Talented Queanbeyan Tigers product Cynthia Hamilton has been taken by the Sydney Swans with the 11th pick in the 2022 AFLW draft tonight.
The 18-year-old was previously a member of the GWS Giants academy pathways, but will now play for cross-town rivals the Swans in their inaugural AFLW season. She will play alongside her sister Lexi who joined the Swans from North Melbourne earlier this year.
Hamilton has been touted as one of the best talents in the NSW/ACT region after being named at full forward in the 2021 U19 AFLW All Australian team.
She averaged 21.5 disposals (13.5 contested), 10 tackles, five inside 50s and kicked two goals in two matches, taking out her team’s MVP award at last year’s championships.
Along with her prowess in the forward line, Hamilton is also known as hard working midfielder who makes good decisions by hand and foot to hurt the opposition and brings her teammates into the game.
Sydney Swans AFLW Coach Scott Gowans said the club sees Hamilton playing roles both in the midfield and up forward.
“Cynthia is comfortable anywhere on the footy field and has performed very well in all her representative games. She loves the contest and has a high footy IQ, has strong marking abilities and reads the play well. Along with her defensive attributes we see her playing a variety of roles in our midfield and forward lines,” he said.
Hamilton will join a handful of talented draftees at Sydney, with Montana Ham (Western Jets) going to the Swans with the first pick of the draft and Sofia Hurley (Sandringham Dragons) with pick five.
Hamilton was the club’s third selection at 11, before Montana Beruldsen (Hawthorn VFL) and Alice Mitchell (Gunnedah) were taken at picks 12 and 13 respectively.
Meanwhile, the Giants selected Canberra local Tess Cattle, with the Ainslie Football Club the last selection in the draft at pick 86.
Cattle is regarded as a tough inside midfielder who thrives on the contested ball, but also uses it well by foot.
The GWS recruiting team said; “Tess has had a really strong year in the Canberra league while also playing for the GIANTS Academy, Allies and GIANTS Winter Series team. She was a later addition to the Allies program and had a strong display as a small defender. She is a midfielder who has the ability to play back or forward given her speed and agility.”
The 10-round AFLW season is set to commence in the last weekend in August this year, with the Grand Final to be held on the last weekend of November.
