The AFLW trade period is done and dusted for 2024, with all 18 clubs now setting their sights on how they can best improve their list one final time heading into the new year.
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The 2024 AFLW draft will be held on Monday, December 16, with the league’s Supplementary Signing Period (SSP) opening next February from the 3rd to the 28th.
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Foxfooty.com.au recaps every club’s ins and outs following the trade period’s cessation.
ADELAIDE
In: Hannah Ewings (PTA), Grace Kelly (STK)
Out: Najwa Allen (HAW), Taylah Levy (GWS)
The Crows’ sole acquisition this trade period was cross-town rival Hannah Ewings, who missed the entire 2024 campaign at Alberton after taking extended personal leave. The 20-year-old already has an exceptional resume in the league, having won Port Adelaide’s inaugural best-and-fairest award after taking out the competition’s Rising Star award in Season Seven. Gun midfielder Grace Kelly also joins West Lakes from St Kilda, further deepening their on-ball depth and leadership team. Unfortunately however, they have lost 61 games on AFLW experience in Najwa Allen and Taylah Levy, to rival clubs.
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BRISBANE
In: N/A
Out: N/A
The grand finalists were ultra-quiet this trade period, making no additions nor farewells in the trade period. Brisbane’s first pick at Monday evening’s draft is No. 15 overall.
CARLTON
In: Tara Bohanna (GCS)
Out:
Carlton acquired Gold Coast’s best player in 2024, with Tara Bohanna set to bring the Blues a plethora of leadership and skill in front of the big sticks. The Blues got her for an absolute bargain, too, sending just Pick 41 in exchange for Bohanna and No. 56. The Blues hold the fifth overall pick at the draft next Monday night.
COLLINGWOOD
In: Mattea Breed (HAW), Airlie Runnalls (FRE)
Out:
Emerging midfielder Mattea Breed was the Magpies’ marquee addition, with the 23-year-old signing a two-year deal at the club. Breed averaged 13.6 disposals for Hawthorn this season and will inject some serious talent into a Collingwood side in need, as the Pies also received Pick 26 in the deal in exchange for Picks 22 and 28. The Pies also dealt Pick 45 to Fremantle for speedster Airlie Runnalls, making promising additions as they now turn their attention to picking first overall at next week’s draft.
ESSENDON
In: Courtney Murphy (GWS)
Out: Ashleigh Van Loon (SYD), Amber Clarke (STK)
The Bombers bolstered their key-position stocks in the form of the athletic Courtney Murphy, sending just Pick 65 to the Giants in exchange. The 24-year-old, who has a basketball background after playing at the collegiate level for five years in the US, will hopefully bring a few of those skills to Tullamarine. Ashleigh Van Loon, on the other hand, departed for the Swans, while former No. 3 pick Amber Clarke departed for Moorabbin in exchange for the Saints’ Pick 8. Paige Scott will remain an Essendon player despite being linked with a move to Richmond that would have seen Emelia Yassir going to the Bombers. In addition to No. 8, the Dons also hold Pick 11.
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FREMANTLE
In: Bella Smith (SYD)
Out: Airlie Runnalls (COL), Ariana Hetherington (NTH)
The Dockers have got themselves forward in-form this off-season, with Bella Smith leaving the Swans for a new start out west. In her last game of the season, she kicked a career-high five goals against West Coast and now joins Fremantle after experience at Collingwood and as a foundation player at Sydney. Outgoing, however, is Airlie Runnalls, who departs in a handy addition for talent-needy Collingwood, with the Dockers receiving Pick 45 in exchange. The flexible Ariana Hetherington also departed for premiers North Melbourne.
GEELONG
In:
Out: Darcy Moloney (SYD)
The Cats didn’t make any trade additions this year, but after 46 games at the club since debuting in 2021, Darcy Moloney departed for Sydney. Geelong received Pick 22 in exchange for the handy midfielder-forward. It will pick at No. 9 and No. 16 in the first round of next week’s draft.
GOLD COAST
In: Lily Mithen (MEL)
Out: Tara Bohanna (CAR)
The Suns lost all-time club leading goalkicker Tara Bohanna to Carlton this trade period, and they couldn’t yield premium draft capital in return — receiving just Pick 41 in exchange for Bohanna and No. 56. It may be a sign that Academy prospect Havana Harris is as good as advertised, if not better. On the other hand, they gained experienced Melbourne premiership player Lily Mithen in a blockbuster six-club trade. Gold Coast paid a hefty price for Mithen, parting with Picks 2 and 20 in exchange for the Season Seven flag-winner and Pick 46. As part of the deal, the Suns also received Pick 19 from Collingwood, Pick 27 from Geelong and Pick 30 from Richmond.
GWS GIANTS
In: Eleanor Brown (WB), Taylah Levy (ADE)
Out: Courtney Murphy (ESS), Nicola Barr (STK)
The departure of inaugural Giant Nicola Barr, who leaves for St Kilda after nine seasons with the club, will hurt GWS. The line-breaker played an instrumental role in the Giants’ on and off-field operations and now leaves a considerable void across half-back. Athletic tall Courtney Murphy also departs, ready for a new opportunity with the Bombers. Defender Eleanor Brown and midfielder Taylah Levy arrived as part of a four-club trade on day five of the period. Brown adds versatility and endurance, while Levy brings inside ball-winning talent. The Giants will now ponder what to do with Pick 3 at the draft next Monday night.
