Ryleigh Wotherspoon | Sherwood Magpies

Height: 170cm
Position: Utility
Strengths: Power, athleticism, versatility

Melbourne has selected dual-athlete Ryleigh Wotherspoon with pick No.12 at the 2023 AFLW National Draft.

Wotherspoon is an established cricket player and has recently returned to football playing for Sherwood Magpies in Queensland, before her taste of AFLW, training with the Brisbane Lions earlier this year.

A naturally talented sportsperson, the 19-year-old has a number of sporting achievements including representing Queensland and Australia in cricket, playing Premier League soccer for University of Queensland, in addition to representing Queensland for softball.

Wotherspoon boasts impressive power and attack on the ball, with the ability to work across both the midfield and backline.

“Ryleigh comes to us from predominately a cricket background with a mix of some soccer,” Todd Patterson, the club’s AFLW List Manager, told Melbourne Media.

“She is originally from Mackay and got back to footy at Sherwood this year before training on at Brisbane.

“We see Ryleigh as a powerful midfielder that can also rebound off half back and are excited to see her within our program.”