By Tara Murray
Northern Knights’ Nell Morris-Dalton is hoping to establish herself in the Western Bulldogs forward line in the upcoming AFLW season.
The 18-year-old joins the Bulldogs having been selected in the AFLW draft on Tuesday.
While the top three Victorian picks were always going to be Gabby Newton, Lucy McEvoy and Georgia Patrikios, it was unknown who would go after them.
The Bulldogs, with the sixth pick and their second pick, chose Morris-Dalton as they looked to add a key forward to their list.
Morris-Dalton said it was pretty surreal to find herself on an AFLW list.
“I can’t really believe it yet,” he said.
“After the first three girls, obviously Gabby, Georgia and Lucy, I said to my brother, I could be anywhere from here.
“Next pick was me, and I was like woah. All my family was pretty shocked.”
While Morris-Dalton had spoken to the Bulldogs a few times, she had no idea that they were going to select her.
She’ll already know a few faces went she heads down to Whitten Oval
Two of her Northern Knights premiership teammates Gabby Newton and Britney Gutknecht were also picked up by the Bulldogs.
Newton and Morris-Dalton could both be part of the new-look Bulldogs forward line, alongside father-daughter pick, Isabella Grant.
Morris-Dalton was one of the top key forwards in the draft, showing what she could do in the Knights’ preliminary final win earlier this year.
She had 15 possessions and kicked four goals to help her side to a six-point victory.
“I’m so excited… they’re two of my best friends, so I can’t wait to get started with them
“I think I will be playing the role of forward at Bulldogs and I’m pretty excited to get started with that.”
Making an AFLW list caps off a brilliant season, who played in the Northern Knights premiership, played for Vic Metro and then made her VFLW debut.
Her coach at Vic Metro, is now Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke.
Morris-Dalton said she was looking forward to working with Burke again.
“I think that it definitely helps nd knowing his coaching style, he’s such a great coach and lovely guy.
“I can’t wait to get started with him. I’m pretty keen to get there.”
Overall, there was five Knights players drafted.
Sarah Sansonetti [pick 40] and Ciara Fitzgerald [pick 87] were both taken by Richmond.
