The Brisbane Lions have had a good recent history with Pick No.7 in the past – with both Daniel Rich and James Aish drafted to the Club with that particular selection.

So it was quite fitting that Lions staff member Emma Zielke’s name was read out with Pick No.7 at last night’s 2014 AFL Women’s Draft.

When she’s not terrorising opponents on the football field, Zielke spends her working day at the Gabba as the Club’s Administrative Support Officer – a role she’s held for over a year.

But Zielke is set to switch allegiances briefly next month when she represents Melbourne against the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women’s Exhibition Match on Sunday 29 June at Etihad Stadium.

Both Melbourne and the Bulldogs took turns in drafting the best female talent in Australia for the match, with Zielke taken by the Demons with Pick No.7.

The Lions staffer says she was shocked, but thrilled, to hear her name so early in the Draft.

“I had a million people telling me that I would be drafted, but you never know until it happens,” Zielke told lions.com.au.

“I’d had a pretty good trial game, so took confidence from that, but I was still in a bit of shock.

“The Draft was set up by AFLQ in the Lions Boardroom last night, and there were about 20 girls and their families watching it as a group.

“Everyone at the Lions has been really supportive. This morning there were balloons at my desk and everyone got around me.”

Zielke only started playing AFL six years ago, and has quickly established herself as one of Queensland’s best players.

“I started playing in 2008 because I got over soccer so I thought I’d start something different,” she said.

“I used to play for Morningside, but the team folded, so I decided to try and start up a women’s team at Coorparoo to give their youth team a pathway to follow. The club agreed and we went on to win the flag in our first season.”

Not only did Coorparoo win their maiden Grand Final, but it was Zielke who kicked the winning goal after the siren to hand their opponent their first defeat in two years.

The Brisbane Lions would like to congratulate Emma on this wonderful achievement, and will be cheering her on in the AFL Women’s Exhibition Match – even though she’ll be wearing opposition colours.

The full list of the 2014 AFL Women’s Draft selections is below:

No.1 – WB – Tiah Haynes (Coastal Titans, WA)
No.2 – Melb – Meg Hutchins (Eastern Devils, Vic)
No.3 – WB – Darcy Vescio (Darebin, Vic)
No.4 – WB – Melissa Caulfield (East Fremantle, WA)
No.5 – Melb – Kellie-Marie Gibson (Swan Districts, WA)
No.6 – WB – Rheanne Lugg (Swan Districts, WA)
No.7 – Melb – Emma Zielke (Coorparoo, Qld)
No.8 – WB – Dana Hooker (Coastal Titans, WA)
No.9 – Melb – Kaitlyn Ashmore (Melbourne Uni, Vic)
No.10 – WB – Moanna Hope (East Burwood, Vic)
No.11 – Melb – Lauren Stammers (Coastal Titans, WA)
No.12 – WB – Brooke Whyte (Melbourne Uni, Vic)
No.13 – Melb – Phoebe McWilliams (St Kilda, Vic)
No.14 – WB – Emily Bates (Yeronga, Qld)
No.15 – Melb – Renee Forth (Coastal Titans, WA)
No.16 – WB – Stephanie Walding (East Fremantle, WA)
No.17 – Melbourne – Tayla Harris (Zillmere, Qld)
No.18 – Western Bulldogs – Stephanie Simpson (Darebin, Vic)
No.19 – Melbourne – Hayley Miller (Coastal Titans, WA)
No.20 – Western Bulldogs – Lauren Morecroft (Diamond Creek, Vic)
No.21 – Melbourne – Dianna Haines (Diamond Creek, Vic)
No.22 – Melbourne – Nicolette “Sissy” Dunne (Pioneer Girls, NT)
No.23 – Western Bulldogs – Madeline Keryk (Vic) – emergency
No.24 – Melbourne – Courtney Cramey (Morphetville Park, SA) – emergency