Harper Sercombe
Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner is staying in the west with the Western Bulldogs selecting the Western Jets’ gun with pick one of Monday’s AFLW draft.
Weston-Turner goes to school in Caroline Springs at Lakeview Senior College.
The 18-year-old known for her explosive speed, impressive aerial abilities and booming right boot said she didn’t expect to find herself in the position she is in.
While injuries riddled the athletic forward-midfielders’ Coates Talent League season, her late season Vic Metro return reminded many of her raw talent and potential.
The Spotswood player suffered a broken wrist after just two games of the Talent League season which saw her miss the next 12 weeks of footy.
“It feels unreal, I don’t even know what to say. It’s surreal,” she said on the draft’s broadcast.
“I’m just so thankful and fortunate to be in the position I’m in. I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be in this position knowing that I had a broken wrist and missed so much footy.
“I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be in this position, no way. I think it’s just a credit to myself and my resilience really, I am proud of myself.
“I wouldn’t have thought [I would go] pick one but I’m just so glad it’s the Doggies, the team I have barracked for my whole life and I know that there’s someone looking down on me tonight, my grandfather, he’d be so happy.”
The life-long Bulldogs supporter is just the second Western Jet to be taken at pick one in either the AFLW or AFL draft, with former teammate of Weston-Turner, Montana Ham was selected by the Sydney Swans with the first pick of the 2022 AFLW draft.
She said this feat would have not been possible without the support from her family, her “army.”
“I’ve got some of my family here and it really does go to show how many people I’ve got behind me,” she said.
“I’ve got a whole army of people supporting me and my phone’s about to blow up with all the messages and stuff, but just a massive thank you to everyone really.
“They’ve been there for me my whole life and they’ve put so much effort in for me, both my mum and my dad and my step dad.
“It just means the world to me, it really does, they put so much effort in for me and I wouldn’t be the person I am or the footballer I am without them.”
Weston-Turner was one of three Western Jets selected on Monday night, with Kiera Whiley and Tamara Henry also hitting the big-time.
Whiley was selected not long after Weston-Turner with the midfielder being taken by St Kilda with pick 10.
She played her junior football at Caroline Springs in the Western Region Football League and Hillside in the Essendon District Football League and is one of the most consistent and dependable on-ballers of the draft class, who has all the right attributes to evolve into an inspiring leader in the seasons to come.
Able to utilise both sides of her body and make sound decisions under pressure, the 18-year-old pieced together a prominent campaign for the Jets, primarily as an inside midfielder.
Henry was the Adelaide Crows’ second selection of the night at pick 26. She is a powerful forward, who is strong overhead with clean hands.
The Darley local can find targets inside 50 or hit the scoreboard herself and also has the ability to play through the midfield.
Henry performed strongly at the draft combine, recording the second-best vertical jump and recorded an impressive 3.29 20 metre sprint.
She was also a part of Darley’s Ballarat Football League women’s premiership this season.
