The team that won the AFLW draft is named as No.1 pick reveals how she’ll juggle footy and high school when she makes her debut next year
- One club was the clear winner in terms of top talent
- Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, 18, placed first overall
- She and other Dogs recruits don't know who their coach is
Foundation club Western Bulldogs have secured three of the top six players in the AFLW draft in a move they hope will propel them back up the ladder.
After finishing bottom this year, the Bulldogs selected Western Jets leading forward Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner with the No. 1 pick in the draft on Monday night at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs went into the draft without a coach after sacking former St Kilda champion Nathan Burke last month following their one-win season.
Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn presented Weston-Turner with her first show jumper.
Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner was delighted to be taken first overall by the Western Bulldogs – the club she grew up supporting
The 18-year-old was presented with her jersey by Dogs skipper Ellie Blackburn (pictured) as the club cleared out during Monday night's draft
The 18-year-old, who is determined to make her debut in the first round next season, will be forced to juggle her Year 12 studies with playing for the Bulldogs in 2024.
“It means a lot to me and my family after growing up supporting the Bulldogs,” Weston-Turner said.
'I think it's just a matter of communicating with the club and school which days I need to be where and making sure I complete my course work.'
She missed months in 2023 after breaking her wrist at school, but returned late in the season to play a match with Vic Metro at the national championships.
Weston-Turner will have a familiar face high up at the club, with Bulldogs football boss Chris Grant coaching her at junior level.
“He (Grant) just told me he was proud of me and they are happy to have me at the club, it just means everything,” she added.
Pictured: The picks from the first round of this year's draft, which saw the Doggies take three of the top six prospects, while Collingwood took two picks in the top 10
After West Coast picked GWV Rebels midfielder Jess Rentsch (No. 2) and GWS picked West Australian winger Kaitlyn Srhoj (No. 3), the Bulldogs were back in the lead.
Tasmanian midfielder Brooke Barwick missed the entire 2023 season after injuring her ACL, but the Bulldogs had no hesitation in drafting her as a pick four.
This year, potential AFLW players had the option to nominate nationally or just for their home state.
Srhoj, who moves to the Giants from Perth having never been to Sydney before, believes the draft should eventually move away from the option of state-based nominations.
“If we want to go semi-professional, we should really just make it national,” Srhoj said.
“But on the other hand, there isn't enough financial support (at the moment) to move (anywhere) and it really varies for everyone.”
Versatile South Australian Elaine Grigg threw herself into the national pool and the Bulldogs pounced on her at pick six.
Queensland's Sophie Peters is celebrating after the Brisbane Lions selected her with the 21st choice
Kenyan-born Grigg first loved basketball but stuck with football because she thrives on tackling and losing possession in the front half.
Melbourne, whose premiership defense ended with an exit in the straight sets final, had the fifth selection and opted for small forward Alyssia Pisano from Eastern Range.
The Demons also brought in a father-daughter pick, selecting Jemma Rigoni, whose father Guy played 107 games between 1998 and 2005.
AFLW DRAFT
1. Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (Western Bulldogs)
2. Jess Rentsch (West Coast)
3. Kaitlyn Srhoj (GWS)
4. Brooke Barwick (Western Bulldogs)
5. Alyssia Pisano (Melbourne)
6. Elaine Grigg (Western Bulldogs)
7. Lila Keck (Carlton)
8. Georgia Clark (Collingwood)
9. Lucy Cronin (Collingwood)
10. Kiera Whiley (St Kilda)