The Carlton Football Club will have three selections inside the top 13 of the Victorian pool at this year’s NAB AFLW Draft after agreeing to a trade with Richmond.

The Blues have received National picks No.23 and No.40 from the Tigers in exchange for Jess Hosking and two fourth-round selections (picks No.55 and No.57 respectively).

It sees Carlton now hold a suite of high-end picks in the 2021 Victorian draft pool – No.6, No.7, No.13 – including two inside the first round, leaving the Club with arguably its strongest draft hand since the AFLW competition began.

Carlton GM of Women’s Football Brett Munro outlined the final trade of the 2021 Sign and Trade Period.

“All our discussions with Jess since the end of the season had centred around her re-signing with the Club however yesterday she informed us of her intentions to seek a trade,” Munro said.

“That was obviously really disappointing as we have strong belief in Jess as a player and her qualities as a person, however we know for our playing group to achieve what it is capable of in the coming seasons, that requires total buy in. Once she had made her decision our focus was on getting the best outcome for our football club.

“The result is that we now have the opportunity to select three of the best 13 Victorian talent in this year’s draft which is a terrific opportunity. 

“Included in that are two first round selections and given our most recent first round picks have seen us acquire Madison Prespakis, Lucy McEvoy, Grace Egan and Mimi Hill, we are really confident we will be able to add some more elite talent that will see this group grow together and allow our club to contend well into the future.”