St Kilda Football Club has brought in four new talents – headlined by first-round pick J’Noemi Anderson – following tonight’s NAB AFL Women’s Draft.
Anderson (pick No. 16, Victorian selection No. 7) joins Southern Saints Hannah Stuart (63, 36) and Deanna Jolliffe (74, 41) and father-daughter recruit Caitlin Matthews (81, 44) to complete its roster for Season 7.
A relentless inside midfielder whose ferocious tackling is already a hallmark of her game, Anderson also boasts the ability to swing up forward and take strong grabs overhead.
From Warlpiri Warumungu Country, the 17-year-old has spent the past few years boarding at Melbourne Girls Grammar while representing Northern Territory in the NAB League.
Anderson becomes the first Indigenous AFLW player signed to St Kilda, joining the club’s eight Indigenous AFL-listed players for Season 2022.
The first-round draft pick is also the younger sister of Jed Anderson, who is currently listed at North Melbourne Football Club, former Carlton player Joe Anderson and Adelaide rookie from the club's inaugural AFLW season, Jasmine Anderson.
Hannah Stuart and Deanna Jolliffe are no strangers to St Kilda, having been members of VFLW affiliate, the Southern Saints, for several seasons.
Stuart enjoyed her best season in red, white and black after a permanent move to the midfield, helping lead her team to this weekend’s maiden VFLW Grand Final berth.
The tenacious inside mid was joined by Jolliffe, whose stability and use off half-back has been just as vital in guiding the Southern Saints towards its Premiership tilt.
Jolliffe had been on the Saints’ radar ahead of its inaugural season before a broken leg dashed her initial hopes of being drafted.
"We're thrilled with the result of tonight's draft," Head of AFLW Tessie McManus said.
"J'Noemi, Hannah, Deanna and Caitlin all bring unique assets to our group, which we believe will really propel us forward.
"We look forward to welcoming all the girls and their families to RSEA Park as soon as possible."
St Kilda is three weeks into its official pre-season and will be shortly joined by its new crop of draftees, with a season start date set for the week commencing 22 August.
