WHEN talented Victorian duo Montana Ham and Sofia Hurley chose to nominate New South Wales for last week's draft, some were surprised, some were excited, and others were frustrated that Victorian clubs were losing out on some exciting young players. Ultimately, it was good for footy. 

Ham and Hurley - who were later drafted by Sydney - weren't the only draft prospects to nominate NSW.

Fellow Victorian Meghan Gaffney, Queenslander Fleur Davies and Tasmanian Madison Brazendale all nominated NSW, and all eventually landed at Greater Western Sydney. 

The new collective bargaining agreement included a pay rise for players along with an increased relocation allowance for those moving interstate, meaning young AFLW hopefuls now have more control of their own footy journey than ever before.

Montana Ham (left) and Jasmine Fleming pose in their school blazers at the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft media opportunity on June 30, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

These changes are incredibly beneficial for the two NSW clubs, as the state's talent development pathways are still one step behind most of the country.

Historically the men's game has seen limited talent come from NSW, even with strongly developed pathways that have existed for decades.

In recent seasons, roughly six per cent of players listed in the men's competition hail from NSW – a number that fluctuates each season due to intakes and delistings, but hovers between 40 to 50 players.

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Club Academies have been set up in NSW to encourage local talent, and have produced talent of the likes of Isaac Heeney, Josh Green, and Errol Gulden, but Academy recruits have only started to make a real impact on the competition in recent years. 

Nationally, a women's talent pathway from AusKick to Under-18s didn't exist until six years ago – even in footy-rich states like South Australia and Victoria.

Women's Academies similar to those in the men's talent streams have recently begun to bear fruit.

Sydney Academy's U16 players celebrate a goal during a game against GWS's U16's side on June 26, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Ironically, the Giants have benefited from Sydney's Academy, with Greater Western Sydney's Jess Doyle becoming the first Swans Academy alumna to debut (in round three last season), with teammate Georgina Fowler following suit in round four.

But the tables have turned ahead of season seven, with the Swans snaring Giants Academy product Cynthia Hamilton in last week's 2022 NAB AFLW Draft

Despite the Academy pathway, players from NSW have made up a small number of the playing cohort since the AFLW's inception.

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Players from NSW/ACT now make up seven per cent of the 814 players who have been named on AFLW club lists across the competition's history. This is up from six per cent last season, with the number growing due to the addition of new club Sydney which has sourced local talent.

While local talent programs continue to find their feet and the competition centres around a state-based draft, drawing talent from more prolific states buys time to allow NSW clubs to become consistently competitive.

It helps to grow the love for footy in NSW and, in turn, creates clubs that young girls from NSW aspire to join.