The Kangaroos are back-to-back premiers. Now the chase to catch the AFLW’s benchmark team ramps up via the trade period and national draft.

A host of big names are poised to move clubs, which will have a significant domino effect on how the draft plays out.

Foxfooty.com.au breaks down the latest trade and draft news ahead of the 2025 AFLW draft, which will be held from 7pm (AEDT) on Monday December 15 — live and exclusive on Fox Footy, via Foxtel (Channel 504) and Kayo Sports.

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NEW RULE SETS UP TRADE FRENZY

Like the AFL post-season set-up, the AFLW trade period begins less than a week after the grand final.

The 2025 AFLW trade period will run for six days – Thursday December 4 to Wednesday December 10 – which is slightly narrower than the AFL window.

But the turnaround between the women’s trade period and national draft is mightily short, with the draft to be held on Monday December 15 – five days after the trade deadline. For context, AFL clubs had 35 days between their trade period deadline and the boys draft.

It’s a massive challenge for AFLW club football departments and list management teams, who are doing more draft preparation on the run while trying to balance trades and contract calls … and almost certainly with less resources.

“She might not be at school on Monday” | 03:38

One new mechanism that’ll make player movement more fluid this year is the introduction of AFLW future pick trading, with clubs this year able to part with – and accept – 2026 draft picks. Although there are some restrictions, with clubs only allowed to trade either a future first-rounder or future second-rounder – not both. If you trade one future pick in the first two rounds, you can’t part with the other.

The impact will be significant, nonetheless.

More AFLW trades will go through smoothly, meaning the days of four-club, six-club and even 11-club mega deals — yes that happened two years ago — will be unnecessary for players to land at their preferred destinations.

And not only will the competition’s top players have a better chance of moving, clubs will also have more flexibility to trade in – or out – of drafts. The latter point is particularly significant for this AFLW off-season.

BEWARE THE BOLD BLUES

Of all 18 AFLW teams, Carlton is expected to be one of the busiest.

But whether the Blues will have the means to land all their desired players is doubtful.

The Blues, under coach Matthew Buck, were the biggest riser of the year, jumping from 14th last year to a preliminary final in 2025.

The club’s resurgence has led to more rival-club players showing interest in joining the Blues, who are also aggressively looking to capitalise on their healthy position.

Carlton has been strongly linked to Gold Coast ruck Lauren Bella – who’s played a club-record 66 games but struggled to maintain her spot in the senior Suns side this season – as well as gun midfielder Claudia Whitfort, who’s endured an injury-interrupted past two seasons.

Lauren Bella and Claudia Whitfort. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Bella isn’t the only ruck linked to the Blues, with All-Australian Swan Ally Morphett meeting with Carlton officials, per AFL Media, despite being contracted to Sydney for another two seasons. Then there’s Giants defender Cambridge McCormick, who’s also a contracted All-Australian.

The Blues have also been linked to 20-year-old Bulldogs midfielder Brooke Barwick, who was taken with the Bulldogs’ second pick at the 2023 draft.

All that comes after Adelaide midfielder Brooke Boileau a fortnight ago informed the Crows of her desire to be traded, with Carlton understood to be her preferred club.

Despite the introduction of future pick trading, sources spoken to by foxfooty.com.au believe the Blues will severely struggle to land all their desired targets over the next week. That is unless they move on a few contracted players, but that seems less likely after such a successful 2025 campaign.

Elsewhere, an array of other key players will be on the move over the next fortnight.

Bulldog Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner has nominated back-to-back premiers North Melbourne as her preferred destination – two years after being selected with Pick 1 by the Western Bulldogs, who are set to trade in Collingwood on-baller Mikala Cann. Adelaide defensive duo Zoe Prowse and Kiera Mueller are both considering interest from opposition teams.

Collingwood best and fairest winner Jordyn Allen is also weighing up a move away from the Magpies, despite being contracted to the club until the end of 2027. It’s understood the 25-year-old star defender is open to an interstate move to continue her career, with early links to the Brisbane Lions.

Jordyn Allen of the Magpies. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Richmond midfielder Grace Egan has been encouraged by the Tigers to explore her trade options. Foxfooty.com.au understands Adelaide has interest in Egan, who’s played 66 games and had five top-six best and fairest finishes in six seasons.

Egan has also been linked to Fremantle and the Giants – the latter club also having interest in acquiring Hawks All-Australian defender Tilly Lucas-Rodd, who’s uncontracted beyond 2025.

BIGGEST TRADE PILLAR… AND HOW IT SETS UP FRANTIC PICK 1 RACE

But arguably the biggest name on the AFLW trade table, at this stage, is uncontracted Demons forward Eden Zanker, who’s eyeing a move to Western Australia.

Zanker, 26, has been a mainstay of the Demons’ line-up since 2018, playing 86 games. Outside of superstar skipper Kate Hore, Zanker has been Melbourne’s biggest offensive threat, booting 51 goals across the past three seasons, including 22 in 2025.

