Bresland earns spot at Dockers

Dunsborough football gun Tayla Bresland has made her way into the inaugural AFL women’s league after this week being selected by the Fremantle Dockers in the AFLW National Draft.

Bresland made history on Wednesday as pick 52 in the first- AFL Women's League draft, in which 145 players were selected across eight teams.

The Peel Thunderbirds captain and 2011 Busselton Freight Service Rising Sports Star recipient said she was “stoked” to be joining the Purple Haze.

The second-year apprentice cabinet-maker started playing Auskick when she was four.

She has represented the State on eight occasions since she was 16.

In her five years playing with the Peel Thunderbirds, Bresland has been awarded the 2016 Peel Thunder coaches’ award, the 2015 Peel Thunder fairest and best and the 2012 Jim Stynes Scholarship.

Bresland said she was looking forward to playing in the Australian women’s league and adopting an elite lifestyle.

“It’s a whole other level of footy,” she said.

“Battling through the heat of pre-season and the overall competition might be a bit challenging, but I’m ready to take it on. “

Bresland will join 17 other WA players at the Fremantle Football Club, while the five remaining WA draftees will head to interstate teams.