Kirsty Lamb had stopped watching the inaugural AFL women’s draft after about pick 120.
For her, football had always been a side project to playing cricket, but she still had the dream of being drafted.
At that point in the draft, she thought she had missed her chance this time round.
She then received a text message from her best friend and new Collingwood player, Jess Cameron.
“I stopped watching and was on my way to cricket training,” Lamb said.
“I didn’t think I was going to be picked. Jess then texted me and said, ‘Well done and we’ll be seeing you in the Bulldogs colours’.
“I pulled over to the freeway and started crying.”
The Bulldogs had selected her at 138 – the eighth last pick of the draft.
Lamb, who has been playing for Diamond Creek in the Women’s VFL, has had a football presence in her entire life.
But until now she’s been better known for her cricket.
The Plenty Valley gun has also played for Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades.
“Cricket has sort of been number one as you could go further with it,” she said. “Now – you can’t go any further than this in football.
“It’s hard to compare the two sports. I love them equally and feel lucky to play both sports.”
Lamb is one of at least four talented Victorian cricketers who will be combining both sports.
Cameron will play for Collingwood, Emma Kearney will play with Lamb at the Bulldogs, while Natalie Plane was selected by Carlton.
Lamb said she would have to sit down with the Bulldogs and work out how she would manage the summer workload of both cricket and football.
