NT Thunder congratulates 2018 ThunderW player Jordann Hickey on being selected for the big-time after having her name read at the NAB AFLW Draft in Melbourne today.

The 23-year-old was selected by Melbourne Football Club with draft pick number 31.

SANFLW Rising Star and ThunderW rookie (two games) Nikkie Gore was selected with the Adelaide Crows first pick, pick eight while 2018 SANFLW Leading Goalkicker Katelyn Rosenzweig, who also played a game in Thunder colours this VFL season, was selected by the Crows at pick 41.

Hickey came away from ThunderW’s 2018 inaugural season a highly-decorated player, finishing fourth place in the Club Champion award as well as being named the Rookie of the Year and receiving the Community and Media Award.

Hickey was 19 when she began playing footy in Alice Springs and hasn’t looked back. She first played for the Alkamilya Women’s Football Club in 2016 before making the switch to Rovers for the 2017 CAFL season. In that same season the Rovers made the preliminary final and Hickey took out the CAFL Women’s Leading Goal Kicker Award with 42 goals.

Going from strength-to-strength on the footy field, Hickey then donned the Double Blue to play for the Darwin Buffettes in the 2017/18 TIO NTFL season, making it to a Grand Final.

After displaying hard work and persistence, Hickey was named in the 2018 NT Thunder VFL Women’s squad who were knocked out in the finals. Proving that distance is no barrier, Hickey played all bar one game throughout the season. Averaging a goal a game, she ended the season on 14 games and 14 goals.

Impressively, out of the top five players named in the 2018 NT Thunder Club Champion, Hickey was the only player to have not had AFLW experience.

AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways, Wally Gallio said it was great reward for the young Central Australian.

“It is pleasing to see Jordy get the opportunity to showcase her talents at an AFLW club especially off the back of all the hard work and sacrifices she has made the last 18 months and her consistent performances.

“The ThunderW and Pinktails programs were conceived for this very purpose, to get talented Territory players to play at the highest level.

“We’re sure as more time passes and we consolidate our talent pathways, more players from Central Australia and the Top End will be recognised for their commitment to the game of AFL,” he said.