WEST COAST is expecting to acquire its full complement of eight Fremantle players as the list build for its first AFL Women's season continues.

Rules for expansion for the 2019 AFLW Sign and Trade Period allow up to eight Dockers in total to be signed by the four expansion clubs (Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast).

With Gold Coast joining the competition, Brisbane can also lose up to eight players, while the Victorian clubs, Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney can each lose up to four.

"We do (expect to sign a full quota of eight Fremantle players)," West Coast's head of AFLW Adam Selwood said.

"They've done a really good job this year in terms of improving.

"That has made it a little bit more challenging; but it is also exciting to know the depth of the talent that's in Western Australia and what could be walking through our doors."

A host of players left Western Australia before the 2017 AFLW season to take up marquee positions at clubs in other states, including Emma King (Collingwood), Sabrina Frederick-Traub (Brisbane), Chelsea Randall (Adelaide) and Emma Swanson and Renee Forth (Greater Western Sydney).

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Selwood said the Eagles had contacted locals currently playing interstate.

"There's been a conversation with pretty much all West Australian players who did leave to see where they're at and what they're doing and what, I guess, the future might look like back in Perth," he said.

"Some obviously haven't decided to come back to Perth at the moment, but we know who they are and what they can do, and we'll just keep scoping that out moving forward."

Adelaide co-captain Randall was one who was approached, but she decided to sign a one-season deal with the Crows.

"We had some lengthy and really respectful discussions (with her)," Selwood said.

"She's a great character and incredible player and one that, in terms of expansion, you'd love to build your list around. The premiership and how entrenched she is in the Adelaide lifestyle were too much for her at this time. But you never say never in the future."

Selwood said young Lion McKenzie Dowrick, who crossed the country to play for Brisbane this year, is another the Eagles have spoken to.

"McKenzie is one who has a key decision she has to work through, but she is a good quality kid who did really well in her first year. We'll see where that one lands."

Earlier this year, the Eagles signed local juniors Mikayla Bowen (a midfielder from Swan Districts, pictured above) and Rosie Deegan (who won a bronze medal with Australia in basketball at the youth Olympics in Argentina last year), but are still to list their first 'name' player.