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The 3 trade names mentioned by Fox are Bella and Whitfort to the Blues and Dupay to the Hawks. Bella is the 2nd option for the Blues who are also trying to get the Swans ruck.

Dupay would be a big get for the Hawks, complete opposite type of key forward to McDonough.

Anyway, we probably need 6 top 30 picks.
 

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Gold Coast is making a bold play for Adelaide triple-premiership great Anne Hatchard in a bombshell move that’s set to shake-up the AFLW trade period.
Sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the Suns have spoken about the possibility of luring Hatchard, who is contracted until 2027, to the club.

The ambitious bid would significantly bolster the Suns’ AFLW list and has its foundations built on the friendship between Hatchard and newly appointed Gold Coast general manager of women’s football Erin Phillips, who played in three flags together at the Crows.


he shock play proves that the Suns are being aspirational in their bid to climb back up the ladder under first-year coach Rhyce Shaw and start contending again as soon as possible after claiming the 2025 wooden spoon.

But it will take some creative trading to get a deal done given Gold Coast is currently trying to acquire as many top 30 picks as possible to match bids for its suite of Academy stars, headlined by top 10 chances Ava Usher, Sunny Lappin, Dekota Baron and Georja Davies.

The Suns are expected to trade the No.1 pick to Richmond, giving the club much-needed draft capital.

Gold Coast is also seeking to complete trades for Lauren Bella, Jacqui Dupuy and Claudia Whitfort.

Hatchard has forged a stellar football resume across her 102 games to date, featuring in Adelaide’s 2017, 2019 and season six (2022) premierships, winning the best-a-field medal in the latter triumph.


The 27-year-old is already a four-time All-Australian and three-time Adelaide club champion.

But the Crows and the Suns will spend the remaining days of the trade period attempting to concoct a win-win trade, with clubs able to trade future picks for the first time.

Hatchard would bring significant experience and leadership to a fledgling Suns’ outfit who added Melbourne star Lily Mithen in last year’s trade period. Hatchard has also proven to be a threat in attack.

Before her 100-game milestone earlier this year, Hatchard spoke about her admiration for Phillips.

“To think I started as this kid who was terrible at kicking a footy, and just idolising Erin (Phillips)… to be able to reach this milestone means the world to me,” Hatchard said.

“I had always wished I played basketball with her and next minute I’m here playing footy with her. It’s been incredible this whole journey and I still pinch myself.”
Click to expand...
 
I don’t see how this is good. I know she was injured this year, but we are getting worse if a player like her goes.

I’ve seen the men’s team long enough to know that getting rid of all experience each year to load up on young or academy isn’t the way to go.

The men’s team can do it now because their list has stabilised in age profile.

Anyway, let’s see what happens with any other trades coming in I guess.

On a positive for our list is D’Arcy comes back in next season. Hopefully she can get back to her best.
 
KaySwizzle said:
The men’s team can do it now because their list has stabilised in age profile.
Click to expand...
Not sure I would agreee with that. We turned over 31 players in the last 3 years. We brought in 11 kids in the last 3 years (10 academy). We became 4th youngest list. Yeah, best 23 or let's say 28 looks very good. Praying for good run with injuries to continue.

Healthy Whitfort is an asset. I agree with you on her.
 

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KaySwizzle said:
I don’t see how this is good. I know she was injured this year, but we are getting worse if a player like her goes.

I’ve seen the men’s team long enough to know that getting rid of all experience each year to load up on young or academy isn’t the way to go.

The men’s team can do it now because their list has stabilised in age profile.

Anyway, let’s see what happens with any other trades coming in I guess.

On a positive for our list is D’Arcy comes back in next season. Hopefully she can get back to her best.
Click to expand...
We're eseentially starting again like the men's program did program in 2018-19 when we got the wooden spoon. To compare the two lists - Whitfort, Bella etc are like Lynch, May and we're keeping young leaders like Touk (Rowbottom, Single) to lead a young team full of high end draft picks like King (Harris), Anderson (Usher), Rowell (Lappin). I know they're not exact like for like players, but you get the point. We're starting again and committing to the youth.

We're rock bottom right now. We have to overhaul everything and the amount of talent we have coming through our academy right now makes this an easy decision. Hopefully we bring in Hatchard so these young players get the nourishment of some wins early in their career because that will certainly pay dividends later.
 

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GC2015 said:
We're eseentially starting again like the men's program did program in 2018-19 when we got the wooden spoon. To compare the two lists - Whitfort, Bella etc are like Lynch, May and we're keeping young leaders like Touk (Rowbottom, Single) to lead a young team full of high end draft picks like King (Harris), Anderson (Usher), Rowell (Lappin). I know they're not exact like for like players, but you get the point. We're starting again and committing to the youth.

We're rock bottom right now. We have to overhaul everything and the amount of talent we have coming through our academy right now makes this an easy decision. Hopefully we bring in Hatchard so these young players get the nourishment of some wins early in their career because that will certainly pay dividends later.
Click to expand...
Why not to keep Whitfort? With the AFL assistance we could keep her. Personally, I would keep her over Rowbottom.

Team made from kids (does not matter if they come from academy) is a recipe for a disaster.
What is the list size, 31? I bet we will have half kids.

OK, 2025 was a disaster. Could it get worse?
 
Last edited:
Jirik13 said:
Why not to keep Whitfort? With the AFL assistance we could keep her. Personally, I would keep her over Rowbottom.

Team made from kids (does not matter if they come from academy) is a recipe for a disaster.
What is the list size, 31? I bet we will have more than half kids.

OK, 2025 was a disaster. Could it get worse?
Click to expand...
I guess there's lots of factors that go into a decision like this and Whitfort will turn 27 before the start of next season, which I definitely think plays against any player (that's not a star) when a club commits to a rebuild. 27yo Steven May was contracted to us for the 2019 season, but we chose to trade him for pick 6 and we used that to draft Ben King.

Could May have helped us in terms of not being so bad in 2019? Sure. Would that have been the best decision for us long-term? I don't think so.

Now you could say the recruitment of Hatchard goes against that, but I think Hatchard provides something different to Whitfort. Hatchard comes from the most successful AFLW program in the league and has won three premierships, been named in 4 AA teams, 3x club B&F (including one in a premiership season), best on ground in a GF, played over 100 games etc. Her wealth of accomplishments, knowledge and experience is going to be massive for our young players!
 

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