Fremantle have filled their positional needs while adding some exciting talent for the future at Tuesday’s NAB AFL Women’s National Draft, according to senior coach Trent Cooper.

The haul of seven players was highlighted by the selections of the highly touted Roxanne Roux and gifted young ruck Mim Strom.

Not only were Fremantle able to add skill and ability, they filled their positional needs to form a list that is capable of playing exciting football once again in 2020.

Taken with pick no.12, Roux was touted as one of the most exciting players in the entire draft and was taken as the first player from the WA pool.

Strom was added at pick no.21 from Swan Districts, with the 17-year-old boasting the potential to fill the role at Fremantle for many years to come.

At no.35, Fremantle drafted Ann McMahon, a versatile midfielder Fremantle were hoping to draft in 2018 prior to the East Fremantle player sustaining an ACL injury at the time.

Fremantle added three key defenders with their next three selections, taking Emma O’Driscoll from Swan Districts at no.51, Sarah Garstone from Claremont at no.66 and Janelle Cuthbertson from Perth at no.81.

Freo finalised their draft by taking 18-year-old midfielder Bianca Webb at pick no.85.

 
 
 
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Welcoming two of our newest Freo Dockers ð??? @mim_strom @a._macca #AFLW #AFLWDraft #foreverfreo

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Cooper said that he, the recruiting team and the Fremantle players were thrilled with the haul.

“We’ve had a lot of support from our players texting and saying how excited they are about who we picked up,” Cooper said.

“Obviously they’ve played with and against these girls (in the WAFLW) and it’s pleasing that our players are excited…they’re as excited as what we are.

While Fremantle went into the draft knowing that they were certain to draft Roux with the top pick from the WA pool, they were sweating on whether Strom would slip to pick no.21.

“We were nervous that she wouldn’t be available. Mim’s obviously a developing ruck, but she’s someone we think can ruck for us for 10 or 12 years.

“It was really important with where our list was at that we could get her on board. We’re extremely pleased to have her at Freo.”

Cooper said McMahon would bring some important experience to the team.

“Ann would have been one of our first couple of picks last year but she had a year out with injury and played a really strong season of WAFLW this year,” Cooper said.

“She’s really versatile, she can play small forward, she can play in the midfield, she can play as a running defender as well.

“She’s really hard at it, super disciplined and we think that she’ll add a lot to our group.”

In Cuthbertson, Fremantle have signed a talented former tennis player who has turned her attention to football.

“Janelle was one that we were really lucky to find when she tried out at our rookie search,” Cooper said.

“She’s a former Grand Slam junior tennis player and spent five years in the college system in the USA playing tennis. She’s just taken up footy with the Perth Demons who play in the WAFLW reserves.

“She really impressed in our academy stages and tested really well. She’s a tall and powerful athlete who we think can transition to footy pretty quickly.”

Cooper said it was important the whole group celebrated their achievements, feeling comfortable they had the work ethic required to handle their first AFLW pre-season.

“We’re just telling them to enjoy the day. We’ll catch up with them when we get back to Perth in the next day or two,” Cooper said.

“We’ve already spoken to the girls and we know they’re good characters that will work hard.

“I’m just looking forward to them resting up more than anything, they’ve all played full WAFLW seasons and they’re all ready to go and get into it.”

 
 
 
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Welcome to the club Roxy Roux!

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FREMANTLE'S SELECTIONS

Roxanne Roux
Selected at: no.12
Age: 17
Position: Forward / ruck
Drafted from: East Fremantle
Occupation: Student
Cooper’s comments: Roxy was named 2019 All Australian in the U18s. She performed strongly for East Fremantle, starring in their WAFLW Premiership win. Roxy is an exciting forward prospect who is quick off the mark and has a very strong overhead grab. She possesses an excellent vertical leap that also allows her to pinch hit in the ruck. She was the second leading goal scorer in the WAFLW in 2019.

Mim Strom
Selected at: no.21
Age: 17
Position: Ruck
Drafted from: South Fremantle / Swan Districts
Occupation: Student
Cooper’s comments: Mim started the season for South Fremantle in the Rogers Cup (U18s) before getting a permit to play league football for Swan Districts. Mim flourished in the second half of the season leading the ruck for Swan Districts and also for WA in the U18s carnival, where she was named All Australian. She taps the ball well and is excellent below her knees. Mim possesses a huge amount of upside and has the desire to continue to improve.

Ann McMahon
Selected at: no.35
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder / forward
Drafted from: East Fremantle
Occupation: Police officer
Cooper’s comments: Ann suffered an ACL injury in the early part of the 2018 season and returned midway through the 2019 WAFLW season, picking up immediately where she left off. She made a smooth transition to East Fremantle having previously played at West Perth. Ann was an important player in the Sharks’ premiership winning team with her ability to play a variety of roles through the midfield and also forward. She is hard at the ball and possesses good skills and decision making

Emma O’Driscoll
Selected at: no.51
Age: 19
Position: Key defender
Drafted from: Swan Districts
Occupation: Student
Cooper’s comments: Emma had her season ruined by a broken finger which resulted in her missing the U18 carnival after being very close to being drafted in 2018. She is a key defender with explosive pace who plays an extremely team-oriented brand of football.

AFLW: O'Driscoll's 'overwhelming' Freo feeling

Sarah Garstone
Selected at: no.66
Age: 19
Position: Key defender
Drafted from: Claremont
Occupation: Retail assistant
Cooper’s comments: Sarah is a key defender who was a member of the WA State 18s team in 2018. She’s shown continued improvement, playing league football for the Tigers over the past two seasons on the most dangerous forwards in the competition. Sarah has a good mix of strength and endurance.

Janelle Cuthbertson
Selected at: no.81
Age: 29
Position: Key defender
Drafted from: Perth
Occupation: Sport Development Manager – Netball WA
Cooper’s comments: Janelle was identified through the FFC talent search trials and was unlucky not to get pre-selected as a rookie. She spent five years in the US attending college and playing tennis before returning to Perth. Janelle had an injury interrupted first season playing for Perth in the WAFLW reserves competition but has huge upside with her athleticism and size being valuable assets.

Bianca Webb
Selected at: no.85
Age: 18
Position: Inside midfielder
Drafted from: West Perth / Swan Districts
Occupation: Student
Cooper’s comments: Bianca is a member of the 2019 WA State 18's team who has shown continued improvement throughout the season. She was able to play a key role as an inside midfielder for Swan Districts in her first season of league football.