In a rewarding night for the Casey Demons VFLW program, six players who played for the Demons in 2022 were selected in the AFLW national draft last night.
Four main stay Casey VFLW listed players realised their dreams last night as they became AFLW-listed players for the upcoming season.
The depth and talent available on Casey’s list in 2022 shone through at the national AFLW draft, as the four Casey listed draftees were joined by three players from the feeder Dandenong Stingrays who were picked to join AFLW clubs.
Leading the way was Casey captain Sammie Johnson, who was rewarded for yet another fine season when Melbourne selected the midfielder with pick 49.
The selection means Johnson will elevate from Casey’s list to Melbourne’s and will continue her rise through the ranks in the red and blue, as Johnson gets her second crack at AFLW footy after being on St Kilda’s list for the 2020 season.
Dashing defender Maeve Chaplin also received rich reward for a scintillating VFLW finals series, being re-selected by Melbourne with pick 44.
Chaplin originally found her way onto Melbourne’s list before being delisted at the end of the 2022 season, only for the red and blue to snap her right back up after piecing together a superb month of footy in the VFLW upon returning from injuries.
😈 Congratulations to Maeve Chaplin been taken at Pick 44 by @MelbourneAFLW 🙌
— Casey Demons (@CaseyDemonsFC) June 29, 2022
Maeve was an injury replacement on Melbourne's list last season and finished the season strong at Casey. ❤💙
Great work Maeve 😍#caseydemons #vflw #aflwdraft2022 pic.twitter.com/U8lsIVHTXk
Both Wales twins also got to realise their AFLW dream, with Lucy and Stephanie being selected by different clubs last night.
Ruck Lucy Wales was chosen by Hawthorn with pick 22 after an amazing rise through Casey’s ranks in the 2022 VFLW season, while twin sister Stephanie being chosen 10 picks later by Essendon as a valuable utility.
But these four picks weren’t the only exciting point for Casey in the national draft, as three Dandenong Stingray players elevated to AFLW lists, with two of them having played for Casey throughout the year.
Amber Clarke was always going to be a massive chance of getting picked early in the draft after the young prospect put together an incredible 2022 season.
Clarke was chosen at pick four by Essendon after dominating in junior ranks and playing superbly when getting her chance at VFLW level with Casey this season.
Joining Clarke was fellow Casey player Taylah Gatt, who played numerous games for the Demons while elevating through the Stingrays’ ranks before being chosen at pick 28 by North Melbourne.
Lastly, fellow Dandenong Stingray prospect Mackenzie Eardley was selected at pick six by Hawthorn to ensure the Casey Demons and the wider regions of Casey were vindicated for running an incredible 2022 VFLW program.
The entire Casey Demons VFLW department wish these players the best in their AFLW ventures.