By Tara Murray
Madeline Brancatisano is still getting used to the idea she’s an AFLW player.
Having only taken up the sport a couple of years ago, Brancatisano said she never imagined being selected to play at the highest level.
Melbourne took the Northern Knights captain at pick 15 in the draft last week and there was a mix of emotions when her name was read out.
Brancatisano played 10 games for the Knights this season, including the TAC Cup Girl’s grand final, as well as playing six games for Carlton’s VFLW team.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she said.
“It’s a bit bizarre and really cool. You never know what can happen. I burst into tears when my name was read out. It was tears of relief.”
Brancatisano said Melbourne was one of two clubs she had spoken to before the draft.
The Demons had come to her house and spoke to her at the draft combine, while Carlton, where she had played VFLW, had also spoken to her.
Brancatisano has played football for just three years, having spent most of her sports life to date on the basketball court.
She played this season in the South East Australian Basketball League with the Geelong Supercats along with two of her two sisters.
She said she was unsure if she would continue to play basketball at that level.
Brancatisano said she had her mother to thank for encouraging herself and older sister Lily to take up football.
Lily captained the Northern Knights last year.
“I went to school with the coach’s son of the local team [Laurimar] and they needed players,” Brancatisano said. “He said, ‘You play basketball, surely you could play football, too’.
“I wasn’t too keen, but mum said it would be good for my fitness and I went down there and it went from there.
“I have mum to thank. She claims it, too.”
Brancatisano is the second Knights female player to be drafted to an AFLW club. She is joining her former Knights teammate, Maddy Guerin, at the Demons.
Guerin was at the draft as part of Brancatisano’s group of friends and family.
“We can’t believe it,” Brancatisano said of going to the same club as Guerin.
Brancatisano said she was looking forward to getting into pre-season training
She has met most of her Melbourne teammates since being drafted.
“I’m happy to do the right things and doing all the training sessions,” she said. “Hopefully, I might get to play a few games next year.”
MORE DRAFT NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/van-de-heuvel-off-cats/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/prespakis-happy-to-be-a-blue/
