MELBOURNE’s AFL and AFLW sides just got a whole lot closer – they are now connected by blood.

Krstel Petrevski, the Demons’ most recent addition via the NAB AFL Women’s Draft, is the cousin of Toby Bedford, making her recruitment all the more special.

“I’m super, super rapt and super stoked to be playing at the same club as my cousin,” Petrevski told Melbourne Media.

“It’s really great and such an amazing opportunity and such an amazing achievement for our people and our mob back in WA.”

The 18-year-old has lived in Victoria for the past four years but is proud of the history she brings to the club.

“I’m from Halls Creek in Western Australia which is in the Kimberley region,” Petrevski said.

“It has about a population of 1000 people – it’s an aboriginal community.

“I chose to move to Melbourne for my education and the opportunities that Melbourne has.

“Obviously, the reason was my education, but I did have at the back of my mind the whole time footy, because that’s really something I wanted to do and I wanted to play AFLW.”

After having her name called out with Melbourne’s final pick of the draft on Tuesday, pick No.78, Petrevski was simply ecstatic when she arrived at AAMI Park that afternoon.

 

“Honestly, I was hoping that my name would be called out but obviously I didn’t want to give myself high hopes,” she said.

“But when it did get called out, I was extremely over the moon, over the moon.

“I’m still speechless now, I still can’t believe it.”

Petrevski could barely contain her excitement when she first met some of her new teammates and is looking forward to immersing herself in the strong culture the club has created.

“It’s really, really exciting and I’m extremely honoured and extremely grateful to be at the Demons,” she said.

“Honestly, I can’t wait to meet all the girls and to get stuck into it.

“They seem like a really good group and I can’t wait … to be in that culture and create that good bond and friendship with them all.”