Morrison puts recruiters on notice with sterling display

GEELONG women’s coach Paul Hood says it will be pretty hard not to select Nina Morrison with pick one in this year’s AFLW draft.

The Geelong Falcons product was named best-on-ground in the Cats’ VFL first semi-final win over NT Thunder on Sunday and is certain to end up at Geelong in the next month’s AFLW draft.

Whether that is with the Cats’ first pick or not is still to be determined, but Hood said the 18-year-old could not have made the transition to openaged football look any easier.

“There are some other pretty good players going around, too, but Nina’s form is pretty good, isn’t it?” he said.

“You imagine she’d be someone who’s going to be picked pretty early in the draft and she certainly did her chances no harm (on Sunday).

“She was outstanding on the wing, just her ability to get up and down the ground to out number, but then her composure with the ball too was terrific.

“It was a great performance for Nina. We’ve seen her play a lot of good footy with the Falcons and Vic Country, and it was great to see her play a really great game for Geelong.”

“You imagine she’d be someone that’s going to be picked pretty early in the draft and she certainly did her chances no harm (on Sunday).” CATS VFLW COACH PAUL HOOD ON NINA MORRISON ( PICTURED)

Morrison has had a year to remember, helping the Falcons to the TAC Cup girls premiership before tying the best-inleague award with Calder Cannons’ Madison Prespakis, and the pair were also joint winners of the under-18 championship’s most valuable player.

But she can add to her CV in the next fortnight if Geelong can overcome Collingwood to earn a place in the VFLW grand final.

“I think the team jells really well together and plays really well, so if we play our best game, we’ll be able to beat Collingwood,” she said.

Morrison said she was enjoying her time at VFLW level and in particular her role on a wing, which she said would hold her in good stead to perform at AFL level.

“It’s a little bit more physical and is faster paced (than the TAC Cup) at times, but I think the skill level is pretty similar across the two leagues,” she said.

“I like playing on the wing — it’s probably my favourite spot anyway — so I really enjoy just providing that outside run and keeping that width.

“I think it does (hold me in good stead), especially considering there are players in this league that have been playing AFLW over the last two years.

“I think it’s good for the confidence, anyway.”