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Magpies take Centra with No.1 pick in AFLW draft

Ash Centra (Gippsland Power, VIC) (C) poses with Brittany Bonnici of the Magpies (L) and Josh Fraser (R), after being drafted with pick 1 Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Collingwood have chosen Gippsland Power midfielder-forward Ash Centra with the No. 1 pick at the 2024 AFLW draft.

Coming off a wooden spoon under first-year coach Sam Wright, the Magpies selected Centra in the first national draft in the women's competition on Monday night.

The former basketballer joins Collingwood as their second-ever No. 1 pick.

She was presented the jumper by their only men's first draft pick Josh Fraser - selected in 1999 -- and vice-captain Brit Bonnici.

"Being selected as the number one draft pick is an honour," Centra said in a club statement.

"I pride myself on my ability to make quick decisions and control the play to best suit my team's game style, so I'm looking forward to bringing that energy to the Pies.

"It's a childhood dream come true to play at the AFLW level.

"The opportunity to be the first pick is something I'll never take for granted, and I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm fully committed to bring my best."

Centra starred in this year's Talent League, hitting the ground running with 47 disposals and four goals in her first game of the season against the Murray Bushrangers.

She finished the campaign with an average of 27.1 disposals, 4.2 clearances, and a haul of 18 goals.

Gold Coast matched Melbourne's bid for Havana Harris and selected the academy product with pick No.2, while the Demons took Molly O'Hehir over fellow West Australian talent Zipporah 'Zippy' Fish.

The Suns had previously traded the No.2 pick to Melbourne as part of the six-club deal that landed Lily Mithen.

"Today's weather (in Melbourne) was terrible. It was absolutely terrible so thankful to be with the Gold Coast," towering ruck-forward Harris joked.

Highly-rated Fish - likened to Richmond powerhouse Mon Conti - went to Sydney with pick five, while GWS took Sara Howley (No.4).

Carlton had the sixth selection and took Poppy Scholz, sister of Port Adelaide Rising Star winner Matilda.

The Suns have four other academy prospects: Mia Salisbury, Tara Harrington, Nyalli Milne and Heidi Talbot.

2024 AFLW DRAFT TOP 10:

Round 1:

1. Collingwood - Ash Centra
2. Gold Coast - Havana Harris
3. Melbourne - Molly O'Hehir q
4. GWS - Sara Howley
5. Sydney - Zippy Fish
6. Carlton - Poppy Scholz
7. West Coast - Lucia Painter
8. Western Bulldogs - Emma McDonald
9. Essendon - Grace Belloni
10. Geelong - Alexis Gregor
11. Richmond - Sierra Grieves
12. Essendon - Holly Ridewood
13. Adelaide - India Rasheed
14. Fremantle - Georgie Brisbane
15. Hawthorn - Lavinia Cox
16. Brisbane - Claudia Wright
17. Carlton - Sophie McKay
18. Geelong - Sienna Tallariti
19. Port Adelaide - Lily Paterson
20. Richmond - Zoe Hargreaves

Round 2:

21. Melbourne - Maggie Mahony
22. GWS - Grace Martin
23. Hawthorn - Daisy Flockart
24. West Coast - Charlotte Riggs
25. Western Bulldogs - Sarah Poustie
26. Collingwood - Georgia Knight
27. Gold Coast - Heidi Talbot
28. Hawthorn - Grace Baba
29. Gold Coast - Mia Salisbury
30. Essendon - Taya Chambers
31. Richmond - Paige Scott
32. St Kilda - Zoe Besanko
33. Port Adelaide - Jasmine Evans
34. Fremantle - Holly Egan
35. Essendon - Sophie Strong
36. North Melbourne - Claire Mahony

Round 3:

37. Geelong - Piper Dunlop
38. Fremantle - Evie Parker
39. Brisbane - Lilly Baker
40. Port Adelaide - Jemma Whitington-Charity
41. Gold Coast - Nyalli Milne
42. Collingwood - Violet Patterson
43. North Melbourne - Amy Gavin Mangan
44. Adelaide - Georgia McKee
45. Hawthorn - Elli Symonds
46. Carlton - Loulou Field
47. Gold Coast - Tara Harrington
48. Port Adelaide - Chloe Gaunt
49. Western Bulldogs - Keeley Hardingham
50. Hawthorn - Rebecca Clottey
51. Fremantle - Indi Strom
52. Port Adelaide - Jasmine Sowden
53. West Coast - Lucy Boyd

Round 4:

54. Richmond - PASS
55. St Kilda - Kyla Forbes
56. Sydney - Amelia Martin
57. West Coast - Kayla Dalgleish
58. St Kilda - Alana Gee

Round 5:

59. Essendon - PASS
60. Sydney - Caitlin Reid

Round 6:

61. Sydney - Sarah Steele-Park

Round 7:

62. Geelong - PASS
63. Melbourne - Amelia Dethridge