2018 Terry Dunn House captain Emerson Woods has realised a dream, being drafted to the AFL club she has long supported. Emerson missed the final day of Year 12 on Tuesday to be part of the AFLW draft where she was taken by Carlton Football Club with pick No. 38.
Jayde Van Dyk (Class of 2013) was also drafted to Carlton, with pick No. 21. Jayde, 22, was handed the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW’s Rising Star last month, as well as being named in the back pocket of the competition’s Team of the Year. She also won the club best and fairest award for her VFLW team, Hawthorn.
The pair were part of the Hawthorn team that won the VFLW premiership by beating Geelong at Etihad Stadium a few weeks ago. On Wednesday night, Emerson and Jayde joined the other draftees and their families in a function at Ikon Park welcoming the club’s recruits.
This is how the Blues announced on their website their recruitment of Emerson and Jayde:
Carlton has welcomed childhood Bluebagger Emerson Woods to the Club with pick No.38. Woods arrives at Ikon Park from the Eastern Ranges, where she earned a reputation as a winger with the ability to break the lines. A latecomer to football having only started playing at the age of 16, the former basketballer formed part of Hawthorn’s VFLW premiership side.
AFLW senior coach Daniel Harford said the Blues were delighted to welcome Woods to the Club she supported as a child. “To welcome Emerson to the Carlton footy club is really exciting — she’s got a lot of talent and pace to burn. We saw that when she recorded the fastest time in the 20m sprint,” Harford said. “She was a member of the AFLW Academy and she had that experience in the VFLW. Emerson is really competitive and driven so we can’t wait to see what she can offer us.”
Defender Jayde Van Dyk will swap brown and gold for navy blue next season, after being recruited to Carlton with pick No.21 in the 2018 NAB AFLW National Draft. The 22-year-old had a standout season in the VFLW, winning a premiership with Hawthorn and taking home the Hawks' inaugural best and fairest. Averaging 15 disposals per game playing in the back pocket, Van Dyk was also awarded the Debbie Lee Medal as the VFLW’s Rising Star and was named in defence in the league’s VFLW Team of the Year.
AFLW senior coach Daniel Harford said he was rapt to secure such a quality player. “Jayde had a tremendous year in the VFLW competition and thoroughly deserved the accolades she received,” Harford said. “She made the most of every opportunity and that’s what I like to see from players, giving it their all and not leaving anything to chance — she’ll be a valuable asset to our defensive unit.”
* Photos courtesy of Carlton Football Club Media
