THE 2019 AFL Women's Sign and Trade Period kicked off on Monday, with Western Bulldogs co-captain Katie Brennan among a bunch of players possibly on the move.
What to watch for in coming days:
- Melbourne is likely to re-sign All Australians Karen Paxman and Lauren Pearcedespite strong interest from St Kilda.
- Young Brisbane ruck Lauren Bella may be on the move to Gold Coast, having been part of the Suns' Academy squad before she was drafted last year.
- North Melbourne midfielder Jamie Stanton is another who could move to the Suns, the Queensland local having previously played for QWAFL side Coolangatta.
- Southern Saints (VFLW) best and fairest duo Alison Drennan (now at North Melbourne) and Rhiannon Watt (Carlton) are looking likely to return to St Kilda to join the club's inaugural AFLW team.
- Crows forward Sarah Perkins is likely to return to Victoria after struggling to break into a strong Adelaide line-up this year.
- Geelong isn't expecting much player movement, with key forward Phoebe McWilliams believed to be among the players who have been locked up for 2020.
- West Coast looks likely to have missed out on three big names, having offered contracts to Chelsea Randall (who is staying at Adelaide), Sabrina Frederick-Traub(who is moving to Victoria, with Richmond reportedly the front-runner) and Emma King (expected to stay at North Melbourne).
- However, Fremantle is bracing itself to lose six or seven players to its crosstown rivals, with former Dockers coach Michelle Cowan now an assistant coach with the Eagles.
- After losing Emma Kearney, Jenna Bruton and Aasta O'Connor last year, Hannah Scott may also be on the move from Western Bulldogs, with St Kilda showing plenty of interest.
- Despite some interest at Richmond (where former Collingwood forward Lauren Tesoriero is list manager), Pies star Chloe Molloy will re-sign with the club, with captain Steph Chiocci and All Australian key back Ash Brazill believed to be joining her.
- Greater Western Sydney defender Pepa Randall will return to Victoria for winter, with her AFLW future undecided.
With all 311 AFLW players out of contract, the first of two trade periods will run from April 18.
The first period features the four new expansion clubs (Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast) entering the competition in 2020.
They can each sign up to four players from the Victorian clubs, Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney and eight each from Brisbane and Fremantle.
Richmond in particular appears to be interested in key forward Brennan, with Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains addressing the issue on ABC Grandstand on Sunday.
"There's a reasonable possibility we can't hold onto her," he said.
The draft order will be confirmed on April 23, with a second sign and trade period opening that day and running until April 26. Only the 10 existing clubs can participate in that phase.
A five-day free agency period will be held (from April 26-30) for players who have not yet been signed.
Teams will lodge pre-draft lists with the AFL on May 3. By the end of the draft (yet to be determined, but generally in October), clubs will have lists of 30, with up to three spots open for rookies.
Clubs can sign players to one or two-season contracts for the first time this year.
