Tasmanian football star Sophie Strong has realised her AFL dream after being selected by Essendon at pick 35 in last night’s AFLW draft.
Despite a disrupted season with an injury limiting her to just a handful of games, Strong impressed Essendon with her ‘explosive speed, elite endurance and strong work ethic’.
The young midfielder began her football journey with the Sandy Bay Lions Junior Football Club before moving to North Hobart and representing the state with the Tasmania Devils.
State Girls Development Coach Jess Wuetschner, a former AFLW premiership player and Essendon player, said Strong’s selection was a win.
“We are so excited for Sophie, in what has been a tough year with injury, her attitude and application has been excellent,” she said.
“Sophie has all the right attributes to succeed at the highest level and as her coach and a former Essendon player, I’m looking forward to cheering her on when she dons the sash next year.”
While Wuetschner expressed disappointment that more Tasmanians were not drafted, she said the dream remains alive for those who missed out.
“Tunisha Kikoak serves as the perfect example for our girls that didn’t get drafted,” she said.
“Tunisha came back as an overager for us, had an amazing attitude and performed strongly to land on Fremantle’s list as an injury replacement player and she has not looked back.”
