BALNARRING Junior Football Club’s reputation as a football factory was on full display on Monday 15 December, when three of its players were selected in the AFLW Draft.
Mizuki Brothwell was taken at pick 14 by the Western Bulldogs, Matilda Argus joined Collingwood at pick 41 and Nalu Brothwell was selected at pick 50 by Essendon.
In a single draft, Balnarring JFC doubled its total number of AFL and AFLW draftees. Previous selections from the club include Will Hamill (Adelaide Crows, 2018), Isabella Shannon (St Kilda, 2019) and Sam Fletcher (Gold Coast Suns, 2019).
Founded in 1890, the Balnarring Football Club has a proud and long history. Its junior arm, Balnarring JFC, was established in 2006 by a local parent group with just one team. In 2026 the club will field 18 teams. Achieving this level of success in such a relatively short time is remarkable.
Club President Cam Price said the draft was a landmark moment for Balnarring.
“This is a moment of immense pride for everyone involved in our club. The girls have worked incredibly hard at their football, and I was very confident leading into the draft that all three girls would be selected.”
“We are extremely proud of our girls program at Balnarring. In response to growing demand, we introduced a senior women’s team in 2024 to extend our female pathway. In 2025, the team achieved an outstanding milestone, winning the MPFNL Division 2 premiership.”
The three draftees played together at both Balnarring and the Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League.
Twins Mizuki and Nalu Brothwell are versatile, athletic players who are relatively new to football, having played just three seasons after transitioning from strong netball backgrounds. Mizuki is a composed defender with an exceptional ability to read the play, while Nalu is a forward known for her tackling pressure, endurance and impact around goal. Both Mizuki and Nalu were selected in the 2025 Coates Talent League Team of the Year.
Mizuki said, “to share this journey with Nalu has been amazing, to have played our first game together and then get drafted on Monday night is a dream come true for both of us. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us both and so proud of what we have achieved”.
Nalu added “I would say to any young footballers at Balnarring who had the same dream as us – if you put your mind to something you really want to do, there’s nothing stopping you if you work hard and stay positive, and believe in yourself. And make sure to enjoy every moment because it all goes so fast. You can achieve anything”.
Matilda Argus began her junior football at Beleura before moving to Balnarring. A left-footer, Argus plays as a defensive midfielder and is noted for her cleanliness around the contest, as well as her impressive run and carry in space. Matilda capped off a standout season by winning the Dandenong Stingrays’ Best and Fairest at this year’s awards.
Their selection is not only a reward for years of hard work, but also a powerful endorsement of Balnarring’s junior pathway. It proves that young footballers on the Mornington Peninsula can dream big, develop locally, and progress all the way to the elite level — demonstrating what can be achieved through strong community support, development-focused coaching and belief in grassroots football.
Three draftees. One club. A clear message: Balnarring’s pathway is producing elite footballers, and the best may still be yet to come.
First published in the Western Port News – 24 December 2025
