Sophie Molan

Sophie Molan
Molan with Richmond in February 2020
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-03-24) 24 March 2001 (age 23)
Original team(s) GWV Rebels (NAB League Girls)
Draft number 7 draft pick
Debut Round 1, 2020, Richmond vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020–2022 (S7) Richmond 24 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022 season 7.
Career highlights

AFLW

  • Inaugural Richmond AFLW team: 2020

Junior

  • Under-18 All-Australian: 2019
  • NAB League Girls Team of the Year: 2019
  • GWV Rebels captain: 2019
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Sophie Molan (born 24 March 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition.

Early life, junior and state-league football

Molan grew up in the Victorian country town of Ballarat. She played junior football with boys teams at the Mount Clear Football Club, before switching to the Lake Wendouree Football Club in later years.[1] During her junior years she was also a talented basketball player, who represented the Victorian Country state team at under 16 level in 2016.[2][3]

Molan attended high school at Ballarat's Loreto College where she was best on ground in a Herald Sun Shield Intermediate premiership victory in 2017.[4][5]

Molan played representative football at NAB League level with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, and captained the side in her draft year in 2019.[6] That year, she was named to the competition's Team of the Year.[7]

At the 2019 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships, Molan was a standout performer for the Victorian Country side, averaging 16 disposals a game and earning selection to the All-Australian side.[8][9][10]

She made her debut at VFL Women's level that same year, playing a total of six matches with the Rebels-aligned Western Bulldogs including a losing grand final.[11][12][3]

AFL Women's career

Molan was drafted by Richmond with the club's first pick and the seventh selection overall in the 2019 AFL Women's draft.[13]

Molan made her debut in the club's inaugural match, a round 1 home game against Carlton at Ikon Park.[citation needed]

In March 2023, Molan was delisted by Richmond.[14]

Player profile

Molan plays as a tall ball-winning inside midfielder and is adept at handballing clear of stoppage situations.[8][6]

Statistics

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020 Richmond 1 6 0 0 16 31 47 6 16 0.0 0.0 2.7 5.2 7.8 1.0 2.7
2021 Richmond 1 9 0 0 35 43 78 8 25 0.0 0.0 3.9 4.8 8.7 0.9 2.8
2022 (S6) Richmond 1 5 1 1 15 17 32 7 13 0.2 0.2 3.0 3.4 6.4 1.4 2.6
2022 (S7) Richmond 1 4 0 0 4 17 21 1 6 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.3 5.3 0.3 1.5
Career[15] 24 1 1 70 108 178 22 60 0.0 0.0 2.9 4.5 7.4 0.9 2.5

References

  1. ^ Hopkins, Ben (23 October 2019). "Molan, Wood describe emotional draft day". Bega District News. Australian Community Media. The Courier. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Molan Family – a part of the Basketball Journey". Basketball Ballarat. 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Balmer, Matt (21 October 2019). "How Bulldogs guidance helped 'young pup' burst into top-ten calculations". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Herald Sun Shield Intermediate Premiers". Loreto College. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  5. ^ Calafiore, Siobhan (22 August 2017). "Football: Loreto prevails in grand final bid". The Courier. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kalac, Grace (23 October 2019). "Molan 'honoured' to be Richmond's first ever AFLW draftee". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  7. ^ Taylor, Sophie (15 January 2020). "2020 AFL Women's team preview: Richmond". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b Black, Sarah (16 July 2019). "Under-18 Championships: 14 players who enhanced their draft prospects". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Molan named in All Australian under-18 football side". The Courier. Australian Community Media. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Sophie Molan named in ALL Australian Team". GWV Rebels. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. ^ "VFLW Report: NT Thunderstruck by dominant Dogs". Western Bulldogs. Telstra Media. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Sophie Molan". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  13. ^ Navaratnam, Dinny (22 October 2019). "Draft recap: All of your club's picks". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Richmond AFLW List Update". Richmond. Telstra. 16 March 2023. Richmond Football Club has advised AFLW players Sophie Molan and Saraid Taylor that they will not receive playing contracts for the 2023 season.
  15. ^ "Sophie Molan". Australian Football. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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