AFLW enlargement facet Hawthorn have pulled off a large coup with the signing of Brisbane premiership duo Emily Bates and Greta Bodey.
Bates arrives on the Hawks as one of many competitors’s most adorned gamers, having gained three All-Australian jumpers and claimed three Lions best-and-fairest awards.
The 27-year-old star gained all three main particular person awards, together with the coveted W Medal, in season six and has been essential to Brisbane’s success for the reason that inception of the ladies’s competitors.
She leaves an enormous gap within the Lions’ midfield.
Explosive ahead Bodey gained All-Australian honours in season seven and was runner-up within the Lions’ best-and-fairest award in season six.
Both performed in Brisbane’s 2021 premiership and have been a part of the Lions’ dropping grand remaining facet final season.
Hawthorn AFLW checklist supervisor Mitchell Cashion and coach Bec Goddard hailed the skilled duo as invaluable additions to a younger enjoying group in 2023.
“Emily and Greta have had to make life-changing decisions and we’re so glad that they’ve chosen Hawthorn as their destination,” Goddard stated in a membership assertion.
“They will be welcomed with open arms by the Hawthorn family and will change the way we move the ball in 2023.
“We’re so excited for our members, followers, gamers and all the Hawthorn neighborhood to see what they do within the brown and gold.”
The Hawks, who had a 3-7 record under Goddard in their debut season, still have one spot to fill with an experienced recruit from a rival club during the AFLW priority sign-and-trade period.
It runs until March 8 and is open to the four newest clubs in the competition – Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney.
Following that, the AFLW sign-and-trade period for the remaining 14 clubs runs from March 10 to 20.
Bates and Bodey joined fellow AFLW stars Chloe Molloy and Ash Woodland in moving clubs ahead of the 2023 season.
Molloy has joined Sydney from Collingwood, whereas Woodland has crossed to Port Adelaide from native rivals Adelaide.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
