The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos may already have one of the strongest lists in the AFLW’s short history, but there’s plenty of improvement to come.
“There’s a few things we’d like to add in terms of attributes, things like speed and versatility,” North AFLW list manager Rhys Harwood told North Media in the lead-up to the Draft on October 23.
Already boasting a team of stars including the league’s best player, Emma Kearney, Jasmine Garner, Emma King, Kaitlyn Ashmore, Jamie Stanton, Jess Duffin, Jenna Bruton and Mo Hope, Harwood is understandably happy with the side’s dynamic and knows there is some flexibility for selection come Draft day.
“We’d like to think we’ve got a reasonable spread across all the different roles and positions,” Harwood added.
“We’ve been able to balance the list well enough over the expansion period and the open-age signing period, to be basically able to pick the best talent available, regardless of position or age.”
Due to the nomination criteria, where potential draftees are required to submit their preferred draft pool, clubs can only select players from their respective states.
“It’s very hard to split players, particularly players that might play different roles. There’s a very strong group of girls this year,” Harwood explained.
“It’s hard to put them in order when you’re forced to make a decision.
“We’re also mindful of weighing up the girls who were new to the pathway, being under 18, coming through the champs or TAC Cup system this year, but then also the VFLW girls who played senior footy.”
When pre-season training begins, Harwood says finding on-field chemistry will be a focus for the newly established team.
“I think that’s one of the key things we’ve taken from the first few years of AFLW, you need players who can play a lot of positions, whether that be in different games or within the same game,” he said.
“We need some versatility and that’s something we’re keen to bring in.
“We definitely used this VFLW season as a bit of a test run for some of the girls, and to develop them into different roles that they might need to play, or be capable of playing to take the next step in their footy.
“We’d like to think we have some good established talent, but being a new team, it’s always a challenge to get it right quickly.”
The AFLW Draft will be held on October 23 and streamed LIVE on AFL.com.au and the AFLW and AFL Live Official Apps.
