Days after being taken in AFLW draft, Johnson helps seal VFLW grand final berth

By Meg Saultry

Aug 5, 2021

Less than two weeks after being drafted into the AFL Women's competition, Echuca's Annabel Johnson will run out onto ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne on Sunday in search of her first football flag.

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Johnson and her Geelong VFL Women's teammates booked their place in the 2021 Rebel VFLW Grand Final last Saturday, beating Essendon by 28 points in a preliminary final at Windy Hill.

It came four days after Johnson was selected by Geelong with pick 15 in the July 27 NAB AFL Women's draft.

In what is her first season of competitive football, Johnson was among the best in the preliminary final, collecting 16 disposals and banking a third-quarter goal to help break the game open for the Cats.

Geelong will face off against reigning 2019 VFLW premier Collingwood in the decider at ETU Stadium, Port Melbourne this weekend.

It will be Cat's second-ever grand final appearance after losing the 2018 decider to Hawthorn.

In an interesting twist, the Pies come into Sunday's clash having not played in four weeks after the recent Victorian COVID-19 lockdown prolonged the final series.

The VFL Women's grand final can be viewed live and free on Kayo Freebies on Sunday, August 9 from 1.15pm.

By Meg Saultry

Sports journalist