Get all the latest AFLW news in the trade and draft landscape in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trade updates, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the AFL.com.au team.
KEY BLUE IN GIANTS' SIGHTS
GREATER Western Sydney is eyeing a move for Carlton's Maddy Hendrie, targeting the impressive defender as a potential circuit breaker in the expected trade talks for Cambridge McCormick.
Hendrie is contracted for 2027 and is seen as a required player at the Blues, who have also held preliminary discussions around trying to extend the interceptor's current deal even further until at least 2030.
However, the Giants are expected to continue pushing for a move for Hendrie and could offer the talented 24-year-old a lucrative contract to convince her to be part of the package in a likely McCormick trade.
Hendrie is from New South Wales and came through the Sydney Academy system, before being recruited to Carlton with pick No.9 in the 2023 supplementary draft as a mature-aged selection.
She has since flourished into one of the side's most important players and one of the League's most consistent defenders, finishing fourth in Carlton's best and fairest count last season.
The Blues are still pursuing McCormick for their backline group, having also targeted her last year, and are thought to be in the box seat for her signature despite sterner competition this time around.
As revealed by AFL.com.au's Inside Trading last week, the Giants have offered McCormick a three-year deal to stay but are resigned to losing the All-Australian amid interest from the likes of Carlton, Hawthorn and Melbourne. – Riley Beveridge
ANOTHER CAPTAIN ON THE MOVE?
A HOST of clubs are targeting Western Bulldogs co-captain De Berry amid a frustrating year for the side's skipper.
Essendon, West Coast, Adelaide and Collingwood are among those to have shown an interest in Berry so far this year, given her struggles to break back into the Bulldogs' plans following a fractured collarbone earlier in the campaign.
Berry, who is into her third season as the Bulldogs' captain, has played just two games this season – after managing only seven in 2025 – but has caught the eye of clubs with a series of impressive scrimmage outings in recent weeks.
She is uncontracted at Mission Whitten Oval beyond this season and is understood to be open to exploring rival interest.
A host of clubs, like Essendon and Collingwood, have eyed the 28-year-old as a potential experienced leadership option within younger playing groups given her long standing as one of the League's most respected skippers.
A move could make Berry the second AFLW captain to be traded heading into December's window, after Collingwood skipper Ruby Schleicher announced she would depart to take up a four-year deal at West Coast earlier this month.
Berry spent 2024 and 2025 as the sole skipper of the Western Bulldogs, before sharing responsibilities alongside Isabelle Pritchard in 2026. – Riley Beveridge
DEVILS KEEN ON RISING STAR HOPEFUL
MELBOURNE has offered this season's Telstra AFLW Rising Star frontrunner Jordyn Allen a fresh deal through until 2029, amid significant interest in the youngster from expansion side Tasmania.
The Devils have launched a pursuit of Allen and have links to the first-year star through the club's maiden AFLW list manager Cody Baker, who drafted the Eastern Ranges prospect to the Demons last December.
Baker has since joined Tasmania from Melbourne, where he works under ex-Dees AFLW list boss Todd Patterson – who is now the Devils' men's list manager – with the club understood to be keen to pitch to Allen as a potential maiden signing.
Melbourne has offered Allen a two-year deal to stay at the club, which would take her through until 2029, in the midst of a breakout season where she has become one of the heavy favourites for this year's Rising Star award.
Allen slipped through to the Demons at the No.16 pick in last year's draft, but has excelled at senior level this season to average 18.6 disposals and become a legitimate contender for this season's Rising Star award. – Riley Beveridge
HAWKS CLOSE IN ON WALES DEAL
HAWTHORN is hoping to lock away potential first-time All-Australian ruck Lucy Wales to a new long-term contract.
It's understood the Hawks have made good recent progress on a deal that would add another three years to Wales' existing contract, taking her through until at least 2030.
Wales has emerged as one of the competition's best young rucks this season and is averaging 18.1 disposals, 19.3 hitouts, 4.6 marks and 4.9 tackles per game to entrench herself as the likely All-Australian ruck.
The 23-year-old was also in contention last season, before a nasty appendix injury ruined her chances and ended her campaign early.
Wales was an inspired draft call by Hawthorn, claimed with the No.22 pick in the 2022 pool, before her twin sister Stephanie was recruited to Essendon with the No.32 selection. – Riley Beveridge
CLUBS KEEP EYE ON LIONS
THERE is a watch on Brisbane ahead of this year's trade period, with a number of Lions considering their future as the club weighs up list spots and a host of Academy considerations at the draft.
The AFLW's former League best and fairest Ally Anderson is closing on a two-year deal through until 2028, while fellow veteran Cathy Svarc has been offered a one-year extension, but multiple Brisbane players are being eyed by rival clubs.
Young defender Lilly Baker is being courted by Essendon, while Port Adelaide is the frontrunner for key forward Eleanor Hartill, with Sophie Peters also set to explore her options despite playing every game this season.
Evie Long and Claudia Wright are both contracted for next season and expected to stay, but have also garnered rival interest, while Rania Crozier is another who has been watched by rival clubs despite a deal for 2027.
Rivals believe Brisbane could have to part with a number of existing players to welcome a talented Academy crop, with six Lions-tied prospects earning invites to the recent national draft combine.
Mia Geere, Molly Ferguson, Aiyana Pritchard, Harlee McIlwain, Zoe Petrides and Ella Gibson went to the national combine, with some clubs of the belief that Brisbane could have as many as eight or nine Academy graduates bid on.
Brisbane is also among the clubs making a strong pursuit of Collingwood gun Tarni White and has the appeal of home for the Queensland-raised half-back, adding another potential list spot consideration for the club. – Riley Beveridge
INTEREST RISING IN GEE
ESSENDON playmaker Georgia Gee has attracted rival interest as she weighs up the club's one-year offer to stay.
Gee has excelled since being moved to a wing this season, leading to Essendon tabling her a one-year extension, but rivals are expected to ramp up their pursuits in the coming weeks.
The former Carlton player, who moved to Essendon during expansion, has spent the majority of her time at the club in the forward half but has impressed on a wing across this season.
Gee is averaging a career high 15.7 disposals per game and is viewed as one of the side's best ball users, leading to departing coach Natalie Wood moving her higher up the ground throughout the year. – Riley Beveridge
