ESSENDON has made its first move in the Priority Signing Period, confirming the recruitment of Brooke Brown from North Melbourne.
As reported by womens.afl on Tuesday, Brown has moved to the Bombers after three seasons at the Roos.
A rebounding defender plucked out of Tasmania ahead of the 2021 season, Brown played 23 of a possible 24 games throughout 2022, solidifying herself as a key cog in the Kangaroos' backline. Throughout season seven, she averaged a career-high 13.5 disposals and 282.7 metres gained.
"Brooke is a tall, rebounding defender who has great game sense and athletic ability, which will make her a key asset for us and our defensive structure," Essendon AFLW list and recruiting manager Georgia Harvey said.
"We are thrilled to have Brooke join the club and look forward to seeing her in the red and black for 2023 and beyond."
LUCY McEVOY
FORMER no.2 draft pick Lucy McEvoy is officially a Swan, with Sydney confirming womens.afl's story on Monday that McEvoy will move north from Carlton via the Priority Signing Period.
McEvoy has played 33 games in the navy blue since her debut in round one, 2020, and can reliably play across most lines, spending much of season seven across half-back.
"I'm very excited. It's an amazing opportunity to be playing for the Sydney Swans and getting up to a new state, new environment, new club, new people, all of it," McEvoy said.
"After speaking to the Swans a couple of times, the program they have put together is really well run and the people they have in the program are really passionate about it."
The 21-year-old follows former Magpie Chloe Molloy in joining the Swans in the past week, both of whom head north on long-term deals.
JANELLE CUTHBERTSON
FORMER Fremantle All-Australian defender Janelle Cuthbertson is officially a Port Adelaide player.
The Power have now locked away the second of a potential three Priority Signing Period selections with Cuthbertson and Adelaide forward Ash Woodland, and have also added underage ruck Matilda Scholz.
The 32-year-old Cuthbertson endured a wretched run with collision injuries in 2022, playing four games in season six, and five in season seven due to a variety of ailments, including concussion, a broken cheekbone, a broken nose and a joint ankle/knee issue.
Port Adelaide has a young defence with the likes of Indy Tahau, Alex Ballard and Amelie Borg, with support from senior half-back flanker Ange Foley.
The signing means Fremantle will not lose any more players to PSP, given the Dockers were only able to lose one after finishing in the bottom half of the ladder.
MATILDA SCHOLZ - PORT'S UNDERAGE PSP SIGNING
PORT Adelaide has locked away under-18 All-Australian ruck Matilda Scholz as its underage PSP signing.
As forecast by womens.afl, the Power were able to sign Scholz as she will turn 18 by April 30, and has finished high school.
The 188cm Glenelg product was surprised at SANFLW training on Wednesday night with the news, with Port Adelaide head of footy Juliet Haslam, coach Lauren Arnell and list manager Naomi Maidment presenting Scholz with her new contract.
>> SCROLL DOWN TO SEE OUR PSP TRACKER
"Matilda is a genuine ruck and a really exciting acquisition for our list," Maidment said.
"At 188 centimetres, she is also super athletic, which is rarely seen for a player of that height. The difference between Matilda and other rucks is she's very good around the ground too.
"She's also just a wonderful, friendly human with a great personality, who will no doubt have a really long career in the AFLW."
Lion turns down Hawks approach
BRISBANE has finally secured a much-needed win in the AFLW's priority signing period (PSP), staving off Hawthorn's expansion interest in experienced premiership midfielder Cathy Svarc.
The Hawks notched a significant statement of their intent earlier this week, landing commitments from the Lions' former League best and fairest Emily Bates and their talented forward Greta Bodey to join as PSP recruits.
Read the full story here.
EMILY BATES AND GRETA BODEY
BRISBANE premiership duo Emily Bates and Greta Bodey are officially Hawks, following confirmation on Wednesday from the Lions that they would take up an opportunity with an expansion club via the Priority Signing Period.
As previously reported by womens.afl, 2022 AFLW best and fairest winner Bates and season seven All-Australian forward Bodey had informed the Lions of their intention to move to a different club.
Bates was the first player to be drafted by Brisbane in 2016 and has played every possible game since debuting in round one, 2017, including the club's maiden premiership in 2021, picking up three All-Australian guernseys along the way.
A recent All-Australian herself, Bodey was signed as a cross-code rookie ahead of the 2020 season and has kicked 35 goals in her 42 games.
Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard said the pair's signatures were a landmark moment for the club.
"Emily and Greta have had to make life-changing decisions and we’re so glad that they’ve chosen Hawthorn as their destination," Goddard said.
The pair join fellow former Lion Kaitlyn Ashmore at Hawthorn.
ASH WOODLAND
ASH WOODLAND is leaving Adelaide, with the Crows confirming the forward's departure on Wednesday evening.
As previously reported by womens.afl, Port Adelaide has confirmed Woodland will join the Power at Alberton.
CHLOE MOLLOY
CHLOE Molloy, who announced her decision to leave Collingwood last week, was signed by Sydney just 50 minutes after the PSP opened on Wednesday morning.
ANALYSIS Why teams aren't panicking about PSP … and who might move
The Swans confirmed that Molloy had joined the club on a "long-term deal".
Under the PSP rules, Sydney is able to sign a maximum of four further players without having to trade for them, while Collingwood can only lose one more player during the period.
ANALYSIS The 10 players clubs should target in PSP
PSP TRACKER
| Club | Out | In |
| Adelaide | Ashleigh Woodland (to Port Adelaide) | |
| Brisbane | Greta Bodey (to Hawthorn), Emily Bates (to Hawthorn) | |
| Carlton | Lucy McEvoy (to Sydney) | |
| Collingwood | Chloe Molloy (to Sydney) | |
| Essendon | ||
| Fremantle | Janelle Cuthbertson (to Port Adelaide) | |
| Geelong | ||
| Gold Coast | ||
| Greater Western Sydney | ||
| Hawthorn | Greta Bodey (from Brisbane), Emily Bates (from Brisbane) | |
| Melbourne | ||
| North Melbourne | ||
| Port Adelaide | Ashleigh Woodland (from Adelaide), Matilda Scholz (U18 signing), Janelle Cuthbertson (from Fremantle) | |
| Richmond | ||
| St Kilda | ||
| Sydney | Chloe Molloy (from Collingwood), Lucy McEvoy (from Carlton) | |
| West Coast | ||
| Western Bulldogs |
What is the 'priority signing period'?
Read all about the PSP here.
What does the PSP mean for players and clubs?
This year's player movement window looks a little different, with the introduction of the priority signing period to assist the four expansion sides that joined the competition in season seven.
What this PSP means for the four new clubs - and the existing 14 - is a little confusing, so here's a quick rundown of its implications.
