UPDATE: The highly anticipated AFLW Draft is set for Monday night, and all eyes are on Olivia Wolmarans, who is poised to become a top pick, potentially going first overall. The 18-year-old talent from the Subiaco Lions has achieved multiple draft-year goals but insists there is still one crucial element to check off her list.
Wolmarans is generating buzz as a front-runner for the first selection in the draft, but if the Tigers do not seize the opportunity, the Giants are expected to select her with their second or third picks. After transitioning from basketball to football, she embodies the tenacity of her idol, former Eagle Rosie Deegan, and her commitment to the sport is evident in her performance.
The young athlete excelled in the WAFLW league this season, contributing to her team’s journey to the finals, while also earning an All-Australian title at the national championships. However, accolades alone do not define her aspirations. “Getting All-Australian, that’s just a title… but people believing in me and my family, that makes myself believe in the things I can do,” she stated.
As the draft approaches, Wolmarans expresses mixed emotions. “I’m a bit nervous and scared, but I know I’ve set goals this year, and I’ve ticked most of them off. There’s one more box to be ticked,” she emphasized. The excitement is palpable, with Wolmarans among 11 WA players invited to the draft event in Melbourne. “I’m so stoked even to get that invite,” she said, highlighting the camaraderie with fellow players.
Trent Cooper, the Female Talent Programs Manager, praised Wolmarans as one of the most unique talents in the 2025 draft, noting her incredible endurance and skill set. “There’s no one really like her that can do what she can do,” Cooper remarked. This endorsement underscores her potential to make an immediate impact in the AFLW.
While Wolmarans stands in the spotlight, she takes a moment to acknowledge her peers, Mia Russo and Evie Cowcher. “Evie and I have gone through the same pathway since we were 14, so just seeing her also come along on the ride means everything to me,” she said, emphasizing their close friendship and shared journey.
As Monday night approaches, the anticipation builds for Wolmarans and her supporters. “When I accomplish something, I look at what they’ve accomplished, and it just means more,” she concluded.
Fans and sports enthusiasts alike will be glued to their screens as the AFLW Draft unfolds, eager to see if Wolmarans will achieve her dream of being selected as a top pick. The countdown is on, and the stakes have never been higher.
