Essendon has scooped the draw with GWS trio Tanya Hetherington, Maddy Collier and Tait Mackrill signing on to don the sash for the Bombers’ VFL Women’s side.

Following a long recovery from an ACL injury in 2015, Hetherington was drafted to GWS in October with pick 17 – the guernsey number she has chosen at Essendon. The key defender played every game for the Giants and her poise and leadership was lauded as one of the factors behind her side’s rise in 2018.

“I met [VFLW coach Brendan] Major when I was at the Academy and he was a strength and conditioning coach and we did our level two coaching together,” says Hetherington, who is one of eight Bombers who played for former VFLW side Diamond Creek and coached the Creekers in 2016.

“We caught up for coffee and he said, ‘there’s a place for you here if you want it.’

“I like that it’s a really young and developing list. There are many girls who haven’t had that much exposure to the highest level in Victoria, but also there’s a lot of enthusiasm and optimism and that’s infectious.

“There’s a learning culture here and with my coaching background I think it’s the place for me to be able to have an impact so it’s the right fit for me.”

The inaugural GWS recruit from New South Wales in the 2017 national draft, the nuggetty Collier broke into the side this year and was deployed as a utility by the Giants across her four games.

“The New South Wales league is progressing well,” the 22-year-old said.

“But for this season I wanted to come down to a better league, a better club and play against better opposition.

“I knew Tanya was here and it was good to know someone else who’s got a good footy brain…I spoke to Major and we discussed where the team’s at.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to build a side from scratch, as most of the sides I’ve played with have been young.”

18-year-old Mackrill comes to the Hangar via her home state of South Australia after a season at GWS.

“I just finished high school so I’m in the fortunate position where I don’t have any other commitments.

“So I thought I’d make the most of my gap year, move on to Victoria and play some good football.

“Essendon’s professionalism of the club and people is great and it has the best facilities I’ve ever seen.”