New Fremantle coach Lisa Webb was beaming as she marked her first day at Cockburn by introducing the membership’s 4 draftees, backing the contemporary quartet to push for early-season debuts.
Webb, who was unveiled as Trent Cooper’s substitute in February, left her husband — Western Bulldogs midfield coach Marc — and two sons behind in Melbourne to return west for her first official day on the job.
And her first job was to welcome the 4 new recruits picked up in Tuesday evening’s supplementary draft.
It took simply 4 video games of WAFLW for the Dockers to take former amateurs participant Tahleah Mulder with their first choose, earlier than touchdown East Fremantle pair Emmelie Fiedler and Jae Flynn with their subsequent two and Irishwoman Joanne Cregg from Subiaco.
“These guys are actually nice those that we’re excited so as to add to our membership, they arrive from clearly totally different backgrounds and we’re actually excited to see them complement our checklist,” Webb stated.
Including three new midfielders to a gaggle that already contains bona fide stars Hayley Miller and Kiara Bowers, Webb stated versatility was on the forefront of the draft technique.
“That is one thing that these ladies supply — versatility — and that is one thing with the opposite gamers, I will be difficult them to play totally different positions,” she stated.
“We will add that versatility to our group and that is one thing I am enthusiastic about going ahead.
“Clearly we needed to fill some holes… ladies with flexibility, however extra importantly good folks.”
The 29-selection supplementary draft was restricted to gamers born earlier than 2004, which means the 4 new Dockers vary from 21-year-old Fiedler and Mulder to 30-year-old Cregg.
As soon as a mature-age recruit herself, Webb stated life expertise was one factor, however the membership nonetheless had a deal with supporting new recruits to settle into the elite setting.
“I will be large at pushing that robust setting for these ladies to come back in, really feel like they belong, be certain that they belong and add to the tradition of what we’re constructing right here. That is one thing I am actually enthusiastic about, whether or not you are 29 or 17,” she stated.
“I imply, I debuted at 33, so I am all for that, however that is solely due to the foundations that have been put in entrance of me to thrive on this setting — I feel the membership has been actually robust on supporting that and I feel that we’re going to have the ability to do this with these ladies.
“The extra gamers we have got that may genuinely add to our group, the extra competitors we have got for spots. That is going to warmth up and that is thrilling.”
Webb flagged younger ruck Fielder may characteristic in a ruck mixture with incumbent tall Mim Strom, whereas Flynn has frolicked on a wing in East Fremantle’s dominant group.
There’s nonetheless no begin date for this yr’s AFLW season, however the Dockers predict to start pre-season in late-Might.
