By Jed Lanyon
Melbourne looks set to draft Eastern Ranges player Georgia Campbell at the 2021 AFLW Draft after the dual-club father-daughter prospect nominated the Demons as her preferred destination, according to AFLW reporter Sarah Black.
The All-Australian ruck/key forward was eligible to be selected as a father-daughter candidate for the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, where her father Adrian played 30 and two games respectively.
The minimum requirement for an AFLW father-daughter qualification is one game, meaning the Demons now have first access to the highly rated AFLW talent. The indicative AFLW draft order lists the Demons’ first selection coming all the way back in round three at pick 42.
At 182 centimetres tall, Campbell comes with great upside as her athleticism was on display regularly throughout the NAB League Girls season allowing her to compete against taller and stronger opponents.
A season highlight was a dominant three goal, 25 hitout performance in February against the Gippsland Power, while plucking contested marks in wet conditions.
The AFLW Academy member put in an impressive 2021 season averaging 20 hitouts and kicking eight goals across nine games to earn selection in the AFLW’s Under 19 All-Australian team.
Draft Central’s AFLW Draft preview lists Campbell’s athleticism, versatility and work at ground level as her strengths.
“At the AFL Women’s Under 19 Championships, Campbell played the majority of her time in the clash against Vic Country in the ruck, where she was challenged more than she usually was at NAB League level in the contests, but was unmatched in her follow up work and impact around the ground,” her draft profile reads.
“She spent the second game against Western Australia playing mostly in the forward line, causing headaches by leaping high every time the ball came in her area, and bobbing up with a goal on the run in the third term to demonstrate her impressive evasiveness and one-on-one ability.”
The AFLW Draft takes place on Tuesday 27 July.
