RICHELLE ‘Rocky’ Cranston says playing gridiron for the past three seasons was a pivotal factor in her being drafted by Melbourne in Wednesday’s AFL Women’s Draft.

Cranston, who has also played football for the past seven seasons, said combining her two passions had helped her become the player she is today.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to play [gridiron] anymore,” she told Melbourne TV.

“I love gridiron as well, but football for me all the way.

“[It’s] definitely helped me with the tackling.”

Cranston was selected at No.24 in the AFL Women’s Draft – Melbourne’s third pick overall – and looms as an exciting, cult figure for the club. She said she couldn’t wait to start her AFL Women’s career.

“Football is pretty much my life,” she said.

 “I started when I was 19 in Ballarat and then I moved to Geelong and I’ve stayed there ever since.

“Everything I do is for football and to be picked up by the Dees so early – I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

A versatile player, Cranston is a midfielder/forward and already has her eye set on playing in attack in 2017.