The 2024 AFLW draft was an evening charged with raw emotion and family pride, as a new generation of talent with famous surnames secured their places in the elite women's competition.
Lappin Legacy Continues at Gold Coast and Brisbane
Carlton champion Matthew Lappin, who played 196 games for the Blues, experienced a quintessential proud father moment when his daughter Sunny Lappin was selected. A product of the Gold Coast Academy, Sunny was in high demand. Adelaide made the first bid at Pick 4, which was swiftly matched by the Suns, triggering joyous celebrations among her friends and family.
The Lappin football dynasty extended further when Meg Lappin, daughter of Brisbane Lions triple-premiership hero Nigel Lappin, was drafted by the Lions with Pick 57. Matthew and Nigel are cousins, making the dual draft success a significant family affair.
A Dear Family Moment of Heart and History
The most poignant sequence of the night belonged to the Dear family. Hawthorn created a feel-good story by selecting Maya Dear, sister of rising Hawks forward Calsher Dear and daughter of the late club champion Paul Dear.
Paul Dear, who passed away in 2022 at age 55 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, played 123 games for Hawthorn and won the Norm Smith Medal in the 1991 premiership victory. The family's emotional draft journey began in 2023 when Calsher was selected with Pick 56.
This year, Calsher orchestrated a stunning surprise for his mother, Cherie, and sister Maya during what was presented as a simple jumper presentation. In a video released by the Hawks, Calsher is first seen holding his own guernsey—he will wear his father's famous number 13 this season.
After a moment celebrating that legacy, he walks off camera, muttering "next one," before returning with a Hawthorn AFLW jumper. His mother, confused, asks, "What's this?" to which Calsher replies, "AFLW one." As Maya begins to smile in disbelief, Cherie steps back in shock.
"What???" she screams with delight. Calsher then turns to his sister and asks, "Do you wanna play for Hawthorn?" Maya responds, "You're joking," and pushes him away, while Cherie squeals, "I didn't know!!!"
The video captures a beautiful embrace between brother and sister, with Calsher admitting, "My legs are literally shaking." Cherie's glasses fog up with tears of pride as she tells Maya, "I'm so proud of you ... you've worked hard for that." The video concludes with both siblings proudly wearing their brown and gold jumpers.
A New Chapter for Famous Families
The draft underscored the deepening roots and generational connections within Australian Rules football. For the Lappin and Dear families, the night was about more than just securing a spot on a list; it was a powerful continuation of legacy and a public celebration of private dedication and resilience.
These selections promise to bring added narrative depth to the upcoming AFLW season, as fans watch the daughters of champions carve out their own paths in the league their fathers helped build.
