Collingwood snares gun midfielder Jaimee Lambert from Western Bulldogs in AFLW trade coup

COLLINGWOOD recruit Jaimee Lambert says she will bring midfield grunt to the Magpies in what appears a recruiting coup for the club.

A hip injury cruelled Jaimee Lambert’s AFLW season. Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD recruit Jaimee Lambert says she will bring midfield grunt to the Magpies in what appears a recruiting coup for the club.

The tenacious onballer/forward was the Western Bulldogs’ first pick in last year’s AFLW draft, but her season was cruelled by a debilitating hip injury.

The Magpies have lost best-and-fairest Nicola Stevens and vice-captain Alicia Eva, so the Lambert signing is a much needed balm.

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It is believed she will join the Magpies as a tier one player alongside ruck Emma King.

“I just saw an opportunity to become one of the main midfielders at Collingwood,” Lambert said.

“It also helps having the best ruckman in the competition at Collingwood.

“I’d be happy at a tier two, it’s not about that, I just feel there’s much greater opportunity for me there.

“It’s a great bonus absolutely, but (I’m) never one to move for money.

“It was one of the hardest decisions … everyone understands, that’s the game and that’s the competition.”

Western Bulldogs midfielder Jamie Lambert has joined Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein.

Lambert, 24, said she was looking forward to matching up on her former teammates next year.

“I like a challenge, I like the grunt hard balls and I like to show people up, so it’d be nice to come up against Ellie (Blackburn) and Emma (Kearney) and the Bulldogs,” Lambert said.

“We’ll see how we go.”

Lambert was born with hip dysplasia and a hip issue flared due to excessive exercise at Christmas time.

Fluid formed in her right hip and she played through pain during her debut season.

She said she was recovering well and hoped to play in the VFL Women’s league from next month.

“I missed the Adelaide game (last season) and watching I said, ‘I can’t watch’, I had to try to push on through the pain,” she said.

“My last few games went OK, but you never got to see my full potential and it’s a shame about that. Hopefully I can have a much better season at Collingwood.

“It’s feeling much better. I’m running and I’m doing everything, just getting to that playing fitness again.”

The Magpies traded Eva and pick No.5 to GWS for picks 1 and 9.

Collingwood ontraded pick No.1 to the Western Bulldogs as well as picks No.4 and 12 to secure Lambert.

The Magpies also received pick No.3 in the draft (effectively pick two of Victorian talent) from the Bulldogs.