Former pro cyclist's brilliant reaction to AFLW dream

After spending years in the world of elite cycling, Emma Mackie could not hold back her joy at being picked up by the Western Bulldogs in today's AFLW draft.

Mackie retired from cycling in 2012 after competing in events such as the road world championships and the women's Giro D'Italia.

Having stopped playing footy as a teenager when continuing was not an option, Mackie returned to the sport in 2014 and made the step up to the VFLW's Box Hill Hawks this year.

The 33-year-old dominated, winning the club's best and fairest award.

"I’ve always had that dream of making it to AFL," Mackie said when she joined the Hawks in May.

"And that wasn’t available when I was a young girl. So being able to say, ‘you know what, I have that chance again’, is just amazing."

A touching video released by the Bulldogs showed the moment she was drafted, with fellow hopefuls mobbing her as she wiped away tears.

Mackie will join VCE student Isabel Huntington -- taken with the first overall pick -- and WNBL player Monique Conti (pick No.4) at the Bulldogs.

A gifted athlete who can play in multiple positions, Melbourne University player Huntington had been widely rated as the best all-round player in the draft pool.

Fremantle picked Swan Districts midfielder Stephanie Cain at No.2, while Collingwood selected Chloe Molloy with pick No.3.

The 18-year-old Huntington broke her right leg in 2015 and tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee the following year.

But the Bulldogs believe she has enormous potential to help them improve after a patchy inaugural season.

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Huntington, who hopes to study medicine at university and will undergo her VCE exams in coming weeks, is confident she can make an impact despite her injury history.

"When I did the knee, it was pretty devastating," she said.

"There are a lot of women that have come back from ACLs ... seeing them and their pathway and the way that they've succeeded is definitely motivating and inspirational for me.

"We'll see what the Doggies want to do in terms of a gradual start or getting me straight into things but it's almost at 100 per cent, which is great."

Huntington will link up with WNBL player Monique Conti, snared by the Bulldogs with pick No.4.

The Melbourne Boomers' guard last month signed a four-year contract extension, having been flooded with offers to play college basketball in the United States.

Conti was one of several elite athletes from other codes to be picked up in the draft for the second AFLW season.

Ashleigh Brazill, playing for Collingwood in the Super Netball competition, was drafted by the Magpies, while Melbourne snared WNBL player Tegan Cunningham.

The Giants picked up Sydney Sixers WBBL player Jodie Hicks.

The full first round of the 2017 AFLW draft:

1. Isabel Huntington (Bulldogs)

2. Stephanie Cain (Fremantle)

3. Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)

4. Monique Conti (Bulldogs)

5. Jodie Hicks (GWS)

6. Eden Zanker (Melbourne)

7. Jordan Zanchetta (Brisbane)

8. Jessica Allan (Adelaide)

with AAP