THE CARLTON Football Club can announce a further eight players have re-signed with the AFLW program, bringing the total number of re-signings to 18.
Leading the way are senior player Elise O’Dea and new talent Keeley Sherar who will both pull on the Navy Blue guernsey again later this year.
O’Dea joined Carlton in 2021 after four seasons with Melbourne including All-Australian years in 2017 and 2018. She quickly made an impact at the Blues and was elevated to co-vice captain ahead of season six.
O’Dea is an important member of the midfield alongside the likes of Lucy McEvoy, Jess Dal Pos and Abbie McKay.
Sherar made her impact in the side last season, being named a NAB Rising Star nominee after her second game in Round 4. She collected a career-high 19 disposals in that game against North Melbourne – doing so with a fractured hand.
Sherar will continue to make her presence felt with the Game Changers after signing on for another two seasons.
Several debutants from season six have signed on for more including Brooke Vickers, Annie Lee and Poppy Schaap. Schaap has committed for one season, while Vickers and Lee have signed for two seasons.
Young gun Daisy Walker has signed for two more seasons, while Charlotte Hammans and Imogen Milford have both re-signed for season seven.
Darcy Vescio, Serena Gibbs, Jess Dal Pos, Natalie Plane and Brooke Walker all remain under contract for season seven, taking the number of existing players staying with the Club to 23.
As well as those 23 returning players, the Club also traded in Phoebe McWilliams and Amelia Velardo, and added Taylor Ortlepp as a rookie signing which brings the list to 26 players. Of those 26 committed for season seven, 15 have extended their contracts with the Club to include season eight.
The final four available places on the Club’s list will be filled at the NAB AFLW Draft where Carlton has two first round selections (17 and 18), one second round selection (49) and one fourth round selection (71).
Carlton General Manager of Women’s Football Brett Munro says having so many players re-commit is a testament to the program.
“We are thrilled to have a total of 23 players re-commit to the Club over Sign and Trade period,” Munro said.
“Several of our players attracted attention from other clubs, so it is extremely pleasing to be able to retain a number of quality talent.
“We have a good mix of established senior players as well as some promising emerging talent coming through which puts us in a strong position moving forward.
“As we look towards the draft in two weeks’ time, we will welcome four new Game Changers to the program to complete our list.
“The playing group remains connected and ready to focus on pre-season, and we are optimistic about what season seven holds for us.”
