Exciting New South Wales local product Haneen Zreika is one of two players to join the GIANTS’ AFL Women’s team through the NAB AFLW Rookie Draft on Friday.
Zreika, who plays for the Auburn GIANTS in the local AFL Sydney competition, joined the GIANTS with pick one in today’s Rookie Draft with the club also selecting 18-year-old South Australian forward Tait Mackrill.
Zrekia gew up in the western suburbs of Sydney and as a mad Rugby League fan, had no contact with Australian Football until she happened upon an AFL clinic identifying multicultural talent while at school.
She fell in love with the game and has progressed through the talent pathway, representing NSW/ACT at Under-18s level and also as member of the NAB AFL Women's Academy squad this year.
“Haneen has obviously excelled in the talent pathway the whole way through and has been in the national Academy over the past 12 months,” said AFLW Head Coach Alan McConnell.
“She’s a really hard worker and justifiably deserves her opportunity on our rookie list as a young player with great upside.
“We look forward to her becoming a long-term player for our club.”
Zreika also plays rugby league and represented the Canterbury Bulldogs in the Tarsha Gale Cup Under-18s competition this year.
With pick nine, the GIANTS selected young South Australian Tait Mackrill.
“Tait comes to us from country South Australia initially and now resides in Adelaide so she can play football and attend school,” McConnell said.
“She chose to come to Sydney and trial on our second trial day and was probably the best kick that came through both of those days.
“She’s got a good footy brain, distributes the ball exceptionally well and we think that as a rookie she has the potential to become a really good player in the AFLW competition.”
The GIANTS have now finalised their 2018 AFL Women’s playing list. The squad start pre-season training on November 20.
GIANTS' 2018 AFL Women’s Team
Jacinda Barclay - 2017 player
Nicola Barr - 2017 player
Elle Bennetts - athlete from another sport rookie
Maddie Boyd - traded from Melbourne
Ellie Brush - 2017 player
Rebecca Beeson - 2017 player
Maddy Collier - 2017 player
Jessica Dal Pos - 2017 player
Alicia Eva - traded from Collingwood
Amanda Farrugia - 2017 player
Melissa Freckleton - free agent from NSW
Renee Forth - 2017 player
Courtney Gum - #25 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from SA
Jodie Hicks - #5 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from NSW
Tanya Hetherington - #17 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from VIC
Tait Mackrill - #9 in the NAB AFLW Rookie Draft from NSW
Erin McKinnon - 2017 player
Phoebe McWilliams - 2017 player
Phoebe Monahan - #39 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from NSW
Rebecca Privitelli - free agent from VIC
Pepa Randall - traded from Melbourne
Alex Saundry - 2017 player
Aimee Schmidt - 2017 player
Philippa Smyth - #43 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from NSW
Cora Staunton - #47 pick in the NAB AFLW Draft from Ireland
Louise Stephenson - 2017 player
Emma Swanson - 2017 player
Renee Tomkins - 2017 player
Britt Tully - 2017 player
Haneen Zreika - #1 in the NAB AFLW Rookie Draft from NSW