The premiership Demon and 2023 competition leading goalkicker is being widely tipped to join Fremantle, which is looking for a strong forward 50 player as it prepares to play more games without sidelined star Aine Tighe.

A Zanker-Dockers trade could see Melbourne collect another two first-round picks.

It’s why sources spoken to by foxfooty.com.au believe Melbourne would be in the box seat to land the first selection in this year’s draft, as they’d have up to three first-round picks to use to strike a trade for the No.1.

Other than the Demons, Richmond is seen as a strong Pick 1 suitor. The Tigers, who finished 16th this year, hold Picks 4 and 22 in this year’s draft.

Adelaide this week publicly declared its interest via CODE Sports in acquiring Pick 1, while St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs have also been linked to a top-pick play.

Ava Usher of the Suns in action during the AFL National Championships Under 16s in 2023. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL PhotosSource: News Corp Australia

Pick 1 is currently held by 2025 wooden spooners Gold Coast – but that selection is being openly shopped around by the club.

That’s because of the ridiculously strong crop of Suns academy prospects.

If you thought this year’s boys draft was heavily compromised — 20 bids were launched on club-tied players, with 15 matched — wait for this year’s AFLW draft.

Multiple AFLW clubs spoken to by foxfooty.com.au believe eight to 10 Suns-tied players could attract bids at the national draft. Up to five of them are regarded as genuine top-10 prospects.

There’s the athletic and versatile Georja Davies – the youngest of the four Davies sisters – as well as strong-bodied key forward Dekota Baron and explosive midfielder Ava Usher, who could be the best player in the pool despite having no recent exposed form due to being sidelined through injury for the past two years.

The Suns have also struck gold in Sunny Lappin, who in October confirmed her intention to nominate Gold Coast as an academy selection for December’s draft. The 18-year-old could’ve nominated either Carlton or St Kilda under the father-daughter rule – her dad, 2004 All-Australian Matthew Lappin, played for both clubs during his 14-season AFL career – but she said she thought she’d play her best footy at the top level if she remained on the Gold Coast.

Rounding out the top five is Alannah Welsh – a damaging 169cm forward who in October ran the second-fastest AFLW draft combine 2km time trial (7:07) ever.

Other Suns academy players sources believe are in the national draft mix include Bronte Parker, Rhianna Ingram, Mikayla Nurse, Annabelle Foat and Aleah Stringer.

Some clubs believe the Suns could take at least eight — possibly all 10 — academy players to ensure their list remains Queensland-heavy. It’ll be tricky to pull off, but they’re already making moves to land as many as possible.

Sunny Lappin of the Suns. Picture: Craig Dooley/AFL PhotosSource: News Corp Australia

The Suns in early November delisted six players: Ella Maurer, Wallis Randell, Ella Smith, Keely Fullerton, Tayla Gregory and Taya Oliver. They could lose all of Bella, Whitfort and key forward Jac Dupuy during the trade period as well — Dupuy has been linked to Hawthorn — which would open up even more list spots.

But matching the live bids might be Gold Coast’s most challenging task.

While clubs use the DVI points system in the boys draft, AFLW list management teams can only match bids using a selection within 18 picks of when that bid is launched. With no live trading during the girls draft, it means the Suns must get organised over the trade period and secure an array of appropriate selections to help them match as many bids as possible.

Watch for the Suns to not only part with Pick 1 over the coming weeks, but also look to split multiple selections and spread them out as evenly as possible across the draft. Rival clubs believe the Suns will ideally look to shuffle back multiple picks into the late teens to mid-20s, for those selections will be like gold for them. One source said the Suns would look to acquire six top-30 picks to feel comfortable.

Gold Coast, too, will most likely look to get out of the early stages of the 2026 draft. And considering its 18th-place finish this year with the youngest list in the competition – combined with the fact the Suns’ average age is about to decrease again this off-season due to the academy influx – Gold Coast’s future picks loom as hot property for rival clubs keen to get into next year’s draft.

Taylor Smith of the Lions. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

SWAN WATCH

The other key trade headline to follow over the next week is premiership Lions star Taylor Smith, who’s attracting big rival club interest.

Smith has been a mainstay of the successful Brisbane set-up since 2021, kicking the second-most number of goals in club history (67) to go with a premiership and an All-Australian blazer.

Despite being contracted to the Lions for another season, Smith is in the sights of clubs around the AFLW – especially the Sydney Swans, who are looking for a key forward to support star goalkicker Chloe Molloy. While Smith isn’t disgruntled at Brisbane, it’s understood she would sign a significantly more lucrative deal if she moved clubs.

It comes as the Swans keep track of how strong the lure is — and how realistic it is — for star ruck Morphett to switch allegiances.

