Nine SANFLW players selected in 2022 AFLW Draft

By ZAC MILBANK

The stature of the Hostplus SANFLW League continues to evolve after nine players were selected in the 2022 AFLW Draft on Wednesday night.

After three players were taken last year and four in 2020, North Adelaide’s Hannah Ewings headed the list of South Australia’s high-end talent when she was selected by AFLW newcomer Port Adelaide at Pick No.3.

Ewings, originally from Whyalla club Roopena, said playing in the SANFLW competition from the age of 15 had a significant influence on her rapid development.

”It’s been amazing,” Ewings said on the AFL live stream after being handed her guernsey by AFLW superstar, and Power teammate, Erin Phillips.

”Back in Whyalla I was playing against the boys so it was obviously a bit different when I moved to Adelaide (to play in the SANFLW).

”The (SANFLW) girls are a bit different to the men as they don’t hold back. That has really developed me as a person and a player so I couldn’t be any more grateful.”

Glenelg premiership defender Sarah Goodwin was the other SA U18 All-Australian to be snapped up inside the top 10, having her name called by the Power at Pick No.7.

Norwood midfielder Sachi Syme, from Port Lincoln, and Glenelg winger Ella Boag also found new homes at Alberton after being chosen by Port at Pick No.23 and 31 respectively.

South Australia’s U18 Captain Keeley Kustermann, from West Adelaide, was selected with Adelaide’s first pick – N0.40.

The U18 All-Australian was joined by Sturt’s long-kicking defender Kiera Mueller (No.69) and Woodville-West Torrens key forward McKenzie Dowrick (No.71) at West Lakes.

North Adelaide premiership defender Amelie Borg (No.61) will join her Roosters teammate Ewings at Port while Lily Johnson proved the strength of SANFLW as a talent pathway when her relocation from Tasmania to West Adelaide paid dividends after the Power listed her at No.80.

With a number of teams passing on selections at the AFLW Draft, it is expected several more SANFLW players will be snapped up as AFLW Free Agents.