WEST Coast has confirmed defender Maddy Collier is returning to New South Wales to play for new club Sydney.

The Swans raised eyebrows on Monday night when they included Collier's name in a release announcing seven new players, six of whom came from state leagues and were open-age signings.

Collier's name was quietly removed from the online article a little while later, and the move is expected to be categorised as an AFLW expansion signing.

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The AFL is yet to confirm finalised signing rules for the expansion clubs, but proposed rules released in late December said new clubs Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney could sign up to 14 AFLW players from rival clubs.

The number of players current clubs are able to lose is yet to be confirmed, but in previous cases of single-team states (Queensland and Western Australia), Brisbane and Fremantle could lose eight players before receiving draft compensation for any further players lost.

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Collier, 26, played 15 games as an inaugural Greater Western Sydney player before adding 19 matches at West Coast.

"When I came to West Coast, I was wanting to play better footy, become a better person and really challenge myself," Collier said.

"To move to other side of country and give it a crack, and I think I have achieved that in a sense, done what I set out to do, made some really good friends and connections in Perth.

"Now I’m returning home, going to start thinking about life after footy a bit more seriously, while being back in a familiar place with friends and family close by.

"COVID has for everyone made it a lot more isolating from family and friends so it feels like the right time to come home and I’m excited to see them."

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