By Lance Jenkinson
It has been a smooth transition to life in the AFL Women’s for Western Bulldogs No. 1 draft pick Gabby Newton.
Since crossing from NAB League club Northern Knights, Newton has looked at ease in the big league, playing key roles for the Bulldogs in their opening four rounds of the season.
From the moment the utility pulled on a Bulldogs jumper, she has made a place in the team her own and shown the two-way potential that saw her regarded as the best player in the pool at last year’s draft.
Newton impressed with both her attacking and defensive aspects in a 16-disposal, five-mark, 10-tackle game in the Bulldogs narrow loss to West Coast Eagles in Perth on Saturday evening. So much so that the 18-year-old was today nominated for the NAB Rising Star award for round four.
Newton, a dual best-and-fairest winner with the Northern Knights, has averaged 13 disposals a game for the Bulldogs.
The former Yarrambat and Montmorency junior should be a mainstay for the Bulldogs for the remainder of the season, including this Sunday’s must-win clash with Collingwood at Morwell Recreation Reserve.