Whether the Swans land Smith and/or lose Morphett remains unclear, with both players still contracted to their respective clubs.

But keeping Morphett and acquiring Smith from Brisbane could leave the Swans in an exposed draft position when it comes to their academy prospects, for the Lions would undoubtedly drive a steep asking price at the trade table.

The Swans are tied to Alex Neyland – an athletic 178cm utility who’s soared up draft boards across the year. After impressing in the Coates Talent League for the Swans academy then the Allies at the national championships, Neyland produced top-five finishers in four of the five national combine tests.

Neyland is being discussed by some clubs as a top-10 prospect. Multiple sources spoken to by foxfooty.com.au suggested the Giants, who hold Pick 2 after finishing 17th in 2025, were considering bidding on the NSW product – a bid that could be hard for the Swans to match, depending on how a possible Smith trade worked out.

Alex Neyland during the Telstra AFLW National Draft Combine. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Neyland isn’t the only highly-rated Swans academy prospect in the 2025 draft pool, with midfielder Kiera Yerbury and 185cm ruck Madeleine Quinn also earning national combine invites after being selection in the All Stars team earlier this year.

The Giants, meanwhile, were one of three clubs last week to receive special assistance packages from the AFL. While Collingwood and Gold Coast were awarded additional list spots for the next two seasons, the Giants received two first-round selections: Pick 3 in this year’s draft and an end-of-first-round selection (Pick 19) in the 2026 draft.

Some rival clubs, who were told of the move on Friday, were left surprised by the Pick 3 and 19 calls, especially considering the Giants’ strong 2026 academy crop, headlined by Zoe Curry, Morgan Stevens and Majella Day, who are all part of next year’s Under 18 AFL national academy. Ultimately, the Giants have had a 17 per cent win rate over the past three years.

The Giants could either use Pick 3 on draft night or part with it during the trade period as part of a deal to land a rival-club player.

TOP OPEN POOL PROSPECTS

While this year’s draft pool for some isn’t as deep as last year’s, the top of the class is tantalising.

The consensus among sources spoken to by foxfooty.com.au is that Oakleigh Chargers ball magnet Chloe Bown is the No. 1 open pool prospect. One source said Bown was a “pretty clear standout”.

A consistent, reliable on-baller with an incredible work ethic and ability to kick well on both feet, Bown had a near perfect draft year. She was crowned the best and fairest player of 2025 national championships and selected as All-Australian captain after steering Victoria Metro to back-to-back title wins. Her season was book-ended by a best on ground medal when representing the Australia Under 18 team against the All Stars in April and the Coates Talent League best and fairest award in September after averaging 29 disposals and six tackles per game.

Chloe Bown of the AFL National Academy. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

It’s understood multiple clubs are keen to get their hands on Pick 1 to give them first access to a player of Bown’s quality.

The other top open pool prospect is WA star Olivia Wolmarans — an athletic and versatile 180cm goalkicker who was named at centre half-forward in this year’s Under 18 All-Australian team. Multiple sources linked Wolmarans to the Giants — who hold Picks 2 and 3 in the draft — as well as a potential bid on Sydney-tied prospect Neyland, indicating the club’s desire to draft a tall.

Another WA player expected to be taken early is exciting 173cm Peel Thunder intercept defender Evie Cowcher. Despite Cowcher being sidelined for a lot of her draft year due to back stress fractures, clubs have remained enamoured by her elite previous two seasons, which saw her win two WA MVP awards, two Under 18 All-Australian selections and the 2023 WAFLW Rising Star award.

Calder Cannons ball magnet Chloe Baker-West is another prospect expected to feature in the initial stages of this month’s draft. A prodigious ball-winner, she’s racked up some big numbers in the Coates Talent League over the past three seasons, leading to a spot in the comp’s Team of the Year in September.

One intriguing prospect is Priya Bowering – a strong, clean and powerful and midfielder who’s Tasmania’s top hope this year. Bowering starred for the Allies in the Under 18 national championships, winning the side’s MVP award and being named on the wing in the All-Australian team, before being picked in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. She looms as a top-10 prospect, but whether the Lauderdale product is taken that early by one of the 18 clubs – considering Tasmania’s slated 2028 entry into the AFLW competition – remains to be seen.

Priya Bowering of the AFL National Academy. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Eastern Ranges duo Jordyn Allen – coincidentally a similar type of rebounding defender to namesake Jordyn Allen at Collingwood – and Tayla McMillan are looming as first-round contenders. Some scouts rate midfielder McMillan as a top-five prospect due to her pure football ability, while others have her towards the back-end of the first round.

Northern Knights utility Scarlett Johnson, GWV Rebels powerful midfielder Maggie Johnstone and WA pair Mia Russo and Olivia Crane are other names to watch.

The 2025 AFLW draft will be held on Monday December 15 and will be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Footy, via Foxtel (Channel 504) and Kayo Sports.