Prior to 2022, Geelong had a focus on recruiting locally and from country regions as it looked to build strong foundations for its emerging AFL Women’s program. 

Across Seasons 6 and 7, however, the Cats’ list-building moved into its next phase as they drafted more players from metropolitan Melbourne in addition to local talent. 

With the top Victorian pick in the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft, selecting Calder Cannons’ star Georgie Prespakis was an obvious choice. 

Prespakis’ Cannons teammate Zali Friswell followed soon after with national pick 7, before the Cats’ added Geelong Falcon Gabbi Featherston (pick 9) and Geelong VFLW player Annabel Johnson (pick 15) in an impressive draft haul.

It was a trend that continued in Season 7, with Brooke Plummer (Northern Knights) and Abbey McDonald (Cannons) joining the list alongside Mia Skinner (Geelong VFLW). 

Geelong Cats Head of AFLW and Pathways Brett Johnson said the club was pleased to see how much all the draftees had developed in their first year of being on an AFLW list. 

“It’s fantastic to see Georgie improve so much in her second season – to get 15 votes in the competition best and fairest medal – when she missed two games – is an incredible effort,” Johnson said. 

“I think there were a few clubs surprised that we took Zali at pick 4 in the Victorian draft, but we just thought Zali had all the attributes to be a good player in our team, and she’s proved that in two seasons – and she only turned 19 in December.” 

Geelong Falcons graduate Featherston has been developing as a defender, and showed some exciting signs in her first year, while Annabel Johnson has played every game she has been available for, taking into account a foot injury that derailed the back end of her first season. 

The intercepting defender came up through the Cats’ VFLW program in 2021 – the same arena Skinner was finally able to get a clean run at footy in after injuries plagued her first stint in the AFLW.

The 21-year-old was drafted by the Cats for a second time ahead of Season 7, making her long-awaited debut in Round 1 against Richmond. 

“This season to bring Mia Skinner back into the program after having a good season in the VFLW has added a lot to the program as well,” Johnson said. 

“Brooke Plummer is an exciting talent. Given her school commitments, she only completed about 30 per cent of training overall, so with a full pre-season ahead of Season 8, we think Brooke is going to be a key player for us. 

“Abbey McDonald has a lot of upside. She didn’t play this season, but she’s a hard-nosed small defender, who we think is going to add a lot to the group as well.

“So while we’ve prioritised bringing some experience into the group, we’ve still been able to get into the draft and bring some young talent in as well.”

The 2023 draft will bring a new challenge to Geelong’s AFLW recruiting team. 

Following a historic two seasons in one calendar year in 2022, the AFL will introduce a one-off overage draft this season, given there has not been a junior season since the previous draft in June. 

Teams will only be able to select from players that had nominated for the Season 7 draft and mature-aged state league talent. 

A date is yet to be confirmed for the draft.