Yarrawonga's Airlie Runnalls has joined a growing list of Border and North East female footballers to reach the highest level after she was selected by Fremantle in the AFLW draft on Tuesday night.
Runnalls is new to the game, having only taken it up three years ago when she moved to Melbourne to study at Deakin University.
She worked her way into North Melbourne's VFLW team and her impressive form was enough for the Dockers to take her with pick 45 in this year's draft.
The outside midfielder is renowned for her running capacity and ability to find the football and use it well by foot.
Runnalls had a strong finish to the season with the Roos, where she averaged 23 disposals, six marks and four tackles per game for the last five rounds and was named in the best players on four occasions.
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Fremantle AFLW coach Trent Cooper was rapt to get Runnalls on board.
"We saw Airlie playing via vision in the VFLW competition where she finished the season with 32 and 33 possessions in the final two games," Cooper said.
"Airlie has good kicking skills that have been honed growing up with her older siblings and is also an elite runner. We think Airlie can add a lot to our side and make an immediate impact."
She joins Alyce Parker (GWS), llish Ross (Collingwood/Richmond) and Olivia Barber (Geelong) as recent draftees from the Border.
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Beau Greenway
I like to tell the stories of great people in our communities. Email: beau.greenway@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I like to tell the stories of great people in our communities. Email: beau.greenway@austcommunitymedia.com.au
