Geelong lands No.1 pick in trade that sends off Laura Gardiner

Geelong will pick first at the upcoming AFLW draft but there was collateral in the deal with a promising young midfielder sent out.

Laura Gardiner has been sent to Sydney for the No.1 pick. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/Getty Images

A surprise trade will see Geelong pick first at next month’s AFLW draft, after local midfielder Laura Gardiner moved to Sydney.

The Cats will pick first at the supplementary draft on April 4, the first time they have used a No.1 choice since taking Nina Morrison in 2018.

Gardiner, a Geelong Falcons product, was sold by the Swans on a new role and despite the Cats being keen to keep her, she was traded on Monday morning.

A gifted runner and ball winner – Gardiner had 49 touches in a VFLW game last year – Gardiner struggled to lock in a place in Geelong’s side as the Cats favoured players who delivered more drive with their disposals.

After being stuck behind the likes of Amy McDonald, Georgie Prespakis and Morrison, Gardiner pushed for a change of scenery, putting the deal into motion.

Laura Gardiner before her AFLW debut in 2021. Picture: Alison Wynd

The 20-year-old won Geelong’s 2022 VFLW best-and-fairest and projects as a strong in-and-under midfielder and will get her chance to show that at Sydney.

The move came after the Cats traded out their first-round pick, along with defender Maddy Keryk, in a deal last week for Port Adelaide’s Kate Surman.

While the No.1 pick doesn’t carry the weight of a usual draft, given its falls without an under-18 season having been played, the Cats will be able to pick a player from the new national pool instead of just Victorian players, opening the door to them picking the best player in the land not currently on an AFLW list.

Cats head of female football Brett Johnson said the club was “excited by the possibilities that open up by holding the first pick in this year’s supplementary draft”.

Despite going winless in their debut season last year, the Swans have ambitions to fly up the ladder and Gardiner will join fellow Falcons graduate and former Carlton youngster Lucy McEvoy and ex-Collingwood star Chloe Malloy as red and white recruits.

“We’re thrilled to have Laura joining our club,” Sydney’s AFLW football boss Kate Mahoney said.

“She has been in the AFLW system for a few seasons and her experience will no doubt have a big impact on our young playing group.”

Defensive star Maddy McMahon retires

Star Geelong defender Maddy McMahon has hung up the boots after sitting out the club’s last AFLW season.

A late convert to football, McMahon played 32 games with the Cats and blossomed into one of the best defenders in the game in the AFLW’s season six, earning a spot in the All-Australian squad of 40 and finishing third in Geelong’s best-and-fairest.

But she sat out season seven and decided not to return to the game this year to spend more time with her family.

Maddy McMahon clings onto a mark.

The Cats have also delisted inaugural utility Georgia Clarke, who has interest elsewhere in the league, and young ruck Kalani Scoullar.

“This decision has been really difficult as I absolutely love playing football and I still feel capable of playing at this level, but ultimately I want to be able to spend more time with my family,” McMahon said.

“Thank you to the Cats fans for your unwavering support and for always showing up and cheering loud. I will never forget the feeling of goosebumps I got when running out through the banner on game day at GMHBA Stadium, hearing the crowd cheering so loud.”

Cats trade Maddy Keryk for Kate Surman

Experienced inaugural Cat Maddy Keryk will step into a third AFLW club after she was traded by Geelong for Port Adelaide veteran Kate Surman.

A midfielder-forward, 31-year-old Surman played 26 games with Gold Coast before joining Port Adelaide last season and playing 10 matches with the Power.

Kate Surman is now a Cat. Pictures: SUPPLIED PAFC

The Cats also sent their first-round pick – slated to be No.12 – out in the deal.

Keryk was signed by the Cats from Carlton ahead of Geelong's first year in the AFLW and she played 39 games in the hoops.

A member of the club’s leadership group, the left-footer was a steadying influence across half-back.

Surman averaged 11.1 disposals, 3.7 tackles and 2.5 inside-50s last season.

Geelong’s women’s football boss Brett Johnson said the Cats “see Kate strengthening our transition into attack and efficiency, which is an area we are continuing to improve in”.

The Cats have so far been quiet through the signing and trade periods as they look to build on last year’s success and are poised to announce player departures in coming days.

Originally published as Geelong lands No.1 pick in trade that sends off Laura Gardiner