Fremantle selected Victorian talent Georgie Brisbane as the Club’s first selection in the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft in December with pick No.14, and Brisbane couldn’t be happier.

Brisbane spoke with the Club following a whirlwind 24 hours and said the night exceeded her expectations.

“It’s just a dream come true. For years now, I’ve been wanting to play AFLW, and finally, it’s becoming a reality,” Brisbane said.

“We were just at home, and I had a few of my friends and family come along.

“I’m super grateful I had them with me – they’re the ones who helped me get to where I am today.

“I wouldn’t want the night to go any other way, and I wouldn’t want to be drafted to any other Club than Freo, so I’m just super stoked.”

The draftee mentioned how pleased she and her family were after initial conversations with the Club, which made them feel at ease about the idea of moving to Western Australia.

“They said something like, ‘We want to make sure that if we draft you, Georgie, your family feels really comfortable around us and that they’re happy with the Club you get drafted to. We want to build that relationship with your family early,’ and I hadn’t heard that from a Club before,” Brisbane said.

“I rang Mum straight after and told her that I loved them and that they were so nice. It made me really happy.

“It was such a nice feeling to hear that because I’d be moving four hours away from where I am, so to be able to still have that connection with my family and know that they value that—I feel like that was the conversation that made me excited to go to Freo.”

A leader at her previous Club in Victoria, Eastern Ranges, Brisbane touched on how valuable the experience was in leading a side to two consecutive grand finals.

“To be able to be friends with these girls and make connections with my teammates, but also help them and push them to be the best players they can be to benefit the team, it just works hand in hand,” Brisbane said.

“We also benefit the team by putting in the work and encouraging high standards and intensity at training so we can be the best team we can be.

“Being a leader and having that experience has just been unreal, and I’m so grateful that Eastern has given me those opportunities over the past two years.”

Brisbane said her phone had been blowing up with messages from her new teammates and shared her excitement about training with a player she admires.

“There have been so many messages—I’ve been so grateful and so lucky,” Brisbane said.

“I just can’t wait to get over there, see these girls face-to-face, and get to work with them.

“Watching Mim play, she’s just so talented, and I just can’t imagine what it will be like to work alongside her.

“Webby FaceTimed Mim and Indi, and I was trying not to fangirl, but I’m so excited to train alongside Mim.”