AFLW trade moves and rumours shows competition is starting to get serious

AFTER Carlton poached Nicola Stevens from Collingwood, and with Tayla Harris wanting to get out of Brisbane, the AFLW competition has suddenly got real.

WHEN Melbourne teenager Lily Mithen heard the AFLW trade rumours and saw a big deal secured on Monday, football got real.

Until then it had all been about big crowds and monster television ratings and a whole lot of fun.

“Everyone’s been in the AFL system for only seven or eight games and now there’s big trades being done for three picks in the draft — it’s getting all very serious,” Mithen told the Herald Sun this week.

“With Tayla Harris saying she wants to get out of Brisbane and Collingwood’s best and fairest (Nicola Stevens) traded to the other side of the city (Carlton), there’s definitely more movement than what I expected.

TRADE UPDATES: EVERY DEAL AND EVERY RE-SIGNING

“It then puts a bit of uncertainty on where I might end up, or what my footy season looks like. I’ve had conversations with Melbourne and feel reasonably confident I’ll be signing on, but until you put pen to paper you can’t be sure.”

Melbourne expects to start its re-signings on Monday. So do the Western Bulldogs.

Bulldogs coach Paul Groves acknowledged it had been a tense time for players, but said he wasn’t planning a major overhaul of his side.

Nicola Stevens was the first big move of the AFLW trade period. Picture: Sarah Matray

“We’re really trying for limited movement,” Groves said.

“The girls want continuity in playing for the same team. We hope that’s the case.”

Players involved must agree to any trade done before Friday’s cut-off. A three-day free-agency period follows and then there’s the October draft.

The draft is state-based, which means players nominate a state and can be selected only by clubs in that state. Draft picks are valuable in Victoria, where there are four clubs vying for the same talent, but not anywhere else.

Tayla Harris was Carlton bound, but the Blues are still trying to fulfil the Lions’ requests and convince one or two of their own players to move. Offering draft picks won’t cut it.

Melbourne needs a forward so it must enter the chase for Harris. But, again, the question is, who wants to move?

If no deal can be done it opens the door for the Western Bulldogs, who have the first pick of Victorian-nominated draft talent.

But if Collingwood, which on Friday re-signed All-Australian ruck Emma King, gets the Giants’ pick No.1 in exchange for its vice-captain Alicia Eva, suddenly the Magpies are in the box seat to secure Harris if she slips through to the draft.

Tayla Harris wants to return to Victoria, but which club will she be at? Picture: Getty Images

There’s a lot to play out.

The marquee player title has gone for season 2018 and instead clubs can sign two tier one players (on $17,946 each), four tier two players ($12,846) and the rest at tier three ($9276).

Wages can be boosted by a share of a $40,000 ambassador fund, with the minimum a player can receive $5000 and the maximum $10,000, which has provided clubs with more freedom to be creative.

While Carlton hasn’t landed Harris yet, it did snare Collingwood best-and-fairest Nicola Stevens.

Arguably she would have been upgraded to a tier one at Collingwood but with the Blues already boasting stars Darcy Vescio and Bri Davey at the top of their list, tapping into the ambassador fund would have helped the Blues secure Stevens.

Clubs have also been encouraged to find jobs, sponsorships and other opportunities for their players.

The AFL must approve all contracts and Additional Services Agreements, including non-football but club-brokered employment.

Both Davey and Vescio work at the Blues. They also have deals with club sponsor Hyundai.

Darcy Vescio is staying at Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Their manager, Peter Lenton, said Carlton had to do some remodelling to its list to make moves during the trade period, but said Vescio and Davey remained in the top tier.

“The club did make me aware they were bringing players in ... and that Darcy and Bri wouldn’t be affected as a result of that,” Lenton said.

“They would still retain their status and pay structure. It’s an interesting conundrum for the list managers and for the talent managers to work out what’s best.

“Maybe there will be some girls that have to sacrifice and, because it’s not enormous amounts between the different categories, maybe there is a form of sacrifice to keep the club together.”

Adelaide midfielder Ebony Marinoff was courted by Victorian clubs. She won the Rising Star, was named All-Australian and won a flag, and she’s still only 19.

But there’s no room for her at the top of the Crows’ payment list. Chelsea Randall and AFLW best-and-fairest Erin Phillips will fill those slots (and full-forward Sarah Perkins also re-signed on Friday).

“I don’t know how many people are chasing money, but that certainly wasn’t in my thoughts,” Marinoff said.

“I didn’t ever think of leaving but there was probably opportunities in Victoria.

Ebony Marinoff will remain in Adelaide after being courted by Victorian clubs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“Randall being 28 and ‘Flip’ (Phillips) being 31, there’s obviously an opportunity that I hopefully can fill that role in the coming years.

“It’s hard. you’re talking tiers and there’s not just a salary cap.

“It is sticky. The club are obviously in the position where they want to be as even as possible … it’s just getting the balance right I think.

“It is a sticky situation when you do actually have to put a value on yourself.”

It’s not going to get any easier come season 2019, especially for Melbourne’s Mithen.

A Geelong local, she divides her time between a pad in Fitzroy, from which she rides her bicycle to university at RMIT, and Geelong. She is vice-captain of the Cats VFLW side.

With Geelong expected to be granted an AFLW licence in 2019, there will be more decisions ahead.

“It’s hard to say what I’d do in that circumstance,” Mithen said.

“Geelong is fighting really hard for a (AFLW) team and I’m playing VFL there.

“But I’ve had an unreal experience at Melbourne and absolutely love my time there.

“For now, I’m just focusing on playing some good footy.”

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