Brennan among two Dogs set to depart the Kennel

WESTERN Bulldogs co-captain Katie Brennan is all but certain to be joining new AFLW team Richmond in 2020.

The announcement could come as early as Tuesday, womens.afl understands, after the AFLW Sign and Trade Period started on Monday.

The Bulldogs' general manager of women's football Debbie Lee confirmed Brennan's departure on Monday evening.

"Naturally we're disappointed. Katie has been a foundation player of our women's program, is a co-captain of our group and someone we have supported through some difficult periods, including injury and the tribunal process on the eve of our history-making AFLW Premiership," she said.

"While we do understand that the current period of the competition's expansion means that player movement is now common, the nature of one-year AFLW player contracts has made list retention difficult.

"As a successful team, naturally our players have become the target of opposition clubs, which is testament to our women's football program. This includes our player development program which has provided rapid individual growth for our players over the past three years."

Brennan said she was looking to a new challenge after spending seven years at the Bulldogs.

"I have been incredibly privileged to be a part of this pioneering club for the last seven years," she said.

"My decision to move on from the football club is based purely around my need for a fresh start.

"I will forever cherish my time at the club and wish them every success in the future."

Brennan's exit was compounded by teammate and premiership defender Libby Birch requesting a trade to Melbourne.

"We'll work through that with the Bulldogs at the moment and try and get an outcome that both parties are happy with," Melbourne's AFLW talent manager Todd Patterson told womens.afl.

"We've got a really good relationship with the Bulldogs, with Debbie and (list manager) Michael Sandry, so we're comfortable we'll be able to get something done.

"I'd say potentially a combination of (players and draft picks will be involved in the deal). The onus is on us to satisfy them, as the player is leaving, so we'll get to work and hopefully get that done sooner rather than later."

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New team Gold Coast announced its first expansion signing, with North Melbourne midfielder Jamie Stanton returning home to Queensland.

"It was a pretty difficult decision. I left Queensland to improve my footy, but in the long-term it ended up being a really simple decision and I wanted to (go) home and be with my family," Stanton said at Marvel Stadium on Monday.

"It's super-exciting (and I'm) keen to start something new. I'm obviously now pretty good at setting up expansion sides, so hopefully I can now help get the Suns on the board."

Geelong will be searching for a ruck after Erin Hoare told the club she would be unavailable for the 2020 season.

Hoare has a PhD in public health and psychology, focusing on mental health in relation to obesity prevention in adolescents.

She has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue her research into how physical activity and diet influence mental health and is currently at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, before moving to Boston University in the United States.

Hoare, previously a netballer with the Melbourne Vixens, has not ruled out a return to football in the future.

North Melbourne announced Alison Drennan has departed the club. The midfielder, who expected to sign with expansion team St Kilda, was joint-winner of the Saints' VFLW best and fairest award last year.

Greater Western Sydney is expected to retain Irishwomen Cora Staunton and Yvonne Bonner for 2020.

Staunton and Bonner kicked six goals apiece this year, with Staunton finishing equal second in the club's best and fairest.

Adelaide will have a decision to make in regard to injured players Erin Phillips and Chloe Scheer.

The pair recently underwent knee reconstructions after rupturing ACLs in the Grand Final triumph last month.

The club can re-sign the pair, but then later name them as ‘inactive’ if it feels they will not be able to play at all next season. The Crows can then fill those list spots with other players.

CONFIRMED LIST CHANGES

ADELAIDE

Signed: Chelsea Randall
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A

BRISBANE

Signed: N/A
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Bella Ayre (retired), Sabrina Frederick-Traub (move to Victoria, club TBC)