Molloy wins AFLW Rising Star Award

Whittlesea junior and Diamond Creek Women’s star Chloe Molloy capped a stunning debut season by winning the 2018 AFLW Rising Star Award.

The 19-year-old was the unanimous winner, finishing with a perfect total of 50 after receiving five votes from all 10 judges.

Drafted by the Magpies with the No.3 pick in the 2017 AFLW Draft, Molloy was also named in back pocket in the All Australian team and finished equal runner-up for the AFLW best and fairest behind Western Bulldogs midfielder Emma Kearney.

Molloy said she was “honoured” to win the Rising Star Award.

“I came into this season and I didn’t really expect much,” she said during her acceptance speech.

“I got thrown into the backline, which was a bit of a surprise. For me it was just about taking every game in my stride and hopefully doing my best.

“To be able to play amongst this group of girls, I truly believe the individual is made great by their surroundings and the athletes they play against.

“It’s amazing to be able to play and to play a part in history as well in the second season.

“I’m just excited for next season now and the seasons to come because it is getting bigger, better and stronger.”

After arriving at Collingwood as forward, Molloy spent her debut season in defence and was a revelation in the back half.

She was the Round 1 Rising Star nominee after claiming 20 disposals and keeping Carlton forward Darcy Vescio goalless in her AFLW debut.

Throughout the year Molloy averaged 14.4 disposals, 3.6 marks and 2.3 per game and ranked second in the competition for intercept possessions.

The Rising Star was Molloy’s second major award win for the week after being voted the AFL Players Associations’ Best First Year Player on Monday.

It capped a huge 18 months for Molloy after returning to football from basketball
She starred for Diamond Creek in the VFLW and for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup Girls during the 2017 season.

She was the joint winner of the TAC Cup Girls best-and-fairest and was also the competition’s leading goal kicker, before also winning the VFLW goal kicking and Rising Star awards.

Molloy booted nine goals in Diamond Creek’s NFNL Women’s Division 1 opening round win over La Trobe University last year, before spending the remainder of the season in the Creekers’ VFLW team.

She played her junior football at Whittlesea, before switching codes to basketball.

The Northern Football Netball League congratulates Chloe on her achievements throughout her debut AFLW season.