Kangaroos champion Jasmine Garner acknowledged teammates were still unhappy about the trade North Melbourne agreed to last week which brought Blakey to Arden Street.
Blakey, who signed an eight-year contract worth more than $1m per season to join the Roos, is one of four subjects of the ongoing police investigation into the Pullman Hotel incident which occurred on August 17.
The 26-year-old was suspended for the rest of the season after the incident for breaching Sydney’s behavioural standards, saying he was “sorry for the events that led up” to his exit and that he had to “win back the trust of the broader community” at his new club.
North Melbourne AFLW players were addressed by club president Sonja Hood and chief executive Jen Watt on the Friday morning before he completed his move to the club.
It is understood several Kangaroos women’s players voiced their concerns about the trade, before the club elected to proceed.
Garner, a dual premiership midfielder widely regarded as the competition’s best player, said her teammates continued to have “mixed emotions” about the club signing Blakey.
“It’s obviously a decision that has been made, and it’s probably a decision that we’ve all got a bit of mixed emotions … but it’s something that we’re working through as a group,” Garner said after starring in the Kangaroos’ 52-point win over Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday.
“For us, we’re really backing in the leadership of Jen (Watt) and Sonja (Hood). We know we’ve got finals to play, we’ve got a big few weeks to play, so we also want to focus on that and our performance.
“But it’s definitely a decision that brings a lot of mixed emotions.”
Asked if she felt the club’s AFLW players had been consulted adequately before the decision, Garner said: “Yeah, look, it’s probably one that we’re still working through. But we were spoken too, and at the end of the day, I think we’re backing in Jen and Sonja and their leadership.”
Another senior North Melbourne player, Eilish Sheerin, told the Herald Sun the decision had been explained to the players “to some degree”.
“I think you’ve really got to trust the people who are making those decisions to make decisions in the best interest of the club,” Sheerin said as she celebrated her 50th AFLW game with friends and family on Sunday.
“They sat us down, and to some degree explained their reasoning and their mindset behind it.
“We need to trust that they’re making good decisions, not only for the club but for the women’s program.
“It’s a testament to our program, we have feedback on what we think that should look like, and I feel like that feedback is going to be heard and implemented to the best of their ability. We’ve got to trust that process as well.”
North Melbourne’s AFL list manager Brady Rawlings said on Tuesday he had not attended the meeting with the women’s players, but the club was “comfortable” with the trade.
In a press conference which was ended abruptly after a mention of disgraced former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas, Rawlings said other clubs had also pursued Blakey.
“I think our members would have a lot of faith in our leadership at the club,” Rawlings said.
“Sonja, Jen and (football boss) Todd (Viney) have been massive for this club over the last few years and our board has endorsed everything.”