Yarra Junior Football League are very proud to have had four former junior players picked up in the AFLW Draft on Tuesday. Two of these players been selected in the first round.
Pick number 10, Eleanor Brown was selected by the Western Bulldogs. Eleanor played her junior footy with Glen Iris. Known for her high work-rate, agility and high endurance, Eleanor played for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup, before playing six matches for the Southern Saints in the Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s league. She also represented Vic Metro in the AFLW U18 Championships, and received All-Australian honours for her outstanding 2018 season.
With pick number 11, Collingwood selected Katie Lynch. Katie played 77 games for Camberwell Sharks and 34 games for Kew Rovers. During her junior football days Katie won a number of YJFL awards including; 2011 Under 11 Black Best & Fairest (Mixed Competition), 2012 Under 12 Brown 2nd Best & Fairest (Mixed Competition), 2015 Under 15 Girls Best & Fairest and 2017 Youth Girls Best & Fairest. She has also represented YJFL at Metro Junior Championships. Described as a tall forward & midfielder who has a strong game sense. Katie played in the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championship series this year for Vic Metro, winning All-Australian honours. Katie played for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup and played three games with Collingwood at the end of the VFL Women’s season.
At pick number 21, Jayde Van Dyk was selected by Carlton. With the Yarra Junior Football League being one of the founding leagues for female football with the commencement of the Youth Girls competition back in 2011. Jayde played for Seville in this competition for two years. Jayde made her mark in the YJFL including being the 2014 2nd Best & Fairest in the Youth Girls Competition. The defender had a standout season playing for Hawthorn in the VFLW. Not only was Jayde part of the premiership team but also won the inaugural Best and Fairest award for the Hawks. She was also awarded the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW’s Rising Star and was named in defence in the league’s VFLW Team of the Year.
With North Melbourne’s first pick at number 25 they selected Daisy Bateman. Daisy played for Whitehorse Colts and also represented YJFL at the Metro Junior Championships. She played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup and Collingwood in the VFLW, earned a spot in the TAC Cup Girls Team of the Year and an AFLW Under-18 All-Australian berth. Looking comfortable in-front of goals with 14 goals from just seven TAC Cup matches, which included a five-goal haul. In the VFLW, Bateman kicked ten goals for the Magpies in six matches.
The Yarra Junior Football League is very proud to be one of the leaders in female football and congratulate these girls on their achievements. We look forward to seeing many more YJFL girls in the AFLW in the future.
