Northern Knights’ best and fairest winner Maddy Guerin could soon be mixing it with the top football players in the country.
Guerin, who was a standout not only for the Knights, but also for Vic Metro, is expected to be among those selected at Wednesday’s AFLW draft.
Knights talent manager Rhy Gieschen said Guerin had ticked all the boxes this year and he thought she would be a good chance.
“She’s always been seen as a highly touted player,” he said. “Her standard went up this year and she had a breakout year.
“She won our best and fairest comfortably, was named in the TAC Cup team of the year, played for Vic Metro and was named in the All Australian team.
“And she tested really well at the draft camp.”
Guerin rated in the top 10 in both the vertical jump and yo-yo tests at the draft combine.
Gieschen said Guerin, who played with Fitzroy in the Yarra Junior Football League’s youth girls competition, had a lot of standout qualities.
He said her pace, run and carry, her general standards and ability to handle pressure had shown through.
Lily Brancatisano, who was the Knights’ inaugural girls skipper, would be another with a chance of being drafted.
Brancatisano made the Vic Metro squad, but a shoulder injury ruined her second half of the year in only her second year of football.
Gieschen said it was hard to know how many TAC Cup players would be drafted this year, with several mature-age players in the mix.
He said having any players drafted in the first year of the program, which consisted of a lot of bottom-age players, would be pleasing.
“It’s a reflection of the program and it makes the team effort worthwhile,” he said. “It’s not just for the coaches but everyone that is involved. We’ll be really happy to have players drafted.”
Plans are already under way for next year’s TAC Cup season, which looks like it will be a longer season.
Gieschen said the club was in the process of appointing a female talent manager and looking for a new coach.
The Knights will have a girls talent search to look for players for next year’s TAC Cup season. There will be two sessions, October 25 and 27 at Parade College.
No football experience is needed.
To register, go to www.nthknights.com.au/girls
