By Roy Ward
Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner was drafted at pick No.1 in 2023, and now she’s headed back into the draft once again after the Western Bulldogs couldn’t complete a deal with her desired club, two-time reigning premiers North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos – on a 27-game winning streak – last suffered defeat in the 2023 decider and tried to prise one of the AFLW’s elite talents out of “the Kennel”.
Former No.1 pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner will once again enter the AFLW draft on Monday. She is pictured playing in 2024.Credit: Getty Images
But Weston-Turner’s manager Michael Oakes said after the trade period that the Bulldogs were merely “saving face” in knocking back his client’s move.
Now the athletic 20-year-old forward is headed to the draft on Monday, where she’s no guarantee to be picked up by North Melbourne, who don’t have a pick until No.37.
Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions expressed interest in Weston-Turner and Oakes cut a frustrated figure when he spoke to the AFLW’s trade deadline coverage on Wednesday afternoon.
“Saving face, picks, yep,” Oakes said with a rueful laugh when asked what stopped the deal.
“She will get to North. She’s committed, and they’ve committed to taking her. I have a beer deal with Keegan [with Hawks AFLW boss Keegan Brooksby not to draft her], and she chose not to go to Brisbane because she didn’t want to move interstate, so I hope they respect that.”
Weston-Turner only managed one senior game this season, for eight overall in the AFLW, as the Bulldogs finished 12th for a second straight year.
The 20-year-old, who grew up supporting the Bulldogs, was taken with the first pick two years ago after a dominant under-18s campaign.
Anne Hatchard and wife Georgie at the AFLW awards in November.Credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, the first pick in this year’s draft, a couple of premiership winning stars and a flag-winning coach all changed clubs as the trade period came to an end on Wednesday.
The most notable move involved three-time premiership winning midfielder Anne Hatchard, who will continue her career with the Gold Coast after a blockbuster trade from the Crows, where the 27-year-old has been a mainstay since their first season in 2017.
Former Hawks captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd was traded in the final minutes on Wednesday, giving the rebuilding Giants a much-needed defensive boost.
Premiership-winning key forward Eden Zanker left Melbourne for Fremantle, while the No.1 pick in next week’s draft changed hands from the Suns to the Tigers.
While not part of a trade, Geelong confirmed on Wednesday that Melbourne’s foundation coach Mick Stinear will take charge of the Cats.
Suns snare Hatchard, extra picks
Hatchard has done it all in the AFLW, winning three flags with the Crows, a grand final best-on-ground medal, and three club best and fairests.
Anne Hatchard kicks a goal against the Suns earlier this season. She’s now a Gold Coast player.Credit: AFL Photos
Now the Suns hope she will use her talents to help their young stars, including Charlie Rowbottom and Havana Harris, reach their potential.
The Suns moved quickly, sending pick No.4 this year, their first-round pick in 2026, and a third-round pick to the Crows for Hatchard, pick 14 this year, and a second- and third-round pick.
“With more than 100 AFLW games under her belt and a remarkable list of achievements across the journey, her experience is a fantastic addition to our squad,” Suns coach Rhyce Shaw said.
“Most importantly, she’s got the hunger and drive to keep getting better, to continue winning and help our club take the next steps forward.”
Draft night will also be busy for the Suns as they attempt to hold on to as many promising academy players as possible, including Sunny Lappin, daughter of former Blues and Saints forward Matthew Lappin. She nominated to join the Suns instead of being a father-daughter pick.
Swans swoop on Smith in three-team deal
Lions forward Taylor Smith headed to the Swans as part of a three-team deal on Wednesday.
The two-time premiership player was traded for a collection of draft picks, while Hawthorn joined in on the deal, scoring Sydney’s first-round pick and a third-rounder in 2026 in return for picks No.15 and 33 in this year’s draft.
Taylor Smith will be booting goals for the Swans in 2026.Credit: AFL Photos
The Lions praised Smith for her rise from discarded Suns player to a game-changing key forward, and said she had work opportunities outside of football that she wanted to pursue in Sydney.
The Lions ended up with picks 11,15, 29 and 33 for Monday’s draft, while the Swans netted Smith along with picks 18, 28 and 46.
In a separate deal, the Hawks acquired former Suns key forward Jacqui Dupuy for a third-round pick.
Eden Zanker is tackled by Erika O’Shea of the Kangaroos during the AFLW preliminary final.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Tigers score pick No.1 from the Gold Coast
Richmond, looking to move off the bottom rungs of the ladder, took the No.1 pick in the draft from the Suns in return for picks No.4 and 22; it was some sharp work from the Tigers, who finished with the same number of premiership points in 2025 as the bottom two sides but fell to pick No.4 after the Giants received No.3 as part of an AFL assistance package.
Zanker heads west
Eden Zanker won a premiership in 2022 with Melbourne and now the star forward is headed west to Fremantle in a huge boost to the WA club.
The Dockers received Zanker, young forward Lily Johnson, pick No.35 in this year’s draft and a fourth-round pick in 2026 in return for pick No.9, 27 and 81 in this year’s draft and a second-rounder in 2026.
Former Demons coach Mick Stinear.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Cats snare foundation coach
AFLW foundation coach Mick Stinear completed his long-expected move to the Cats on Wednesday.
Stinear led Melbourne since the start of AFLW taking them to the premiership in season seven and earning life membership earlier this month.
But Stinear has a young family and was commuting from the Surf Coast, now will turn his attention to turning the Cats into a powerhouse while working closer to home.
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