Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce Nat Exon and Kate Shierlaw as the latest signings to join the Blues’ women’s team. 

As rookie-listed players, both hail from athletic backgrounds, with Exon previously playing soccer at the highest level in Victoria and competing in middle distance running, and Shierlaw formerly competing in basketball and javelin.

The pair joins Carlton’s recent marquee signings in Darcy Vescio and Brianna Davey, as well as pre-selection pick Lauren Arnell.

Senior women’s coach Damien Keeping says Exon and Shierlaw will strengthen the Blues’ line-up as they prepare to embark in the inaugural 2017 AFL Women’s competition. 

“Nat’s return to AFL football in the middle part of this year has been quite outstanding,” Keeping said.

“Her elite outside run, clean possessions and kicking ability will ensure she is an enormously valuable asset to our team.

“Kate, on the other hand, is returning to Australia from the UK which demonstrates her passion and dedication to the game.

“Although she has only recently taken up the sport, Kate is a tremendous athlete with a strong work ethic and deep desire to develop and hone her football skills.”

Having played footy as a child, Exon returned to the game this year with the desire to play in the AFL Women’s league. The pacey outside midfielder joined the Darebin Football Club in the middle of the 2016 season and played a key role in its fourth consecutive VFL Women’s Grand Final victory on Sunday.

Adelaide-born Shierlaw, a lifelong Carlton supporter, has been living and working in the UK since the start of the year and recently began playing football for the Wimbledon Hawks in the AFL London Women's League. Standing at 186cm tall, she has the ability to play in the ruck and also move forward and take contested marks.

In coaching news, the Blues have appointed four new assistant coaches to join Keeping: Scott Gowans, Jane Lange, Graham Burgen and Jackson Kornberg.

Gowans held the position of senior coach of the AFL Victoria Country Youth Girls team, while Lange is a premiership coach at the Darebin Falcons.

Burgen and Kornberg also have a wealth of coaching experience, with Burgen most recently the senior coach of the AFL Victoria VWFL Academy, and Kornberg an assistant coach with the Sandringham Dragons Football Club.