Two Canberra students are off to the big smoke after being drafted to the AFLW Giants side last night, Tuesday 6 October.
Eighteen-year-olds Emily Pease and Tarni Evans will first go head to head in this weekend’s local grand final clash between the Belconnen Magpies and Queanbeyan Tigers, before packing their bags.
Evans moved to Canberra from Tathra at age 17 and was the Western Sydney side’s first pick in the 2020 NAB AFLW draft on Tuesday.
“It was so exciting. I wasn’t sure I would be drafted and was just hoping that was the case, but I was super happy,” she said.
“I was with all of the Queanbeyan Tigers girls and it was sick.”
The Erindale College student, who plays on the wing, said if it weren’t for being drafted, she would have started a full-time apprenticeship.
“I have been doing a trade once a week so I was thinking I would just do full apprenticeship once I finished. This is a bit better,” she laughed.
Pease has played out her whole junior career with the Belconnen Magpies side, after joining at the request of some friends in Year 7.
The defender and midfielder said she was still figuring out how to complete her school year at Lake Ginninderra College, before starting preseason with GWS in early November.
“I have to figure out everything with school and talk to my teachers but it’s going to be an amazing experience – a dream come true,” she said.
“Before I found out, I was probably going to stay in Canberra, go to uni, keep playing club footy, nothing exciting.”
Both women said they were most excited to learn and develop their footy from experienced players such as Louise Stephenson and Alicia Eva.
They both also admitted to being GWS fans before being draft picks.
“They have always been my favourite women’s team, but I back the Hawthorn men’s team,” Pease said.
“I was actually always a big fan. My brother is a Richmond supporter and I never wanted to go for the same team as him, so I picked GWS,” added Evans.
