Geelong Cats selected Calder Cannons midfielder Georgie Prespakis and teammate Zali Friswell with their first two picks in the AFLW draft on Tuesday night.
The Cats, who placed second-last this season, used selection two to acquire 168cm inside midfielder Prespakis, the younger sister of Carlton’s Madison Prespakis.
The club described the 18-year-old’s stoppage skills as elite and her kicking as a strength.
“Prespakis is a strong clearance player with great overhead ability,” the club said.
Prespakis won the NAB League (under-19) best and fairest as a 16-year-old in 2019 and was named in the AFLW Academy squad in 2021.
Her teammate Friswell was one of the NAB League’s most consistent players, according to the Cats.
“Friswell finds the ball, finds space and uses it cleanly,” the club said.
“A well-balanced, agile player, she is able to hit a target with precision.”
Friswell has spent time in the back and forward pockets this year for the Cannons and Essendon VFLW, but is at her most damaging through the midfield.
The Cats also picked Geelong Falcon forward-ruck Gabbi Featherston and Geelong VFLW midfielder Annabel Johnson with selections nine and 15.
“An impactful forward, Featherston’s athleticism, contested marking and ability to hit the scoreboard are among her key strengths,” the Cats said.
“At 170cm, the 17-year-old has an impressive vertical leap. Featherston’s ability to step into a secondary ruck role at NAB League level has set her apart this year.”
Hailing from Apollo Bay, Featherston also played for Colac Imperials in 2021.
Featherston’s late father Peter was a former Geelong Falcon and a champion of the Colac and District Football League.
Johnson’s rise to Geelong’s AFLW list has been rapid since she took up football less than a year ago.
Originally from Echuca, the 20-year-old moved to the Geelong region to begin her studies at Deakin University.
With a background in netball and soccer, Johnson joined Geelong’s VFLW side for 2021.
The athletic 167cm midfielder played 14 games this season, averaging 14.6 disposals, 2.7 marks and 4.8 tackles.
She will line up for the Cats in this weekend’s VFLW preliminary final.
Geelong Falcons Annie Lee, Tess Craven and Ingrid Houtsma will their join former teammate Featherston in entering the AFLW.
Lee went to Carlton at pick 10, Craven to North Melbourne at pick 13 and Houtsma to Richmond at pick 50.
Craven watched the draft on the AFL website with Drysdale’s senior women’s team joining her on Zoom, she told the Ocean Grove Voice on Wednesday.
“[The club has] been behind me from the day I was born, pretty much,” she said.
“When I was little, mum and dad wouldn’t have to worry that if they were busy they wouldn’t have to look after me because there was always someone who would.”
The St Ignatius student travelled to Arden Street on Wednesday for an induction day before returning to school.
Her father Stuart played local football and coaches Drysdale’s senior women’s team.
“I’m not sure whether it’s true or not, but when I was really young mum and dad said they were dreading the day they were having to tell me that there was no AFL for me to play in,” she said.
“Now that there is that pathway, it’s all I have ever wanted.”
