East faces test for AFLW draft

Manjimup football product Dana East took one step closer to realising her dreams of playing in the AFLW after attending the 2021 Draft Combine at the weekend. Draft prospects put their athletic abilities to the limit, giving clubs a last chance to see what they are capable of before the draft on Tuesday. The AFLW hopefuls underwent tests including a vertical jump, agility running, 20m sprints and a 2km time trial. East, a former basketballer and Warren-Blackwood Bomber, impressed in the West Australian Football League Women’s this season playing for Swan Districts. Speaking to the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times, East said she was pleased with her combine performance, which included personal bests for her 2km time trial and agility tests. “I was very nervous going into it but I think my nerves actually made me do pretty good,” she said. “I did the best I could so I couldn’t ask for much more than that.” East has nominated WA as her draft choice and would relish playing for either WA club. “It’s a bit scary to think about because last year or the year before I would have never seen myself in that position,” she said. “I kind of just started playing footy for fun so it’s a bit unreal to be honest. Any club would be amazing, I’ll take any opportunity, I don’t really want to be too picky with that sort of stuff.” As a tough, inside midfielder, East received comparisons from her Swan Districts coach Adam Dancey to the likes of Fremantle Dockers’ star Kiara Bowers. East’s combine appearance comes just a week after she played in the 2021 WAFLW grand final for minor premiers Swan Districts, where her side lost to Peel Thunder by 21 points. The draft starts from 4.45pm.