By Ant Wingard @AntWingard
Four Bond University QWAFL players have been nominated for the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 Draft Combine later this year ahead of the national draft in October.
Bond University ruckman Lauren Bella, University of Queensland outside midfielder Nat Grider and Wilston Grange midfielder Jacqui Yorston were all invited to the combine alongside 36 of the country’s best Under 18 female footballers.
Each of the ten AFL Women’s teams that will compete in 2019 were asked to nominate three players for the combine, with the Brisbane Lions allocating their nominations to the three QWAFL players.
The trio all featured for Queensland in the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 National Championships throughout June and July and among ten Queensland players in the All Australian squad.
Grider, who captained the side at the national championships, and Yorston, also made a number of appearances for the Brisbane Lions AFL Women’s team in the midseason Winter Series competition.
Likewise, Bella, a Gold Coast Academy product, also featured throughout the Winter Series for the SUNS.
Coolangatta midfielder, Brianna McFarlane, became the fourth QWAFL footballer to be invited to test at the combine.
McFarlane, a New South Wales native, was nominated by the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS after starring for the NSW/ACT representative side at the national championships.
She was one of three New South Welshman to be named in the Under 18 All Australian squad.
Just one round remains in the 2018 QWAFL home and away season with finals set to start in a fortnight’s time.
Yorston’s Gorillas have already secured their place within the final four while Grider’s Red Lions and McFarlane’s Bluebirds are also poised to qualify for the postseason.
The AFL Women’s National Draft will be held in October this year and Brisbane currently holding picks 9, 22, 33, 44 and 55.
