BRISBANE Lions marquee player Tayla Harris wants a trade to Carlton, but getting the deal done is a long way off and she might find herself in the draft.
With her high-flying marks and distinctive goalkicking style, Harris was one of the faces of the inaugural NAB AFL Women's season, helping the Lions to the Grand Final, which they lost to Adelaide.
The 20-year-old was employed by the Lions in their communications department and featured in many of the club’s marketing and promotional opportunities, but she recently told the club she was keen to move to Melbourne.
However, Carlton has traded its first three picks in the NAB AFLW Draft to attain Collingwood best and fairest Nicola Stevens.
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The Lions want fair compensation for Harris, who is also a promising boxer and is training for a mid-year bout.
They are eager to strike a deal with the Blues, who will likely have to provide a star player – or package of players – to satisfy them.
If a deal can't be agreed upon, Harris could be forced into the draft, due to be held in mid-October.
Harris could theoretically end up at the Western Bulldogs, assuming she nominated Victoria as her state of choice. The Bulldogs desperately need a key position player to support captain Katie Brennan.
On Wednesday, the Lions re-signed nine players from their 2017 squad, led by captain Emma Zielke and marquee forward Sabrina Frederick-Traub, as well as Alexandra Anderson, Brittany Gibson, Breanna Koenen, Tahlia Randall, Jamie Stanton, Sharni Webb and Jess Wuetschner.
They are confident of retaining other key players, including Victorians Kaitlyn Ashmore and Nicole Hilderbrandt.
Tayla Harris is consoled after the Lions' AFLW Grand Final loss. Picture: AFL Photos
