A pair of Maroochydore Roos talents are considered genuine chances of being drafted in spring, after impressing through the junior ranks.
Midfielder Bella Smith and defender Maggie Harmer, who both live in Noosa and previously played for the Tigers, have been catching the eyes of scouts for the past few years.
They’re key players of the Roos in the state competition, are members of the national AFL Academy, the Brisbane Lions Academy and were just selected in the Queensland under-19 squad.
The 17-year-olds will be eligible for the AFLW Draft in October.
““They’ve certainly been on the radar of talent scouts for a little while,” Roos coach Steve Moody said.
“One of the key things with both of them is they’re good thinkers.”
“They might not always execute what they want to do but they make good decisions with the footy in hand.”
Harmer only started playing football a few years ago, after some success at other sports.
“Maggie is a really smart player and a good user of the footy,” Moody said.
“And she’s tall, she can leap, and she is a very strong person around the group.
“She’s improved her kicking out of sight in the last three years, she’s a good mark and she’s brave.”
She is the daughter is rugby union stalwart Tony Harmer, who made his mark at Noosa Dolphins over several seasons.
Meanwhile, Smith has been playing AFL since she was young and her family was involved in the sport. Father Butch was a premiership winner with Noosa in 1997.
“She’s a good hard player, who certainly likes the contest,” Moody said.
“She uses her hands well and she’s got a lot of upside.”
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They’ve been at the Roos for three years and have emerged as key players in their state league squad.
Moody said there’s a genuine chance they’ll be recruited by an AFLW club.
“It’s a real possibility.”
“They’ve been identified among the best 17-year-olds in Australia and there’s a real possibility they’ll get drafted.
“We’re hoping they’re on the radar of the Lions and possibly other clubs and we’re hoping it goes well for them.”
This season is crucial for them, in their efforts to impress but Moody said they just need to enjoy their footy.
“This year will be the all-important year, not what you do when you are 16 or 18.”
“But the thing we stress to them is that they need to make sure they enjoy themselves this year and whatever happens happens.
“They haven’t got much control over it, other than playing well every week.”
Narangba product Mikayla Pauga, who was with the Roos last year, is also considered one of the top young players in the country.
The Roos have lost their first three matches of the season but then won their next to to be sixth on an eight-team ladder through five of 14 rounds.
