Russo’s delight as Eagles swoop in AFLW Draft

West Perth product Mia Russo can’t wipe the smile off her face after getting drafted to West Coast this week.

The WA under-18s co-captain and All-Australian was one of three West Aussies snapped up in the opening round of Monday’s AFLW Draft as part of a record haul of 10.

Russo admits it’s been a surreal experience becoming an Eagle, highlighted by a FaceTime call from one of her idols in Daisy Pearce who’s now her head coach.

“I was bawling my eyes out. It’s so weird to me. I’ve looked up to her as a footballer ever since AFLW started, so it’s surreal,” Russo said.

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“It has sort of sunk in but it is still a bit weird. Honestly I just haven’t stopped smiling.

“I feel like I’m ready to go if it was today. I just can’t wait to get stuck into it.”

Russo, who was around friends, family and Falcons teammates at West Perth Football Club on Monday when her name was read out, said there were plenty of emotions upon realising her life-long dream of becoming an AFLW player.

“I would’ve been very disappointed not to go to the Eagles to be honest. I wasn’t anticipating anyone (picking me up). I was just really hoping,” Russo said. “I was spoken to by quite a few clubs. (But) I felt very in the dark about the whole thing.

“Just utter relief honestly. I think that was best case scenario for me to stay home and go to a club that I love. I was really praying. I was clutching my necklace and my heart was racing and then when I heard my name called out, I just dove into my hands and started crying immediately.”

The two-time Rogers Cup fairest-and-best winner is eyeing an early-season debut in a star-studded West Coast midfield which includes one of the competition’s most talented players in Ella Roberts.