Kyneton’s Ainslie Kemp was among the nervous footballers gathered for the inaugural AFL Women’s draft.
In the room was the best football talent from across Victoria and some from across Australia, they were all hoping to hear their names called out.
The 19-year-old, had to wait until the second half of the draft to hear her name. Melbourne, one of the two pioneering AFL clubs of women’s football, called it out at pick 88.
“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in,” she said the day after the draft.
“It was incredible being there, I can’t describe it, there was so many people getting selected
“I was with my mum and boyfriend. I cried when I was selected, then I looked over at my mum and she was worse than me.”
Having played for Melbourne in an exhibition game earlier this year, the VU Western Spurs’ young gun knew her name was on the radar, but she wasn’t taking anything for granted.
“I had meetings with a couple of meetings with clubs, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up,” she said.
“I didn’t want to get cocky thinking I would be selected.
“I didn’t have a preference where I played, I just wanted to play next year.
“As I had previously played with Melbourne, it felt special to be selected by them. I can’t describe it.”
Kemp, who played junior football at Trentham before being part of Kyneton’s first youth girls side and then with Bendigo Thunder, will have some familiar faces at the Demons.
Spurs’ coach Debbie Lee, is women’s football operations manager at the Demons, while Spurs teammates Shelley Scott, Alyssa Mifsud and Sarah Lampard were also selected by the Demons.
She said she was especially thrilled to see Lampard, who wasn’t on a lot of clubs radars was selected.
“It will allow us to develop together. It could be the key next year and the difference between the good and great sides.
She said the travelling down from Kyneton each week to train and play with the Spurs had been worth it.
“I think that everything that I’ve done has influenced my game, Moving from playing regional to premier football has helped me.
“Debbie has worked hard for me to be the best player I can be.”
