” he said.