AFL trade, squad news: Deni Varnhagen to continue on Adelaide’s inactive list
Adelaide has made a decision on whether to stick with unvaccinated player Deni Varnhagen for the next AFLW season.
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Unvaccinated AFLW player Deni Varnhagen will remain on Adelaide’s inactive list for the upcoming season.
Varnhagen, 29, spent the last campaign on the sidelines after not abiding by the league’s vaccination policy, ensuring she missed the Crows’ latest grand final win.
On Saturday, the two-time premiership player announced she was pregnant, expecting her first child with her partner, Jarrad, in October.
Being on the inactive list means Varnhagen is tied to the club but cannot play.
Crows head of women’s football Phil Harper said Varnhagen was hopeful of one day returning to the field at the top level.
“Deni remains part of the Crows family,” Harper said.
Harper said the club was thrilled about the couple’s baby news.
“It’s obviously a very exciting time for them,” he said.
“Deni was a member of our inaugural squad, a two-time premiership player and she’s contributed greatly to our women’s football journey, and we look forward to seeing her enter this new phase in her life.”
The SANFL last month dropped its Covid vaccination policy but the AFL had not yet announced any plans to do so.
Varnhagen, who was this month linked with a switch to crosstown rival Port Adelaide, would need the mandate removed or to be vaccinated to resume her AFLW career.
Adelaide will begin pre-season training on June 18 ahead of the campaign starting in late August.
BOMBERS POISED TO SIGN AFLW ALL-AUSTRALIAN
Essendon is poised to pick up Brisbane Lions premiership player and All-Australian small forward Jess Wuetschner.
The 30-year-old has been on the search for a new club after the Lions decided not to offer her a new contract.
Wuetschner had preliminary interest from Gold Coast however it’s understood the goalsneak is now likely to join the Bombers for their first AFLW season as a delisted free agent.
The Tasmanian native kicked 37 goals in 38 games for the Lions, making the All-Australian team in 2018.
She has been open about struggling with mental health issues, taking time away from football.
In early 2020 she was struck by lightning working on the docks in Brisbane as a stevedore.
The Dons have recruited an experienced core for their first AFLW season, headlined by 2020 AFLW best and fairest Madison Prespakis.
The Lions, with whom Wuetschner won the premiership last year, fended off expansion raiders to keep their finals nucleus together.
AFLW TRADE GRADES: HOW DID EVERY CLUB FARE?
Lauren Wood, Daniel Cherny, Liz Walsh
All-Australian forward Kate McCarthy is set to land at Hawthorn.
The window for clubs to sign delisted free agents opens at 11am Thursday, after the sign and trade period for all clubs at 3pm on Wednesday.
A late flurry of deals took place on Wednesday, including Roo Daisy Bateman to the Western Bulldogs.
Kaitlyn Ashmore also officially departed Arden Street with picks swapped between North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Melbourne.
It marks the end of a nervous few weeks for speedster McCarthy, who was delisted by St Kilda and feared she may not find a new home as this Monday’s start to the AFLW pre-season drew ever-closer.
But the former Saint and Lion is set to play under premiership coach Bec Goddard as the Hawks continue to steadily build their list.
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McCarthy said last week that she had been hopeful of continuing her AFLW career, which so far sits at 39 games.
“I have improved as a person and a footballer being part of (St Kilda) for three seasons,” she said upon departing Moorabbin.
“While things haven’t always gone to plan and the past few months have been particularly difficult, I am excited to see what the future holds and hope my AFLW journey isn’t over just yet.”
The Hawks on Wednesday landed Ashmore in exchange for pick 51.
Hawthorn also gained 26 and 27 of the Victorian draft, in a three-way swap with Melbourne and Richmond.
“Kaitlyn is a proven outside ball-winner and one of the most experienced players in the AFLW,” Hawks AFLW list boss Mitchell Cashion said.
“We’ll look to her for some leadership and expertise in the brown and gold.”
HOW DID YOUR CLUB FARE?
ADELAIDE — A
Might have lost Erin Phillips to Port, but Adelaide has kept the majority of its season six list together despite expansion clubs coming hard for the reigning premiers. They’ve lost four players through the trade. But there are still five players on their list who have won all three Crows premierships and three of those are under 25, including Ebony Marinoff. Theirs remains an ominous list.
BRISBANE LIONS — A
Hit hard across the previous two expansion waves, the Lions were again under the pump this time around. But Brisbane warded off plays for stars Emily Bates, Nat Grider and Orla O’Dwyer, as well as young guns Jade Ellenger and Jesse Wardlaw. A strong side has retained its nucleus despite the efforts of former Lion Lauren Arnell to pick off talent for her Port Adelaide outfit.
CARLTON — C-
It’s hard to suggest the Blues haven’t taken a fair step backwards across the trade and expansion windows. Madison Prespakis clearly leaves a huge hole, compounded by the departures of Georgia Gee, Grace Egan, Charlotte Wilson, Lauren Brazzale and Courtney Jones. Phoebe McWilliams will help structurally and Amelia Velardo is a handy acquisition however this draft could make or break Carlton, who now have a massive hand.
COLLINGWOOD — A-
Finalists three years running, the Pies have a relatively strong list and desperate to retain most of their core. To Collingwood’s credit, it has done that, with Ruby Schleicher, Sarah Rowe and Brittany Bonnici among those to turn down rival interest. Sophie Alexander’s loss may hurt structurally but Olivia Barber is a nice addition.
