Swan Districts product to make AFLW debut

Swan Districts product Sienna Gerardi will become the latest WAFLW talent to realise her AFLW dream after being named to make her debut for West Coast against Brisbane at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday afternoon.

The talented small forward joined the Eagles with pick No.6 in this year’s AFLW Pre-Season Draft.

The 18-year-old is set to be the 12th player from the WAFLW to make their AFLW debut in just five rounds so far this season, following in the footsteps of Swan Districts teammate Carys D’Addario (St Kilda), East Fremantle duo Noa McNaughton (Fremantle) and Maya Louvel-Finn (St Kilda), Subiaco pair Olivia Wolmarans (Richmond) and Olivia Crane (Port Adelaide), Perth’s Fina Dethlefsen (Richmond), South Fremantle’s Natasha Entwistle (West Coast), Madi Evans (Brisbane) and Renee Morgan (Geelong), West Perth’s Mia Russo (West Coast) and Peel Thunder’s Evie Cowcher (Geelong).

“It’s a dream come true and I can’t wait to get out there and play with the girls,” Gerardi told the club website.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity and excited to pull on the Eagles jumper for the first time.

“To run out with this group is something I’ve been working hard for and I’m really proud to be able to represent the club.”

West Coast AFLW coach Daisy Pearce said Gerardi had earned her opportunity at AFLW level.

“Sienna is an instinctive footballer and natural athlete who has worked hard on and off field for this opportunity,” Pearce said.

“She is so smooth and evasive and consistently does things that break open the game.

“Sienna often has us all turning our heads, shocked how she got to that spot to crumb or found a way to not get out marked.

“She’s worked really hard to step up to AFLW level and we’re looking forward to her playing in a West Coast jumper for the first time.”