SA records strong 2022 AFLW Draft haul

South Australia continues to enhance its standing on the national stage after having nine players selected in the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft in Melbourne last night.

North Adelaide’s Hannah Ewings and Glenelg’s Sarah Goodwin headed the list of high-end talent to create history as Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW draftees, taken at Pick No. 3 and 7 respectively.

Norwood’s Sachi Syme and Glenelg’s Ella Boag also found new homes at Alberton after being chosen by Port Adelaide at Pick No.23 and 31 respectively.

South Australia’s U18 Captain Keeley Kustermann, from West Adelaide, was selected with Adelaide’s first pick at No. 40.

The U18 All-Australian was joined by Sturt’s Kiera Mueller (No.69) and Woodville-West Torrens’ McKenzie Dowrick (No.71).

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

SANFL General Manager Football Matt Duldig congratulated the players drafted tonight, saying the bumper South Australian women’s draft haul was further evidence of the continual growth and development of female football, talent identification and elite pathways in this state.

“The Hostplus SANFL Women’s League and introduction of the SANFLW Development League this year now provides a real and strong pathway for players to achieve their dream of getting onto an AFLW list, which is very encouraging for our League and the pool of talent in SA,” Mr Duldig said.

“There has been a lot of work put into the talent pathway and the elite programs run by SANFL and the SANFL Clubs and this result, together with the success of the Under 18s State team this year, shows that SANFLW is a premier State League and a pathway for those aspiring to play AFLW.

“We are extremely proud of our reputation of developing many elite young female footballers and the high standards we’re setting in our elite talent development programs here in SA.”

With a number of AFLW teams passing on selections, it is expected several more SA players could join AFLW clubs as the Free Agency window opens today.

Hannah Ewings, North Adelaide – Port Adelaide (Pick 3)

Sarah Goodwin, Glenelg – Port Adelaide (Pick 7)

Sachi Symes, Norwood – Port Adelaide (Pick 23)

Ella Boag, Glenelg – Port Adelaide (Pick 31)

Keeley Kustermann, West Adelaide – Adelaide (Pick 40)

Amelie Borg, North Adelaide – Port Adelaide (Pick 61)

Kiera Mueller, Sturt – Adelaide (Pick 69)

McKenzie Dowrick, Woodville-West Torrens – Adelaide (Pick 71)

Lily Johnson, West Adelaide – Port Adelaide (Pick 80)