A DREAM come true. 

Grace Egan could hardly believe it when she received the call from Carlton’s AFLW List Manager Wayne Siekman, informing her she would be wearing the Navy Blue for the upcoming season. 

The 19-year-old was taken by Carlton in Friday morning’s AFLW Academy bidding process, selected with the Club’s No.13 pick. 

Egan was at work when the call came through, but wasted no time in making a phone call to her dad to tell him the good news. 

“I was just bawling my eyes out to be honest,” Egan said.

“I just wanted to tell my Dad because he’s just my No.1 supporter. I Facetimed him because I wanted him to see me bawling, and he’s like ‘Why are you crying? What’s going on?’

“He was just so happy for me, and he couldn’t believe it.

“He’s just been my No.1 supporter this whole year or this whole journey pretty much and never gave up on me. He’s the best.”

 

Egan spent the 2019 season playing with Richmond VFLW’s team, working on her craft and building her case for selection come the AFLW season. 

Having experienced the disappointment of missing out on being drafted 12 months ago, Egan was determined not to let the opportunity pass her up once again. 

“Missing the draft in 2018, I was devastated,” she said.

“After that I kind of just thought I have to put my head down now, it’s time to put your all in or else – in 12 months’ time, this is going to be what’s going to happen again.

“I just went into the 2019 season with one goal, and just wanted to achieve it – which I have done.” 

The hard work put in by the youngster has paid dividends, as she enjoyed a strong VFLW season in averaging 13.2 disposals and three tackles from her 12 games as an inside midfielder. 

For Egan now, however, the work is only just beginning, as she now looks forward to working alongside her new teammates at Carlton. 

“It’s seriously like a dream,” she said.

“Maddy Prespakis – I’ve played against, never played with. She’s amazing. And just like Darcy and Tayla, just the whole team. 

“I could seriously name them all.”

As she looks to build on her skills as an inside midfielder, it will also be an opportunity for Egan to work under the 2019 AFLW Coach of the Year. 

“Talking to people about Daniel Harford and asking them about him, I can’t wait to play under him,” she said. 

“He’s been there, done that, and he’s got so much to teach me.

“I can’t wait.”