By Simeon Thomas-Wilson, Mercury
SHE is all but guaranteed selection at the first ever AFL women’s national draft, but that doesn’t mean Jess Wuetschner is any less excited or nervous for the big day tomorrow.
After nominating to be drafted to Queensland, and the Brisbane Lions agreeing to select her, the 24-year-old Tasmanian will be one of 145 female footy players to be given a ticket to the big league when the eight clubs pick their squads for the inaugural AFL women’s league.
Wuetschner has been in this situation, albeit on a much smaller scale, in the past after being drafted by the Western Bulldogs last year for its exhibition games against Melbourne but the gun half- forward said the national draft would be on another level.
“It’s probably one of the biggest days of my life,” she said.
“I’m super excited to get the draft done and dusted and hopefully get to work.
“It’s fantastic what the Bulldogs and Melbourne have done for us in the last couple of years but this will take it to that elite stage and to be in front of the whole of Australia, that will be fantastic.
“I’m excited for myself, I’m excited for everyone playing the game really, especially for the young kids coming through with all the opportunities they now have. When I started eight years ago in Tassie we only had three teams in a statewide league.”
The Clarence product, who has spent the past three years in Perth chasing her footy dreams, is considered Tasmania’s best prospect in the national draft and will go in with the luxury of basically knowing she will be picked up.
“I had a chat with a couple of different clubs and thought that Queensland was the best place to go and I can’t wait to work with Craig Starcevich who is the coach over there,” she said.
Burnie trio Emma Humphries, Ellyse Gamble and Britt Gibson are also considered strong chances to be drafted while there are high hopes for Tiger City’s Lizzie Stokely despite a recent knee injury.