THORNLIE’S Caitlyn Edwards said the first thing she did when she found out she was going to play in the women’s AFL was to call her mum.
The 20-year-old half-back was selected at pick 43 and will play with Collingwood in next year’s competition.
Ms Edwards, who plays for WA Women’s Football League side East Fremantle, said she was confident, but still quite shocked to get picked as high as she went.
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READ NOW“I was quite confident, but at the same time I was worried, as I had nominated for a different state and I hadn’t had my best season in 2016 as I was also juggling rugby commitments, so I was relying on my form in previous years,” she said.
“I’m stoked just to get into training. I’ll be moving out of home for the first time, to a different state; everything will be different.
“I’m also looking forward to playing with an entirely new group of players; I’ve never played against or with most of the players at Collingwood.
“My first thought was to call my mum.”
Collingwood women’s coach Wayne Siekman told the Collingwood FC website she was highly regarded by many.
“She is young and has already tasted AFL football by playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2015,” she said.
“She is an attacking defender with good pace, she also has the ability to go through the midfield or even play on as a dangerous small forward.
“We are rapt to be able to get her with our sixth pick in the draft and she will no doubt learn plenty and work in beautifully with our strong back-half line.”