The Carlton Football Club is delighted to announce that 14 Game Changers have put pen to paper to remain at Ikon Park while a further two have signed contract extensions with the Club.
Co-captains Katie Loynes and Kerryn Harrington are part of the 16 players to have inked new deals. Loynes has re-signed for one year while Harrington, despite having another season to run on her current contract, has extended by an additional year.
Georgia Gee has also signed a one-year extension, joining fellow young guns Grace Egan and Lucy McEvoy who have also committed to the Club until at least the end of 2022.
O' happy Deas!
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) August 6, 2020
We've secured two pieces of the puzzle: we're delighted to announce the acquisitions of Elise O'Dea and Maddy Guerin to the Old Dark Navy Blues!
#OwnTheFuture
In what is a true sign of solidarity from the playing group, a further six players have signed new two-year deals; Breann Moody, Charlotte Wilson, Brooke Vernon, Mua Laloifi, Natalie Plane and Serena Gibbs.
Alison Downie, Lauren Brazzale, Jess Edwards, Brooke Walker and Courtney Jones have also signed on for next season which means the core of the playing group have re-committed after reaching a grand final and preliminary final in the last two seasons.
Today’s announcement is a significant boost for the Blues during the second week of the AFLW sign and trade period and leaves the Club with a significant portion of its playing list already locked away for 2021.
Blues GM of Women’s Football Ash Brown said the show of faith was further proof of the exceptional culture that has been established at Ikon Park.
“To have 16 players re-sign or extend, in addition to the seven who are already contracted, is a fantastic testament to the close bond this playing group shares with each other,” Brown said.
“With a significant portion of our playing group committed, two great recruits in Elise O’Dea and Maddy Guerin and a first-round draft pick up our sleeve, we believe we are in a strong position heading into the 2021 season.”
Coach Daniel Harford expressed the importance of keeping the group together.
“Building a strong culture does not happen overnight, our players have built this connection over an extended period of time and we’ve seen the benefits of that,” Harford said.
“They enjoy spending time with each other, having fun together and most of all when the time comes to work hard, they push each other to get the best out of themselves.
“We are excited that our members and fans will be able to see this group continue to grow together and work hard to earn success for the Carlton Football Club.”
