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.
CLUBS CHASE MORE GUN PIES
RIVALS have turned their attentions to one of Collingwood's leading players in Tarni White following captain Ruby Schleicher's exit, with the hard-nosed half-back another considering her future at the club.
It's understood the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Adelaide are among the sides to be targeting a move for the uncontracted White, who has been yet to progress with negotiations on a deal to stay at the Magpies.
The Bulldogs have made a strong play for White and are a serious contender should she depart, while the Lions have also shown a significant interest and would provide the attraction of home for the Queensland-raised defender.
White has been one of Collingwood's best players this season amid its disastrous 1-9 campaign and has averaged 21.2 disposals and 436.9 metres gained in a running defender role this year.
As revealed by AFL.com.au earlier this week, the club has already lost captain Schleicher who is expected to leave for West Coast while a host of other players are also weighing up their future.
White, Lauren Butler, Sarah Rowe, Mattea Breed, Bri Davey, Violet Patterson and Imogen Barnett are among those Magpies who are still uncontracted and on the radar of rival clubs. – Riley Beveridge
BATTLE FORMING FOR KEY GIANT
A MARKET is building for Greater Western Sydney defender Cambridge McCormick, with a handful of Victorian clubs circling the reigning All-Australian as she considers her future.
Carlton chased McCormick while under contract last season and is again understood to be in the hunt for her signature, but faces stiff competition this time around from the likes of Hawthorn, Essendon and Melbourne among others.
The Giants have offered McCormick a three-year deal to stay at the club, though she remains focused on playing out the season and won't consider rival bids until after the side's campaign is finished next week.
The Blues are still seen as the frontrunners for McCormick should she opt to depart, but will again face a battle to complete a trade given their lack of assets in this year's draft pool.
Carlton traded out its first-round selection to North Melbourne last year and isn't currently slated to start this season's draft until pick No.31, with the Giants expected to demand 2026 picks if McCormick leaves.
The Giants have two likely top-10 prospects coming through their Academy this year in Majella Day and Morgan Stevens and will need 2026 picks to match the early bids for the talented duo.
The Blues couldn't negotiate a trade for McCormick while under contract last season, despite the key defender requesting a move, but she has continued her stellar form into this season having stayed at the Giants. – Riley Beveridge
LIONS LOOK TO LOCK AWAY JADE
BRISBANE has made good progress on a long-term deal to lock away important defender Jade Ellenger recently, despite significant interest from a host of clubs across the League.
Ellenger is uncontracted beyond this season, leading to rivals registering an interest, but it's understood the Lions have made solid ground in talks on an extension for around three to four years.
Greater Western Sydney was among the sides to chase Ellenger strongly throughout last year and is understood to have retained its interest into 2026, though it's now expected the 26-year-old remains at Brisbane long-term.
Ellenger is a two-time premiership player at the Lions and is a member of the side's leadership group, becoming one of the team's most pivotal and experienced players in her 86-game career at the club.
She's enjoying another solid season across half-back for the 3-7 Brisbane this year, having overcome a nagging wrist injury to average 17.6 disposals and 4.3 tackles so far across the campaign. – Riley Beveridge
SUNS CLOSE IN ON KEY SIGNING
GOLD Coast is finalising a deal for one of the competition's most exciting young players, with potential All-Australian defender Daisy D'Arcy on the cusp of a fresh two-year extension.
D'Arcy has become one of Rhyce Shaw's most important players this year and had attracted rival interest, but is closing on a contract that will take the 23-year-old through until at least 2028.
After missing last season with an ACL injury, D'Arcy has returned with a bang in 2026 and is averaging 20.8 disposals and four tackles per match to put herself firmly in contention for her first All-Australian blazer.
The Suns are expected to have a quiet trade period as the club turns its focus towards retention, having brought through seven first-round picks via its Academy program over the last two years.
The club has already locked away talented youngsters Heidi Talbot (2028), Sunny Lappin (2029) and Havana Harris (2029) to new deals, with D'Arcy expected to be among the next contract calls to be completed. – Riley Beveridge
BOMBERS CHASE PORT YOUNG GUN
ESSENDON is circling Port Adelaide youngster Jasmine Sowden, who has flagged an interest in returning to Victoria at season's end following a frustrating season where she has been plagued by an ankle injury.
Sowden claimed the Power's Best First-Year Player award last season, having burst onto the scene to average 7.9 disposals and 4.7 tackles in her maiden campaign, but has battled form and fitness in 2026.
She's subsequently attracted interest from the Bombers as she nears the end of her maiden draftee contract, with the club having monitored Sowden since her draft season with the Gippsland Power. – Riley Beveridge
TIGERS HOST DRAFT'S TOP PICK
RICHMOND welcomed a special guest to the club on Wednesday, with this year's potential No.1 pick Bailee Martin visiting the Tigers as they continue their planning for December's national draft.
Martin toured the club's facilities and caught up with a host of key stakeholders within its AFLW program, having been unable to meet with Richmond officials at the draft combine earlier in the month.
The talented Oakleigh Chargers key forward has established herself as the likely No.1 pick in this year's draft pool, following a standout season where she's kicked 21 goals in eight games.
Martin also enjoyed a terrific under-18 carnival with Vic Metro, kicking 12 goals from three games including a massive outing against Vic Country that featured seven majors from 19 disposals.
Richmond traded up for the No.1 pick in last year's draft, where it selected West Australian key forward Olivia Wolmarans, but isn't currently slated to start this year's event until the No.6 pick. – Riley Beveridge
AFLW DEADLINE DAY TO GET BIGGER
THE AFLW'S deadline day bonanza is set to get even bigger in 2026, with the League expected to push back the buzzer for a primetime slot to gain a bigger audience and to grow the drama of the final day.
It's understood clubs have been briefed that this year's deadline for trades will likely be 7pm AEDT on Tuesday, December 8, following on from the success of last year's event at Marvel Stadium.
Clubs were invited to Marvel Stadium for an AFLW deadline day for the first time last year, with the event broadcast live on AFL.com.au and with cameras roaming the corridors to reflect the drama of the men's deadline.
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It featured a trade taking former No.1 pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner from the Western Bulldogs to North Melbourne falling over, as well as last-gasp deals for Taylor Smith, Zoe Prowse, Mia Austin and Mikala Cann among others.
The AFLW's trade period is expected to run from Wednesday, December 2 through to Tuesday, December 8, with the national draft then to be held the following week and to be staged at the MCG for the first time. – Riley Beveridge