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An ‘overwhelmed’ Emma O’Driscoll was reduced to tears when she became one of seven new Fremantle Dockers taken in Tuesday’s AFL Women’s National Draft.
Selected at pick no.51, the 19-year-old key defender brings to Fremantle her explosive pace and a team-oriented focus to her football.
O’Driscoll is eager to wear the purple and test her abilities at the highest level in the women’s competition.
“I’m super excited and it’s such an overwhelming feeling – I started crying because I was so happy,” O’Driscoll said.
“I’m so excited to take on this opportunity and play at such a high level.
“I’m really excited to work hard and see how fit I can be in an elite environment and see how good I can become."
Watching the draft while surrounded by her family in big numbers, O’Driscoll almost missed her now Freo teammate Evie Gooch call out her name.
“I could not even hear my name get called out because my family were just screaming,” O’Driscoll said.
“It was completely in shock, I obviously nominated…but had no idea when I was going to go or if I was going to go, so it was completely a surprise.”
O’Driscoll’s Swan Districts teammates and Fremantle leaders Kara and Ebony Antonio were streaming the AFLW draft live from California whilst on their honeymoon.
O’Driscoll said the girls were quick to offer their support and excitement from the other side of the world.
“The draft was amazing and there were so many Swan Districts girls (selected),” O’Driscoll said.
“Juddy has been messaging me all morning and wishing me luck.
“(At Swan Districts) I get called ‘the raging bull’, so they kept saying ‘I’m so stoked for you raging bull’, she was probably more excited than me.
“My phone has been blowing up with family and friends calling, even people that I don’t really speak to.
“I’m from a country town so everyone is just getting around me and it’s fantastic.
Hailing from Northam, O’Driscoll was shocked to see Gemma Houghton and former Docker Michael Johnson arrive at her door to present her with a Freo guernsey.
O’Driscoll said she was excited to don the purple in 2020 and beyond.
“It was amazing, I don’t think I could speak,” O’Driscoll said.
“The only thing I could say was ‘Gemma!’, it was fantastic, the best experience ever.
“The purple is great, I’m a bit girly so I think that the purple suits me well!”