HAWTHORN will sign former All-Australian defender Jess Duffin, and fellow back Akec Makur Chuot to its inaugural AFLW list.
As previously reported by womens.afl, St Kilda's current top midfielder Tilly Lucas-Rodd and young Sun Janet Baird will also join the Hawks.
Hawthorn will be the third club for Duffin, Makur Chuot and Lucas-Rodd.
Duffin (née Cameron) started her AFLW career with Collingwood before crossing to North Melbourne for its inaugural season in 2019.
She has juggled both her cricket career and motherhood in that time, playing a total of 32 games since 2017, but was unable to regain her spot in the side this year after being dropped in round six.
Makur Chuot, 29, was an inaugural Richmond player, having earned her way back on an AFLW list in 2020 after lining up for Fremantle in 2017.
Like Duffin, she struggled for opportunities at times this year, playing five of a possible 10 matches.
The 26-year-old Lucas-Rodd had a breakout season in the midfield this year, named in the All-Australian squad of 40.
She previously played for Carlton, and can also line up in defence or up forward if required, and will leave a big hole behind for a Saints midfield already missing Tyanna Smith (ACL) and Georgia Patrikios (vaccination).
A Darwin product, Baird is a mid-sized utility who has played three games for the Suns over two seasons.
Hawthorn's signings/commitments:
- Janet Baird
- Zoe Barbakos
- Dominique Carbone
- Tegan Cunningham
- Bridget Deed
- Jess Duffin
- Sophie Locke
- Tilly Lucas-Rodd
- Akec Makur Chuot
- Eliza Shannon