CARLTON was the first club to strike when it traded for Collingwood's best and fairest defender Nicola Stevens on Tuesday when AFLW trade period opened.
AFLW clubs can retain only 22 players from their 2017 list, meaning at least five players from each team will be traded or delisted.
Once delisted, players go back into the general draft pool and can be selected by other clubs – so if a team delists a talented player, there's a real chance it could come back to bite them.
Steering clear of some of the obvious stars – marquee and priority players – here is a list of players each club must hold on to for 2018.
Adelaide
Georgia Bevan
The midfielder is dynamic around stoppages and a powerful runner.
Ebony Marinoff
Won the NAB AFL Women's Rising Star award comfortably, and is a tackling machine in the midfield.
Jess Sedunary
Speedster who plays primarily across half-forward. Gets under the opposition's skin and causes havoc wherever she goes.
Brisbane Lions
Leah Kaslar
Nicknamed the Warrior Princess, Kaslar is fearless in defence and regularly comes off her opponent to either intercept the ball herself or force a turnover.
Kate McCarthy
One of the quickest players in the competition, McCarthy is deadly around goal with her skill and speed.
Tahlia Randall
One of the most promising young key defenders in the game, and could be a 10-year prospect for the Lions.
Carlton
Sarah Hosking
The former VNL netballer has become a dynamic midfielder. Wins the ball in contests and breaks away from packs.
Nat Exon
A rookie revelation with elite speed. Loves to take on the game.
Danielle Hardiman
A rock down back who is versatile enough to play on both smalls and talls.
Collingwood
Brittany Bonnici
A rising star in the midfield who tackles hard and has good skills.
Sarah D'Arcy
A quiet achiever in a star-studded forward line. Provides a reliable target for her midfield.
Alicia Eva
Has leadership in spades and is dynamic around the ball. Quick, agile and makes excellent decisions.
Fremantle
Ashley Sharp
Small forward who topped the team's goalkicking. The Dockers' sole NAB AFL Women's Rising Star nominee.
Lara Filocamo
Genuine playmaking midfielder who can also break up opposition play with intercept marks. Was a surprise front-runner in the AFLW best and fairest in early counting.
Gemma Houghton
A surprise packet in her first season of football at any level, the former basketballer's combination of athleticism and height set her apart.
Greater Western Sydney
Jess Dal Pos
Classy midfielder who makes excellent decisions and was a well-deserved All Australian.
Jacinda Barclay
The gridiron/softball convert provides aggression in the forward line, and is a tricky match-up for the opposition.
Rebecca Beeson
A small forward on the rise. Occasionally drifts out of games but reads the play well and is an accurate kick for goal.
Melbourne
Cat Phillips
The rookie crossed from ultimate frisbee with great success. Combines agility, pace and height to outplay much more experienced opponents.
Alyssa Mifsud
The former basketballer was terrific up forward this year. Can move both in the air and at ground level and knows where the goals are.
Katherine Smith
The Demons drafted Smith with one eye to the future. They would have been pleasantly surprised with her efforts slotting into the backline with ease.
Western Bulldogs
Brooke Lochland
The former speed-skater is also lightning fast on the field and consistently breaks lines. Also a fierce tackler.
Hannah Scott
Solid in defence and stands up under pressure.
Jaimee Lambert
Tough type who thrives in contests. Provides plenty of grunt at stoppages.
