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Fremantle Signs Hockey Talent, West Coast Overhauls Recruitment

In a significant move, Fremantle's AFLW program has signed 19-year-old hockey player Matilda Banfield to their rookie list. Banfield, known for her elite endurance and athletic ability, has starred in various state-level and national hockey teams, including the Hockey Australia Women's Futures Squads and the Perth Thundersticks Women's team. Despite having only brief experience playing football during school, Banfield's athletic profile and football fundamentals have impressed Fremantle's AFLW List Manager Darryn Fry, who believes her skills are transferrable to Australian rules football. She is expected to train across all positions to determine her best role, potentially as a winger or dashing half-back.

Meanwhile, West Coast Eagles have undertaken a major overhaul of their talent identification team, unexpectedly letting go of long-serving recruiters Trevor Woodhouse, Stephen Nash, and Neil Ross. This decision follows a contentious trade and draft period, which included the departure of club stalwarts Jack Darling and Tom Barrass. The Eagles have appointed former Richmond employee Matthew Clarke as their new list manager, who will have the freedom to build his own list management team. The club has also made changes at the coaching level, appointing Marco Bello as forwards coach and re-joining former premiership coach John Worsfold as Head of Football.

In another development, delisted West Coast midfielder Jai Culley will train with Melbourne in an attempt to regain an AFL list spot. Despite the Demons having no current list availability, Culley will play for Melbourne's VFL affiliate Casey and train with the AFL group over the pre-season. His camp is eyeing a potential selection in the mid-season draft if a position opens up.

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