The AFLW Trade Period and Telstra AFLW Draft have wrapped up for 2025, with Hawthorn gaining four additional players.

General Manager of AFLW Keegan Brooksby detailed the thought process behind the acquisitions of each player and what the future draft picks gained means for the club.

We summarised the key points below.

On the Trade and Draft Period overall

“The club entered the trade period with a really clear strategy about what we were looking to achieve, and we were able to bring in two players that we think can help us straight away, and then through the draft, bringing two more that we think can add to our environment and our culture, and they fill some needs that we have as well. So set out a clear path of what we were trying to achieve, executed on that, and puts us in a position where we can really attack 2026, from a draft point of view, with some of the assets that we have, in a really positive manner.”

On what Jac Dupuy and Niamh Martin bring to the list

“Jac provides a really clear marking option ahead of the ball that we haven't necessarily had for the last couple of years. Identified that through the last 12 months on field to be able to support our current forwards, and we really felt like we were lacking a little bit in that area. So to bring in someone of Jac's experience and quality on field, but also what she can add to a culture and environment point of view, is something that we're really looking forward to, and we're super excited to get her into the football club. And Niamh was an opportunity that presented herself, 24. years old, has spent a year away from the game completing study in Ireland, and while she hasn't been playing, her progress before she went back to Ireland had been significant. And the way that she plays the game and can take metres and put speed on the ball and change direction and find an avenue to go, was something that we were looking to find through the trade period, and ultimately we've been able to do that with Niamh. So we're really excited about having her come in and complement our playing group.”

On farewelling Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Sophie Butterworth

“Always a difficult time of year, Tilly has been such an important part of our football club, inaugural captain, best and fairest winner, All-Australian, All-Australian squad member this year, and has had a significant impact on our playing group and our football club. So it’s really hard to see them leave the building, but we wish them all the best that their next club in GWS. And they'll always be a Hawthorn person, they're always going to be welcomed back to the football club as well. So sad to see them go, but they're always welcome back. And Sophie was presented an opportunity at St Kilda, and while we've invested a lot of time and effort in Sophie in the last couple of years, she felt that she was going to be better served at another football club, and the opportunity they provided. Disappointing for us, I think that we've gone a long way in putting us in a position where she can have a successful career, but we wish her all the best. And the impact that she's had as a Hawthorn person as well is something that won't be underestimated, and she'll always be welcome back in the brown and gold as well.”

On future draft picks for 2026

“We felt that where our list was at in terms of bringing in young players through the draft the last couple of years that we were really well stocked with developing young players, and if there was an opportunity to move assets for the first time into a future draft, and we would look to be able to do that. Ultimately, we're able to pick up an extra future first and two future seconds, as well as an additional future third. So we've got seven picks in the first three rounds, and that just creates some capital to be able to move up the draft order and hopefully or bring in some other quality through trade, and you need those assets to be able to do that. And ultimately, our first pick this year started at pick 15, ended up being selected a selection in the early 20s, so we felt there was going to be better value by moving into next year's draft.”

On potential of Hannah Looney and Maya Dear

“Hannah’s an interesting one, she's 28 probably been a long journey to get here. We started talking to her about three years ago, and it never really eventuated. The opportunity of her partner being on Richmond's playing list as well, and moving to Australia opened up another avenue to get Hannah to the football club, and we know that she's a super competitive, she's hard as nails, and she's going to be able to come in and compete straight away and without playing, this demographic, we felt like that's what we need. And Maya is also an interesting one, her background is very different as well, hasn't been exposed to playing football at a higher level, but she has played other sports at higher level, basketball and netball in particular, and we know that that she's got a frame and a skill set that really aligns to AFLW and where the competition is going. She's been through a pretty rigorous process this year to get herself to a point where she would be eligible to be drafted, and the amount of work that she's put in to, her skill and the commitment that she's had to get herself to this point puts herself in a position where she can get drafted, and we're really excited about the opportunity that presents itself for her moving forward.”

On the focus ahead of 2026

“Obviously, we enter a blackout period with the players, so really keen for everyone to get away and refresh from another tough season, and that will put us in a good spot coming back in 2026 building connection with the new players and working on some fundamental skill through that time is going to be something that we really focus on, identified that through this season as well that that we need to make some gains there. So number one is get away, have a refresh, and then start getting back to work.”

Hawthorn now has 29 listed players with one available list spot ahead of the 2026 season.