PORT Adelaide has added West Australian talent Abbey Dowrick and Tessa Doumanis to its inaugural squad.
Dowrick, the younger sister of Adelaide’s McKenzie, had a few star-studded years in the junior ranks, representing her state at just 15 in the Under-18 Championships.
Abbey Dowrick!
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) July 11, 2018
That's an incredible snap 👏#AFLWU18s pic.twitter.com/fdAZng7fwI
The Subiaco midfielder – who turns 20 later this year – also played a handful of games for SANFLW side Woodville-West Torrens this year in order to boost her chance of getting signed by an expansion club.
Forward Doumanis has been in the mix for AFLW selection for a few years, and has a multi-sport background with volleyball, tennis and basketball under her belt.
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The 22-year-old only picked up football at 17, and has spent the past few years developing with Claremont.
North Melbourne has also confirmed Irish duo Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea will be in the stripes next season, as previously reported by womens.afl.
Essendon has signed an additional three open-age players, including former Blue and Lion Bella Ayre.
Ayre, 23, played 12 games for Carlton and Brisbane between 2017 and 2019 before taking some time away from the game. The 176cm utility played for Essendon’s VFLW side this year.
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She will be joined by last year’s Essendon best and fairest Eloise Ashley-Cooper and key forward Renee Tierney on the Bombers’ senior list.
Ashley-Cooper, 21, is a strong ball-winner across the midfield and backline, while key forward Tierney has come through the Geelong talent pathways and represented Vic Country at Under-19 level last year.
Expansion (Open Age) Signings:
Renee Tierney to Essendon
Isabella Ayre to Essendon
Eloise Ashley-Cooper to Essendon
Tegan Cunningham to Hawthorn
Tessa Doumanis to Port Adelaide
Abbey Dowrick to Port Adelaide
Rookie Signings:
Erika O’Shea to North Melbourne
Victoria Wall to North Melbourne