WEST Coast has swooped, signing Dana Hooker as its first big name ahead of its entry to the NAB AFL Women's competition in 2020.
The former Fremantle midfielder, 28, is one of the most consistent players in the competition, having polled 21 votes in the AFLW best and fairest from her 22 matches (one being a preliminary final). She finished second behind runaway Erin Phillips this year.
Hooker won Fremantle's best and fairest in 2017 and has finished second in the past two years. She is also a two-time All Australian.
West Coast head of female football Adam Selwood said Hooker – signed to a two-season deal – was a player the club identified as a target several years ago.
"What she displays out on the field – with her work ethic, level of consistency and obviously her performance – have been sensational," Selwood said.
"I think a lot of Dana's consistency comes from the way that she trains and prepares and gets the most out of herself every week.
"As this competition moves forward, we know that Dana is in a really good spot in the next four or five years of her career, and I think that could bring a lot of success here at the Eagles."
FYI: our #AFLW jumper is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iNLerfki4e
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) April 10, 2019
Fremantle announced the re-signings of its five-player leadership group, with skipper Kara Donnellan, Ebony Antonio, Kiara Bowers, Evie Gooch and Gabby O'Sullivan all recommitting to the club.
Another 13 players were also re-signed, including Hayley Miller, Sabreena Duffy, Gemma Houghton and Steph Cain (full list below).
Former Pie Darcy Guttridge has joined Alison Drennan (North Melbourne) at St Kilda. The 2017 under-18 All Australian captain can play at either end of the ground, making her debut this year after missing 2018 with a broken collarbone.
Melbourne has re-signed the bulk of its list (18 players), led by Karen Paxman, Elise O'Dea, Tegan Cunningham, Lauren Pearce and Lily Mithen.
The Western Bulldogs may have lost co-captain Katie Brennan to Richmond, but have secured the signatures of 11 players, including its other co-captain Ellie Blackburn, number one draft pick Izzy Huntington and fullback Hannah Scott.
Along with defender Lauren Spark and midfielders Naomi Ferres and Kirsty Lamb, the trio have signed two-season deals.
Bonnie Toogood, Eleanor Brown and Kirsten McLeod have been retained for 2020.
Brooke Lochland and Deanna Berry will also be at Whitten Oval next year.
Over at the Holden Centre, Collingwood continued to announce new contracts, with best and fairest pair Chloe Molloy (2018) and Jaimee Lambert (2019) along with defender Stacey Livingstone and draftee duo Mikala Cann and Lauren Butler signing on.
Bookends Jess Wuetschner and Kate Lutkins headline the first of Brisbane's re-signings.
Emily Bates, Sharni Webb, Nat Grider, Jesse Wardlaw, Jade Ellenger, Brianna McFarlane and Jessy Keeffe will also be at the club next year.
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Confirmed list changes
ADELAIDE
Signed: Chelsea Randall
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
BRISBANE
Signed: Emily Bates, Jade Ellenger, Natalie Grider, Jessy Keeffe, Kate Lutkins, Brianna McFarlane (rookie), Jesse Wardlaw, Sharni Webb, Jess Wuestchner
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Bella Ayre (retired), Sabrina Frederick-Traub (move to Victoria, club TBC); Tori Groves-Little (Gold Coast)
CARLTON
Signed: N/A
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
COLLINGWOOD
Signed: Sophie Alexander, Britt Bonnici, Lauren Butler, Mikala Cann, Steph Chiocci, Sarah Dargan, Erica Fowler, Eliza Hynes, Jaimee Lambert, Stacey Livingstone, Chloe Molloy, Ruby Schleicher
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Darcy Guttridge (St Kilda), Iilish Ross (club TBC)
FREMANTLE
Signed: Ebony Antonio, Kiara Bowers, Tayla Bresland, Steph Cain, Kara Donnellan, Sabreena Duffy, Evie Gooch, Katie-Jayne Grieve, Gemma Houghton, Leah Mascall, Hayley Miller, Gabby O'Sullivan, Laura Pugh, Matilda Sergeant, Philipa Seth, Ashley Sharp, Angelique Stannett, Alex Williams
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Dana Hooker (West Coast)
GEELONG
Signed: N/A
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Erin Hoare (retired)
GOLD COAST
Signed: Tori Groves-Little (Brisbane), Charlotte Hammans (u/18), Ellie Hampson (u/18), Jamie Stanton (North Melbourne), Kitara Whap-Farrar (u/18)
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Signed: N/A
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
MELBOURNE
Signed: Harriet Cordner, Tegan Cunningham, Chantel Emonson (rookie), Maddison Gay, Madeleine Guerin, Tyla Hanks, Kate Hore, Sarah Lampard, Lily Mithen, Aliesha Newman, Elise O'Dea, Karen Paxman, Lauren Pearce, Shelley Scott, Casey Sherriff, Shae Sloane (rookie), Katherine Smith, Eden Zanker
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
NORTH MELBOURNE
Signed: N/A
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Alison Drennan (St Kilda), Moana Hope (delisted), Jamie Stanton (Gold Coast)
RICHMOND
Signed: Katie Brennan
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
ST KILDA
Signed: Alison Brown (academy), Alison Drennan (North Melbourne), Darcy Guttridge (Collingwood), Molly McDonald (u/18), Isabella Shannon (u/18)
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
WEST COAST
Signed: Mikayla Bowen (u/18), Rosie Deegan (u/18), Dana Hooker (Fremantle)
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: N/A
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Signed: Deanna Berry, Ellie Blackburn, Eleanor Brown, Naomi Ferres, Isabel Huntington, Kirsty Lamb, Brooke Lochland, Kirsten McLeod, Hannah Scott, Lauren Spark, Bonnie Toogood
Delisted/Traded/Expansion Signing: Katie Brennan (Richmond)
