GAFFNEY ON VERGE OF BIG LEAGUE

MEGHAN Gaffney’s days as a game development trainee for AFL Tasmania may be numbered, and her life-changing career move could not be more exciting.

Gaffney, 19, is one of three Tasmanian players tipped to be selected in the AFLW Draft on Wednesday, and having nominated NSW as the state to which she hopes to be taken, odds are she will be a GWS Giant or Sydney Swan by the end of the night.

Gaffney (pictured) and Tasmania Devils Girls teammates Claire Ransom and Madison Brazendale are the hot tips to be drafted, while fellow-Tasmanians Candice Belbin and Courtney Hingston are also in with a shot.

Gaffney said the wait for draft night seemed interminable.

“I’m pretty excited and nervous too,” she said.

“Anything can happen but I’m also so excited about what the outcome might be.

“If I was lucky enough to be picked up it would be a very exciting time for me and my home town cause I don’t think anyone from Ulverstone has ever been drafted.”

Gaffney has had numerous “bites” from interested AFLW clubs.

“I’ve been in pretty close contact with one club in particular, so I guess that’s a bit comforting,” she said.

“I can’t say which club. You never know what’s going to happen on the night. It really could go any way.”

As a game development officer, Gaffney is teaching kids on the North-West Coast how to be their “best selves” on the footy field.

“I go into schools and teach kids footy, which aligns with the whole footy pathways and exposing them to footy and giving them the best opportunity to get to wherever they want to be with football,” Gaffney said.

“If I got drafted it would be unreal. When I first started footy I never really thought I’d be able to have a chance of making it to the AFLW level.

“To be drafted it would be pretty big dream come true. I’d be very humbled and excited.”

james.bresnehan@news.com.au

THE EARLY PICKS FIRST ROUND

1. Sydney; 2. Hawthorn; 3. Port Adelaide; 4. Essendon; 5. Sydney; 6. Hawthorn; 7. Port Adelaide; 8. Essendon; 9. Hawthorn; 10. Hawthorn; 11. Sydney; 12. Sydney; 13. Sydney; 14. West Coast; 15. West Coast; 16. St Kilda; 17. Carlton; 18. Carlton; 19. Gold Coast; 20. GWS Giants; 21. Western Bulldogs; 22. Hawthorn; 23. Port Adelaide; 24. West Coast; 25. Hawthorn; 26. Hawthorn; 27. Fremantle; 28. North Melbourne;

29. Western Bulldogs; 30. Collingwood; 31. Port Adelaide; 32. Essendon; 33. Geelong; 34. Gold Coast; 35. Essendon; 36. West Coast