No.1 pick Weston-Turner chose North Melbourne for development, not a flag
Forward Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner traded to North Melbourne for player development, not immediate premiership runs.
Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner is a 21-year-old forward and No.1 pick. Weston-Turner joined North Melbourne for one reason: expert coaching and personal development.
Playing rarely at the Western Bulldogs left her frustrated. Out of contract, Weston-Turner turned down other clubs that offered round-one game time.
Weston-Turner wanted to be developed like North's Claire Mahony. Mahony sat out last season, then improved dramatically.
North can invest heavily in young players because stars like Ash Riddell and Emma Kearney manage themselves. Struggling clubs spread development attention across their full 30-player list.
Some players fall through the cracks. Weston-Turner's ninth AFLW game overall will be on Sunday against Carlton.
- 21 years old
- Weston-Turner's age
- No.1 pick
- Draft position
- Two and a third seasons
- Seasons at Western Bulldogs
Why it mattersWeston-Turner's choice shows how the development gap grows the divide between elite and developing AFLW clubs.
AustraliaNorth Melbourne's investment strategy is now attracting young talent despite not being the obvious pick.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 11 d ago
