Western Bulldogs potential father-daughter pick Isabella Grant is emerging as one of the top draft prospects from her year.
Isabella, the daughter of former Bulldogs captain Chris Grant, stands a strong chance to end up on an AFLW list for next season, with the chance of the Grant name reemerging at Whitten Oval looming as a big possibility.
The 17-year-old turned her head from basketball to football in 2016 after it emerged that the AFLW competition would begin in 2017.
“I’d always wanted to play footy but never really saw it as an opportunity to make a living out of it or succeed or really enjoy it at that next level,” Grant told the Herald Sun.
“But as soon as AFL Women’s came around I thought, ‘Wow, this is happening’. I just didn’t think in my generation that would be something that you could even think about.
“I went to a couple of training sessions down at Spotswood and instantly fell in love with the game. I love the culture so much that I pretty much quit all of my basketball commitments immediately.”
Grant has been plying her trade with Vic Metro and Western Jets this season, and has emerged as a strong draft contender off the back of her work through the midfield, as well as her leadership.
She looks up to Melbourne star Daisy Pearce as someone to base her game around.
“I really like the way Daisy Pearce goes about her footy but also about her personal life and the way she holds herself,” Grant said.
“The ultimate goal is just to try and maximise opportunities and improve as much as I can.”
Grant said her father, who played for the Bulldogs for 18 seasons, had been a massive support of her, irrespective of what sport she played.
“He’s really supportive of whatever sport I play but he did coach my club team as soon as I started playing and he’s still involved at Spotty now,” Grant said.
“That’s been a really good support network and he really enjoys it as well.”
The AFLW draft will take place later this year.