HAWTHORN
In: Najwa Allen (ADE)
Out: Lou Stephenson (WB), Charlotte Baskaran (STK), Mattea Breed (COL)
Hawthorn made a shrewd move in acquiring Adelaide premiership player Najwa Allen. The hard-running midfielder will further supplement a fast-paced Hawks side that took the competition by storm this season. However, Hawthorn couldn’t come to an agreement with Melbourne’s Taylah Harris by the deadline. The Hawks also lost emerging talent Mattea Breed to Collingwood after the midfielder turned heads in her second season at the club.
MELBOURNE
In: Lily Mithen (GCS)
Out:
The biggest story — or non-story, depending on how you look at it — of Melbourne’s trade period this summer was Tayla Harris, who, after being linked with a move to Hawthorn throughout the period, ended up staying put at the Demons. Elsewhere, the Dees lost the experience of Lily Mithen to Gold Coast — but they were able to capitalise in terms of draft capital, receiving Picks 2 and 20 from the Suns in exchange for Mithen and Pick 46.
NORTH MELBOURNE
In: Eilish Sheerin (RIC), Ariana Hetherington (FRE)
Out: Liz McGrath (WCE), Lulu Pullar (SYD)
The reigning premier is set to get even better in 2025, following multiple additions on deadline day. The Roos acquired All-Australian Eilish Sheerinfrom Richmond, giving away Pick 18 in the trade. The 32-year-old is the perfect get for a club right in the win-now window. North Melbourne also added Fremantle’s Ariana Hetherington at the deadline, in exchange for Pick 51. On the other hand, in a dent to the club’s ruck depth, Liz McGrath has moved on from Arden Street after going without an appearance in 2024, stuck behind Emma King and Kim Rennie in the pecking order. Lulu Pullar — who was limited to just one game this season due to injury — also departs the Roos, who received two late picks from the Swans.
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PORT ADELAIDE
In: Ella Heads (SYD)
Out: Hannah Ewings (ADE)
She may not have played for them in 2024, but the loss of S7 Rising Star winner Hannah Ewings to cross-town rivals the Crows will cut deep. The Power showed they have the young talent to cover her absence, but they certainly would have hoped to keep her around to play alongside them. Incoming is defender Ella Heads, who arrived from Sydney in a four-club trade. The 21-year-old made her AFLW debut in 2022 and has played 33 consecutive games since, providing the Power durability.
RICHMOND
In: Montana Beruldsen (SYD)
Out: Imogen Brown (SYD), Eilish Sheerin (NTH)
The Tigers dealt with Sydney for a rare straight swap of players, with the uncapped Imogen Brown moving back home after one season at Punt Road. Two-time All-Australian Eilish Sheerin is a substantial loss for the Tigers, yielding Pick 18 in exchange for the 32-year-old dependable defender. On the flip side, though, is the acquisition of Montana Beruldsen; who has 14 games experience at the top level and is a foundation Swans player. Elsewhere, despite being strongly linked with a move to Tigerland, Paige Scott will remain an Essendon player after a move including Emelia Yassir to the Bombers couldn’t be completed on deadline day. While Scott is expected to sign on with the Dons, Yassir is not expected to remain with Richmond.
ST KILDA
In: Charlotte Baskaran (HAW), Nicola Barr (GWS), Amber Clarke (ESS)
Out: Grace Kelly (ADE)
The Saints have welcomed Charlotte Baskaran with open arms from Waverley Park, with the forward changing clubs on the third day of the trade period. And amid a three-club trade on deadline day, club also snatched the league’s first ever number one draft pick in Nicola Barr, after 61 games at GWS in eight years. Irish recruit Grace Kelly departed from the club in the same trade, after being a regular starter for the Saints these last two years since her move from West Coast. Late on deadline day, the Saints paid a high price for former Pick 3 Amber Clarke, sending Pick 8 in this year’s draft to the Bombers.
SYDNEY
In: Darcy Moloney (GEE), Imogen Brown (RIC), Ashleigh Van Loon (ESS), Lulu Pullar (NTH)
Out: Montana Beruldsen (RIC), Bella Smith (FRE), Ella Heads (PTA)
In a massive win, the Swans have regained Academy youngster Imogen Brown from Richmond after one season at Punt Road. The uncapped 19-year-old midfielder will add depth for the red and white in 2025 and is a great prospect for the future. Into the club also comes Geelong’s Darcy Moloney, who can play both in the engine room or across half-forward. On the contrary, 50 games experience at AFLW level will exit Sydney in the form of Montana Beruldsen and Bella Smith, who will head interstate to their respective rival clubs. The Swans pick fourth in next week’s draft.
WEST COAST
In: Liz McGrath (NTH)
Out:
Fringe North Melbourne ruck Liz McGrath has joined her third AFLW club, joining forces with Lauren Wakfer and Sarah Lakay at stoppage for West Coast. Her addition affords the Eagles ruck relief after delisting four-gamer Tess Lyons in the off-season.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: Lou Stephenson (HAW)
Out: Eleanor Brown (GWS)
Impressive key forward Lou Stephenson found her way to the Bulldogs from Hawthorn, while reliable defender Eleanor Brown departed for GWS in the same four-club trade. The 29-year-old Stephenson transitioned from defence to the forward-line this season and was serviceable depth for the Hawks. Brown, who had requested a trade at the beginning of the period, played 39 games for the Bulldogs including a Rising Star nomination in her maiden campaign.