FREMANTLE is set to land the Western Bulldogs' former AFLW No.1 pick Gabby Newton, while the club is also chasing a deal for Collingwood veteran Ash Brazill ahead of the upcoming Trade Period.
AFL.com.au understands Newton has requested a trade to the Dockers following a disappointing season at the Dogs, where the club went 1-9 before parting ways with coach Nathan Burke.
The No.1 selection in the 2020 AFLW Draft, Newton has played 36 games for the Bulldogs in a variety of roles but spent the majority of her most recent season down back.
Newton's expected departure compounds the likely loss of former All-Australian defender Katie Lynch, with AFL.com.au revealing on Wednesday that she looks headed for a trade to Gold Coast.
The Dockers are also in discussions over a deal for Brazill from the Magpies, as the club looks to improve upon its 4-6 campaign and return to the AFLW finals picture for the first time since season six.
Brazill, 33, is a dual sports star – she was part of Australia's netball teams that won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022 and the Netball World Cup in 2023 – and had previously spent five seasons with Perth-based netball team the West Coast Fever.
The veteran has played 32 AFLW games for Collingwood, while she also spent seven seasons playing and then co-captaining Collingwood's netball affiliate before it disbanded in June this year.
Brazill was an AFLW All-Australian in 2019, when she was named at full-back.
