Three Northern Football Netball League players were selected in the 2017 AFLW Draft.
Diamond Creek Women’s trio Chloe Molloy, Tanya Hetherington and Reni Hicks all found their way onto AFL lists on Wednesday.
Molloy was selected by Collingwood with pick 3 after a standout 2017 season, where she starred for Diamond Creek in the VFLW and for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup Girls.
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.
The 18-year-old booted nine goals in Diamond Creek’s Northpark NFLW Division 1 opening round win over La Trobe University, before spending the remainder of the season in the Creekers’ VFLW team.
She played her junior football at Whittlesea, before switching codes to basketball and only returning to football 12 months ago.
“I’m pretty overwhelmed,” Molloy said on stage directly after being drafted.
“To be an AFLW player and to be at Collingwood, the team I’ve supported growing up – to be in black and white, I can’t explain what it means.”
Hetherington will head north for the 2018 AFLW season after being chosen by GWS Giants at pick 17.
The Creekers VFLW co-captain returned to football this season after a long injury layoff and helped lead her club to the VFLW grand final.
She also made one appearance in the Northpark NFLW Division 1 competition this season.
19-year-old Hicks was selected by Carlton at pick 29.
The former rugby player was rewarded for a strong year in defence for Diamond Creek. It was her first season at the club after crossing from Bendigo.
Like Molloy and Hetherington, Hicks also made an appearance for Diamond Creek in the inaugural Northpark NFLW Division 1 season.
The Northern Football Netball League congratulates all three on being drafted and wishes them the best of luck in the 2018 AFLW season.
The AFLW Rookie Draft will be held from midday Friday.
