Isabel Huntington and Monique Conti will wear the red, white and blue in 2018, after being selected by the Western Bulldogs as pick’s one and four respectively, at today’s NAB AFLW draft.
Recognised for her impressive goal kicking skills and ability to move into the midfield, Huntington has proved to be an incredibly versatile player during her time at the Sandringham Dragons and Melbourne University.
Huntington impressed in the 2016 AFL youth girls’ national championships where she gained more than 30 possessions and booted five goals in one game.
The 18-year-old was forced to miss a year of football after rupturing her ACL during last years under 18’s curtain raiser to the women’s exhibition match at Bulldogs’ heartland, Victoria University Whitten Oval.
Western Bulldogs AFLW Coach, Paul Groves shared his excitement about securing Huntington for the 2018 season.
“We’re really excited to have Isabel on board for next year,” he said.
“She’s an incredibly versatile player.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing what she can bring to our forward line, while assisting our already strong group of midfielders,” he said.
Taken with overall pick four, Melbourne University’s Monique Conti was recognised by the Club for her agility and exceptionally clean hands.
At just 165cm, Conti is notorious for her impressive marking ability and her fierce competitiveness.
The 17-year-old Melbourne Boomers guard played a pivotal role for the Calder Cannons during their TAC Cup premiership season.
Named best on ground during the Cannons 94-point victory over Gippsland Power, Conti booted three goals and showed her ability to weave through traffic throughout the game.
Western Bulldogs AFLW List Manager, Michael Sandry told westernbulldogs.com.au that Conti’s ball skills will be powerful in the dogs’ current midfield line-up.
“Monique is a really exciting player,” he said.
“Her speed in traffic and competitiveness around the ball are skills that we value really highly.”
The Bulldogs also secured St Kilda Sharks’ Jenna Bruton with pick 11.
The 21-year-old midfielder took out this year’s St Kilda Sharks Best and Fairest award, after an outstanding 2017 season with the preliminary finalists.
With their fourth overall selection, the Club recruited Launceston’s Daria Bannister at pick 19.
Bannister was selected in this year’s AFLW Under-18 All Australian squad for her remarkable performance within the forward line and midfield, in 2017.
At pick 27, the Bulldogs welcomed Box Hill’s Emma Mackie to the Club, with their fifth overall selection.
Mackie was a stand-out at Box Hill with her powerful strength and attack within a contest and was rewarded with the Club’s Best and Fairest award for the 2017 season.
After passing on a fifth round pick, Emma Mackie was the Club’s final draft selection.
