A coastal town in Western Australia’s north has doubled its representation in the AFLW after local Indi Strom was drafted by the Fremantle Dockers.

She will join her older sister, reigning all-Australian ruck and Fremantle best and fairest Mim Strom.

Indi Strom, who was selected at pick 51 by the Dockers at Monday night’s AFLW draft, said she was still surprised.

“It’s pretty shocking and overwhelming, but in the best way possible,” she said.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’m super stoked.”

The sisters originally come from Exmouth, a tourist town about 1,230km north of Perth. 

Indi Strom now lives in Perth, having played 14 games for South Fremantle in the WAFLW in 2024, but said her love for Exmouth remained.

Strom said she still regularly visited, and the entire family retained a strong connection to the Gascoyne town.

But she said the opportunity to play on a national stage alongside her sister was exciting.

“We get to push each other,” she said.

“She’s always telling me things that I need to improve on the footy field, and she’s such a good example to have at home.”

Mim Strom had a breakout season in 2024, breaking league hit-out records and collecting an impressive array of silverware. 

Indi Strom said her sister had “set the bar pretty high”, but she was excited to show off her skills as well.

The Strom family’s connection to Fremantle extends past Mim — older brother Zac is the Dockers’ women’s ruck coach, while brother Noah has played more than 100 games for South Fremantle in the WAFL.

Indi Strom, a train-on player with the Dockers’ women’s side, was one of five draftees from WA on Monday night and was the only one to stay in her home state.

Her older sister was handed the surprise honour of presenting her jumper with the club documenting the emotional moment on its social media channels.

Women’s footy growing in regional WA

Indi Strom said she had loved playing Aussie Rules as a kid but wasn’t left with many options as she grew up.

“I got to high school and kept playing football, but it was with the boys,” she said.

“It was just me and my one girlfriend who played, so we always had to be on opposite teams which was a bit annoying, but it was pretty fun.”

But Strom said the popularity of women’s footy in the regions was on the rise.

“They’ve got a full girls’ team and they can travel to Carnarvon and play another girls’ team there, which is awesome.”

Unfortunately, the women’s season was cancelled in Exmouth in 2024, but the desire for women’s football remains strong.