ESSENDON — A
The Bombers have probably done the best of the four expansion clubs. Madison Prespakis and Bonnie Toogood are the headline acts but there are a lot of other solid additions like Georgia Gee, Stephanie Cain, Cat Phillips, Sophie Alexander and Sophie Van De Heuvel. Dons fans have reason to expect their side to challenge for the finals this year.
FREMANTLE — C
Along with the Lions, the Dockers were theoretically best placed of the 2022 finalists to withstand this expansion round given they didn’t have a club coming into the competition from their state. It didn’t completely go to plan, with the losses of Stephanie Cain and in particular Gemma Houghton likely to hurt. The Dockers did however manage to hang onto Ebony Antonio, who was targeted by Hawthorn.
GEELONG — B
The Cats might be the hardest club of all to judge, with a host of players coming both in and out. In one respect Geelong flagged their intentions to head in the direction of youth by trading Phoebe McWilliams, but they’ve also lost younger talent in Olivia Barber, Stephanie Williams and Sophie Van De Heuvel. Jackie Parry and Mikayla Bowen however are strong additions.
GOLD COAST — C
For a club that didn’t have a new side entering in its state, the Suns ended up getting raided heavily. Admittedly much of the talent Gold Coast lost was around the fringes, but Sarah Perkins, Jacqui Yorston, Hannah Dunn and Kate Surman are all important pieces. Jamie Stanton recommitted despite West Coast interest while Courtney Jones should add firepower.
GWS GIANTS — C+
The Giants have endured a challenging few years and the hits kept coming with the addition of the Swans. Ally Morphett’s defection will hurt as she was one of the club’s brightest young talents, while Bec Privitelli and Erin McKinnon are also significant losses. The addition of Isabel Huntington is nice but expectations must be tempered for a player with her injury history.
HAWTHORN — B
Wanted Ashmore and got the deal done on the final day of the sign trade period with pick swaps galore. Started the signing process slowly by comparison to other expansion outfits but built solidly throughout with very promising prospects on just about every line. Had strong interest rebuffed by league best and fairest winner Emily Bates, and spoke to Ebony Antonio who stayed at Fremantle.
MELBOURNE — A+
Some loyal servants depart – particularly Scott, a former co-captain – but the majority of the grand final list pledged their allegiance in the wake of the loss to Adelaide to stick together and have a crack. Ivey and Wilson handy additions. Retention was key and the Demons did just that, with even skipper Daisy Pearce going around again.
NORTH MELBOURNE — B
Lost a lot of experience in the likes of Kaitlyn Ashmore, Jess Duffin, Daria Bannister and Daisy Bateman, but have two promising Gaelic conversions in Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea to boast as ins. Losing Aileen Gilroy late wasn’t ideal but all in all an OK few weeks at Arden Street.
PORT ADELAIDE — A
Attracting the biggest star in AFLW history to date – three-time premiership winning Crow Erin Phillips – over to Alberton gets the biggest tick. But the masterstroke could be the luring of experience – in the form of Fremantle’s Gemma Houghton and former Adelaide vice-captain Ange Foley – to help nurture the young local talent they’ll pick up in the draft.
RICHMOND — B
All in all a quiet but pleasing period for those at Punt Road, welcoming former VFLW player Egan back into the fold from Carlton. Former Giants defender Libby Graham comes in as cover for Harriet Cordner who will miss this season with an ACL, alongside ex-Cat Stephanie Williams. Sarah Dargan goes to Sydney, Akec Makur Chuot to Hawthorn and Ingrid Houtsma to Geelong.
ST KILDA C+
Nicola Stevens and Erin McKinnon great additions to the Saints but losing a B&F runner-up and true asset in Lucas-Rodd to Hawthorn a blow. Phillips, McCarthy and Watt all experienced heads with the latter’s departure after an ACL injury also a hit to morale.
SYDNEY — D
The Swans looked far and wide for talent and at various stages were optimistic of landing Ellie Blackburn, Emily Bates, Orla O’Dwyer, Sarah Rowe and to a lesser extent Ash Riddell. But it is one thing to enter the conversation, quite another to get players over the line, especially when it involves an interstate move at short notice. Brooke Lochland ended up as their marquee signing. A challenging first season beckons.
WEST COAST — D-
Think of the most stable thing in the world. Then think of the opposite. That has been West Coast across their first three seasons of AFLW. The environment has been problematic, shaping the departures of Mikayla Bowen, and sisters Niamh and Grace Kelly. The club also missed out on Jamie Stanton. It is a long road to respectability from here for the Eagles, with much hope set to be vested in WA’s best draft prospect Ella Roberts.
WESTERN BULLDOGS — D+
Millie Brown and Daisy Bateman will add some versatility but there’s no beating around the losses from the Kennel. Bonnie Toogood, Ellyse Gamble and Brooke Lochland left via expansion meaning no compensation, while Isabel Huntington’s trade to Greater Western Sydney left a few at the Bulldogs feeling short-changed. Big names with plenty of experience leaving as the team looks to the draft to replenish.
Originally published as AFL trade, squad news: Deni Varnhagen to continue on Adelaide’s inactive list
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