2020 AFLW draft date locked in for aspiring footballers

The next batch of footballers will be drafted on Tuesday, October 6.

The count will be virtual owing to coronavirus restrictions.

Greater Western Victoria Rebels female co-ordinator Krista Woodroofe said the NAB League club, which had a handful of players in contention, was grateful to have a date particularly after the pandemic threw players' season plans into chaos.

The Rebels were undefeated after two games before their season was put on hold and eventually cancelled.

"It is really good for those girls who are hoping they get that opportunity at the next level, it just gives them a date to continue to focus on," she said.

"We've contacted all of our girls via Zoom just to make sure everyone is in a good spot with family life and schooling.

"We've just really encouraged them to focus on family and their school work at the moment and everything else will happen.

"We're trying to make sure they're not focusing on the draft too much because what will be will be and we can't guarantee anything."

Saulitis, who started playing football for Warrnambool in the boys' competition, is striving to make the AFLW.

Woodroofe said the creative forward, who was a match-winner for the Rebels earlier this year, deserved to be considered a draft chance.

Saulitis, who boards in Ballarat, has played for Vic Country and was named Rebels' co-captain in her top-age season. She is one of a handful of Rebels considered draft contenders.

"Of course she'll be nervous but she's been working for this for a long time and she knows how it all works and you're not guaranteed an opportunity," Woodroofe said.

"She also understands there are lots of girls who have not gone through the draft system who have gone to play VFLW and then been selected, like Amy McDonald from Ballarat who played two or three seasons with Geelong and then got drafted.

"She will be nervous but she'll be excited at the opportunity to be drafted."