Rookie draft mixed bag for Far North

JORDAN GERRANS THE future of one Far North junior in AFLW is set to blossom while another’s will be stalled for a year at least.

North Cairns product Selina Goodman was overlooked in yesterday morning’s rookie draft despite leading Brisbane Lions’ ruck division in the first AFLW grand final.

The athletic former North Cairns Tiger played mostly in the ruck for the Lions but was delisted along with six other players following the Lions’ loss to the Adelaide Crows in the inaugural grand final earlier this year.

While the news is not positive for Goodman, Cairns-born Calista Boyd was given her first taste of the big time by reigning premiers Crows.

Boyd, who is based in Darwin where she lines up with the Wanderers in the Northern Territory Football League, grew up in the Far North and has a background in touch football.

The 18-year-old midfielder, also a talented basketballer, has speed, agility and is clever around goal.

Boyd is one of six children raised by single mother Jillian – a sporting talent in her own right, representing the Cairns Dolphins in the Queensland Basketball League.

Crows coach Bec Goddard coached Boyd during the Under-18 National Champion- ships and said she had great ability.

“I’ve said before Calista has one of the best goosesteps I have seen,” Goddard said.

“She has pure pace and great game sense.

“We’re thrilled to have now finalised our squad of 30 and we’re looking forward to the official commencement of preseason on November 20.”

Brisbane Lions coach Craig Starcevich earlier this year said Goodman was a strong chance to return to the AFLW, with Geelong and North Melbourne gaining licences to expand the competition to 10 teams in 2019, while Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast, which were also provisional licence holders, will enter the following season in 2020 along with Gold Coast.

With Boyd on an AFLW list for this season, she will join fellow Far North stars Leah Kaslar, Breanna Koenen and Mossman’s Tiarna Ernst.