MELBOURNE has almost completed its 2017 Women’s AFL squad after making 19 selections in the inaugural AFL Women’s Draft on Wednesday at NAB Arena in Docklands.

The red and blue took barnstorming midfielder/forward Elise O’Dea from the Darebin Falcons with its first-round pick. O’Dea, who played for the club in the 2015 Women’s AFL Exhibition matches, was announced at pick No.8 by Melbourne women’s football operations manager Debbie Lee.

“I thought the best thing I could dream for was being picked in first round,” O’Dea told melbournefc.com.au.  

“But to have it presented by Deb was actually even better.”

Melbourne was deliberate and considered in its approach, as it asked for extra time on most occasions. It was one of eight clubs along with Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. The order of the 145 picks, which spanned a touch more than three hours, was decided in a lottery on September 29.

Melbourne showed a clear focus on scooping some of the country’s best young players, with 18-year old stars Deanna Berry (No.9), Katherine Smith (No.56), Lily Mithen (No.72), Ainslie Kemp (No.88), Jess Anderson (No.105) and Jas Grierson (No.135) set to strut their stuff on the big stage in 2017.

Rounding out Melbourne’s selections were: Geelong Magpies’ Richelle Cranston (No.24) and Maddie Boyd (No.120); Victorian basketballer turned ruck/forward Lauren Pearce (No.25), VU Western Spurs players Alyssa Mifsud (No.40) and Shelley Scott (No.41) and Sarah Lampard (No.134); Tasmanian Emma Humphries (No.57), Diamond Creek half-back Steph De Bortoli (No.72), Darebin defender Brooke Howells (No.104), Eastern Devils’ excitement machine Pepa Randall (No.121) and Gippsland player Sarah Jolly (No.145).

Melbourne’s marquee and priority selections were announced in the lead-up to the draft and that core group of experienced players has been bolstered by the selection of legendary St Kilda Sharks defender Mia Clifford (No.89), who won the Sharks’ best team player and coach’s award last Saturday night.

Eighteen of the 19 Melbourne players selected were from Victoria, with Tasmanian-born Humphries the only player set to move interstate, after she nominated Victoria as her preferred state to play in.

Melbourne is set to complete its Women’s squad within the next fortnight after the announcement of its three free agency selections.