Lauren Wood
More players have left Brisbane as the AFLW exodus continues.
Kate McCarthy and Nat Exon are the latest players to sign elsewhere, joining St Kilda, leaving the Lions as the most-affected club by trade and expansion so far this trade period.
The news comes just a day after key forward Sabrina Frederick was traded to Richmond.
McCarthy, who was All-Australian in the competition's first season, will be "incredibly important" to the Saints' forwardline, coach Peta Searle said.
“We believe we have some really good talls coming through our VFLW side, but her speed in front of the ball is phenomenal," she said.
Searle was today confirmed as the leader of the Saints inaugural AFL Women's outfit.
Exon, 26, has played 23 games across three seasons for Brisbane.
“She’s proven over three years that she can find the ball, kick goals, explode and light up the big stage,” Searle said.
“Nat also has some great x-factor and is extremely clever and clean."
The Lions have been given three first-round picks in this year's draft as compensation for losing Frederick, McCarthy and McKenzie Dowrick (West Coast).
Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann questioned the system just days ago, labelling the process "ridiculous".
"I rang someone this morning about the women’s comp. There’s a couple of things happening there I’m not too happy about,” he said on SEN on Saturday.
“We’re losing a heap (of players) and it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.
“It looks like we’re going to lose about a dozen which is ridiculous. We’re working with them trying to fix that.
“We’ve got the Suns coming in up the road and we have to give them eight, that’s part of the rules, but we look like we’ve lost another four back to Melbourne. I’m not sure that was supposed to happen.”
Best and fairest winner Ally Anderson was one of four Lions to re-sign today.
