Highly rated rugby league convert Haneen Zreika has been selected with the first pick in the AFLW rookie draft by GWS, after the Giants overlooked her in Wednesday's national draft.
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Zreika, a tough inside midfielder who plays for the Auburn Giants, was introduced to AFL by a school teacher after she had to stop playing rugby league because of her sex.
Born and raised in Sydney's western suburbs Zreika was seen before the draft as a great fit for the Giants, who lacked inside midfielders in their first season.
Rookie draftees have to be under 21 or from another sport. They can only play an AFLW match as a replacement for a long-term injury to a senior listed player.
Adelaide Crows' AFLW premiership winner Sarah Perkins was a rookie selection in the competition's first year. Former basketballer Anna Teague was selected by Melbourne, while other players who were surprisingly overlooked in the main draft - Gabby Collingwood (Brisbane Lions), Brianna Walling and Calista Boyd (both Adelaide) - were selected as rookies.
Fremantle gained an extra selection in the rookie draft because of a long-term injury to midfielder Kirby Bentley. They selected highly rated ruck/key position prospect and former athletics junior Tayla McAuliffe to replace her, upgrading her to the primary list straight away.
All AFLW lists are now complete ahead of the 2018. The fixture for the season will be released within the next two weeks.
Full AFLW rookie draft selections:
1 GWS Giants Haneen Zreika Auburn Giants
2 Fremantle Lisa Webb Coastal Titans
3 Western Bulldogs Naomi Ferres VU Western Spurs
4 Collingwood Holly Whitford Cranbourne
5 Carlton Tiahna Cochrane Bendigo
6 Melbourne Anna Teague Geelong Cats
7 Brisbane Gabby Collingwood Uni of Queensland
8 Adelaide Calista Boyd Wanderers
9 GWS Giants Tait Mackrill Adelaide University
10 Fremantle Jade De Melo East Fremantle
11 Western Bulldogs Bonnie Toogood Mornington
12 Carlton Katie-Jayne Grieve South Bunbury
13 Melbourne Maddie Shevlin Gungahlin Jets
14 Brisbane Molly Ritson Bond University
15 Adelaide Brianna Walling Morphettville Park
16 Fremantle Beatrice Devlyn South Fremantle
17 Carlton Courtney Webb Launceston
18 Brisbane Krystal Scott Bond University
