Several former AFLW players are headed to the Essendon District Football League women’s competition, while a couple of league best and fairest winners are on the move.
After the closest finals series in the premier division last season, there’s been plenty of moves been made across the board in the off-season.
Among the clearances that has been placed since the window opened on 1 February, are for Ellie Huggard and Clara Torposa.
Huggard, who won the premier division best and fairest in 2023, has put in a clearance to move from Aberfeldie to Oak Park.
She joins Terira Fry (Greenvale) and Holly McGregor (Burnside Heights) in making the move to the Kangaroos, who have played in the past three grand finals.
Strathmore has been dealt a blow with captain Clara Toperosa putting in a clearance to join Fitzroy.
Toperosa guided the Mores to the division 1 premiership last season and finished top three in the league best and fairest. She won the division 1 best and fairest in 2021.
On the other side, the Mores welcome former Geelong-listed Caitlin Thorne.
Eloise Freeman, who won the division 1 best and fairest in 2022, is also returning for the side having played in the Victorian Football League women’s the past few years.
Maribyrnong Park also recently announced the signing of former Carlton AFLW captain Kerryn Peterson,, who will also help with the coaching.
On Wednesday, the Lions announced that former Western Bulldogs and Essendon defender Ellyse Gamble was joining the club.
Gamble, who can play at either end, was delisted by the Bombers at the end of the 2025 season.
Aberfeldie on Wednesday announced it had signed Tahni Nestor.
Nestor played 12 AFLW games with Carlton and North Melbourne and had a long VFLW career.
Hillside has previously announced the signing of former Geelong AFLW player Abbey McDonald, along with Burnside Heights’ Krissy Trang.
Another former AFLW player is headed to Westmeadows, with Sarah Wright putting in a clearance to join her twin sister Gemma Wright.
Sarah, who didn’t play this season, finished third in North Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2024 in a premiership year.
She is no stranger to the EDFL having started her football career with Keilor.
Sarah won the league best and fairest in the combined Essendon and Western football league competition and won the Northern Football League women’s division 1 best and fairest the following year while still at Keilor.
