DRAFT DAY LOOMS FOR YOUNG SWAN
Henning’s big day arrives
AUSSIE RULES: Former Dalby Swans product Jessi Henning has the chance to become the latest Downs player to enter the top flight of women’s football with today’s AFLW draft.
Henning is among the wealth of aspiring talent looking to break into the league and can follow in the footsteps of South Toowoomba Bomber and Warwick’s Delissa Kimmince.
Under current AFLW draft rules, Henning is only eligible to be chosen by the Brisbane Lions, which possesses picks nine, 22, 33, 45, 56 and 61.
Ben Banks has been involved as a coach and president since Henning’s tenure with Dalby started, and said her talent was easy to spot at a young age.
“I was right there from when she started and she actually came to us via an AFL 9s program,” Banks said.
“She was involved in the first year we put a team in the women’s competition (2014) and they won the premiership.
“Even then (as a 15-year-old) she was a stand-out player. She was athletic, quick and could run all day.
“We had a couple of young girls in the first year. There was no avenue at that stage for them. Playing in senior women’s football is a big step up but she did really well.
“She played for a couple of years with us and developed her skills. She made Darling Downs and Queensland teams.”
The former Lions Academy member put herself firmly in the eyes of talents scouts earlier this year after playing for Brisbane in the winter series, and was named in the Queensland U18s squad after playing the past two years for UQ in a Brisbane-based competition.
“She went to uni and has furthered her AFL and she has gone ahead in leaps and bounds,” he said.
“Jessi spent a lot of time in defence. She used to play ruck in Dalby because she has a hell of a leap.
“She was used in the midfield but has also been a very good defender. She has the ability to attack and run off that half-back line. When she gets the ball she takes off.”
As for her impact at the local level, Banks said she inspired the next crop of Swans.
“It shows that country kids that do it. We’ve got a few young girls who have played rep footy, in the schools and Darling Downs and this shows that there is somewhere for them to go,” he said.
“They can make it if they put their heads down and work hard.”