WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Scenes of pure joy as Geelong Falcons come from behind to win the TACAC Cup Girls Grand Final.F
OLIVIA Purcell, Nina Morrison and Denby Taylor will headline a number of Geelong Falcons AFLW draft prospects later this year.
That’s according to AFL Victoria female talent manager Darren Flanagan, who lauded the trio after Saturday’s premiership triumph.
The 18-year-old Taylor was prolific en route to her best afield medal, showcasing her terrific kicking skills and ability to intercept the footy as the Falcons came from behind to win the inaugural TAC Cup Girls premiership.
“Denby’s game today was outstanding,” former Geelong ruckman Flanagan said.
“She played super across halfback early, but then when she pushed up on the wing, she won her own footy, intercept marked and kicked a really, really crucial goal towards the end.
“She just had a super game, but that’s Denby. Denby does that every week.”
Morrison, 17, also caught the eye, proving damaging by both foot and hand and clean below her knees.
“I rate Nina extremely highly,” Flanagan said.
“Once they put her on the inside (midfield), she was a little bit harder to control ... she wins her own footy.
“She doubles up her stats pushing forward, getting handball receives and she kicks it so well — she’s got a 50-metre kick on the run, which is pretty rare at this level. I just think she’s an absolute A-grader.”
Olivia Purcell is the other top-age Falcon who looks a lock for this year’s draft.
“Liv Purcell is a star — she’s just that hard, inside (player), wins her own footy,” Flanagan said.
“She can play as a highforward, a defensive forward, but she is just a ball getter. She’ll be drafted for sure.”
While captain Lucy McEvoy still has another year in the TAC Cup system, Flanagan said there were a number of other Falcons capable of finding AFL homes.
“You look at Sophie Walmsley’s game today — for someone that’s played eight games of footy and she wins the 2km time trial at the state testing day, just ran up and down wing all day,” he said.
“She just has to tidy up her kick and she’s got AFL running abilities ... but she’s not far off as well.”
Falcons coach Jason Armistead also added Tarryn Love, Sachi DeGiacomi and Eliza Shannon into the conversation, while Abbey Chapman and Luka LesoskyHay have another year in the under-18 system.
It remains unclear if Geelong will have any zone privileges to help built its 2019 AFLW list, but the Cats have expressed their desire to prioritise selecting local players after an AFL mandate to foster and promote the development of female footballers in the region.