AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) would like to congratulate State Academy and NTFL players Sophie Armitstead, Calista Boyd and Jasmyn Hewett on being drafted to the Adelaide Crows Women’s team for 2018.
The draftees join fellow Territorians, Angela Foley, Abbey Holmes, Sally Riley, and Stevie-Lee Thompson in the side to represent the joint-venture by AFLNT and the Adelaide Crows.
Armitstead was originally drafted by Adelaide with the Club’s seventh selection and pick No. 55 overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.
The 22-year-old made her AFLW debut in Round Two against the Western Bulldogs but tore the meniscus in her left knee in the third quarter of the match and missed the remainder of the inaugural season.
She was not signed by the Crows in the AFLW re-signing period in May as she continued her rehabilitation but has now committed to the Club under the Free Agency rules.
Free agency provides an opportunity for those athletes who were not pre-signed or picked up in the draft to be selected.
Crows Senior Coach Bec Goddard said she was thrilled that Armitstead would have another opportunity to showcase her talent.
“We were hopeful that Sophie would remain at the Club but with the short nature of the competition we needed to ensure she had fully recovered from her injury before offering her a contract for the second season,” Goddard said.
“Sophie is a great talent. She has an exceptional workrate and we have seen just how resilient she is by the way she has approached her rehabilitation.
“She is a quality decision-maker with clean hands and a team-first mentality and we know she has a bright future ahead of her.” Goddard said.
Young gun, Calista Boyd, was named one of the two Rookie Drafts from the crows.
Boyd, who lines up with the Wanderers in the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL), grew up in Queensland and has a background in touch football.
The 18-year-old midfielder/forward, also a talented basketballer, has speed, agility and is clever around goal.
She moved to Darwin in 2015 and was introduced to Australian Rules by her high school teacher, Crows AFLW premiership player and vice-captain Sally Riley.
Crows Senior Coach Bec Goddard coached both Boyd during the Under-18 National Championships and said the two showed great ability.
“I’ve said before Calista has one of the best goose-steps I have seen. She has pure pace and great game sense,” Goddard said.
Jasmyn Hewett was called with the Club’s second pick (No.16 overall).
The 23-year-old moved to Darwin last year and starred with NTFL team St Mary’s in her first season of Australian Football, winning the Women’s Rising Star Award and finishing second in the MVP voting.
An impressive athlete, Hewett finished top 10 in all six physical tests at the AFLW Combine, including second-placings in the Yo-Yo run, 2km time trial and vertical jump.