AFLW trade: Tayla Harris talks to come down to wire on deadline day

Sydney gave up a promising tall forward on the second last day of the AFLW trade period as big deals remained in the balance.

Hawthorn remains in the hunt for high profile Melbourne forward Tayla Harris, but will be up against the clock in the final hours of the AFLW trade period on Wednesday.

Unwilling to part with their No. 14 pick in next week’s draft, the Hawks were again unable to satisfy the Demons with a price for Harris on Tuesday as a contract remains in front of the 27-year-old to stay at her third club.

Two second-round picks netted by the Hawks in the trade of breakout midfielder Mattea Breed to Collingwood could help grease the wheels for a trade, but Harris was expected to sign on with Melbourne if a deal was not met by the 4pm deadline.

Breed gave the lowly Magpies’ midfield stocks a much-needed boost as they handed over picks 22 and 28 for the tall on-baller and pick 26.

Collingwood landed high-marking Hawthorn midfielder Mattea Breed along with pick 26 as the Magpies sent picks 22 and 28 back to the Hawks. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

Magpies list boss Jess Burger said the 23-year-old had signed a two-year deal.

“Mattea provides great drive through the midfield and staying ahead of the ball, impressing in the contest and her attacking ability,” Burger said.

“We are eagerly looking forward to her next chapter in the black and white.”

Hawthorn also lost versatile left-footer Lou Stephenson to the Western Bulldogs in a four-way trade on Tuesday, but added Adelaide premiership player Najwa Allen as the Bulldogs (Eleanor Brown) and Crows (Taylah Levy) both sent traded fringe players to GWS.

It was a busy day for Adelaide, who pulled off a surprise move for inaugural Port Adelaide best and fairest and Rising Star winner Hannah Ewings after the 20-year-old sat out the entire 2024 campaign for personal reasons.

Ewings only cost the Crows pick 39, continuing a trend of clubs putting a premium on picks in Monday’s first ever fully national draft.

Sydney key forward Bella Smith, who spent most of the season on the outskirts of the Swans’ struggling side before she booted five goals in a dominant final game against West Coast, moved to Fremantle in exchange for pick 49.

Richmond star Eilish Sheerin is poised to make a surprise move to North Melbourne on the final day of the AFLW trade period. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

The Swans and Richmond also made a rare straight player swap, with untried former Swans academy product Imogen Brown headed home as speedy half-forward Montana Beruldsen returned to Victoria after 14 games in red and white.

The Tigers remained at an impasse with Essendon over dynamic 20-year-old forward Paige Scott, but on Tuesday night were close to agreeing a deal for two-time All-Australian midfielder Eilish Sheerin to join North Melbourne.

Richmond was prepared to strengthen the reigning premiers to gain North Melbourne’s pick 18, which could help it secure the deal for Scott.

North Melbourne’s Lulu Pullar was still expecting to get to Sydney on the final day of the period, while GWS former No. 1 pick Nicola Barr was on track to get her move to St Kilda in a three-way deal which would reunite the Saints’ Grace Kelly with her sister Niamh at the Crows.