The Western Bulldogs have completed two trades on the second-last day of the 2022 AFLW Sign and Trade period, acquiring Millie Brown from Geelong while strengthening their draft hand.
As part of the Brown deal, the Bulldogs will also receive national pick 21, which equates to pick 10 in the Victorian draft pool, while giving up picks 24 and 56.
The 20-year-old was selected as the Cats’ inaugural father-daughter selection with pick 11 at the 2019 AFLW National Draft.
She played all six games in her debut season, impressing with her maturity and composure, but managed only three games in 2021 as she battled an ongoing hamstring complaint.
It was announced she would take a break from football for season six, and was subsequently placed on Geelong’s inactive list.
“Millie is a highly talented footballer who we are really excited to add to our list,” Bulldogs’ Head of List Management and Recruiting, Mick Sandry, said.
“She has played most of her recent football as a defender – having been named an U18 All Australian - but also has the ability to go forward, so we think her versality will be a huge asset.
“She is a great reader of the play, attacks the ball in the air and is really composed under pressure.”
The second trade sees Isabel Huntington officially depart for GWS in exchange for national picks 29 and 37, after the 23-year-old requested a trade at season’s end, with the decision relating to her work and study.
Sandry said it was pleasing to secure a deal for Huntington despite the challenges of expansion.
“In an expansion year, the top 13 national picks are locked from trade which presented a difficult scenario to find a suitable trade for someone like Izzy, who we hold in such high regard,” Sandry said.
“However, after some movement of picks and other trades, we were able to secure two picks from the Giants which has helped deliver us a really strong draft hand.”
The Bulldogs currently hold picks 10, 15, 20, 38 and 48 in the Victorian pool of the Draft, which will be held on Wednesday 29 June.
The 2022 AFLW Sign and Trade period started last Tuesday and will finish tomorrow afternoon.
