Carlton’s AFLW leaders have urged incoming coach Daniel Harford to poach a key midfielder in the trade period as they chase success next season.
Captain Brianna Davey and star Darcy Vescio have signed up for the 2019 campaign, penning new deals with the wooden spooners.
Both say they’ve turned down offers, choosing to stay at Princes Park.
“My heart is at Carlton. I love the club, I love the girls,” Davey said.
“Like any player there’s going to be offers put on the table from other clubs … it was an easy decision in the end and I’m stoked.”
Expansion teams North Melbourne and Geelong – had been granted rights to approach any AFLW player ahead of the 2019 season.
The Kangaroos have been prolific in their recruitment, including league best-and-fairest Emma Kearney and Collingwood marquee Moana Hope.
Other teams will now begin their recruitment with the trade period opening today and ending on June 4.
Vescio said she would love to sign a multi-year deal if they weren’t banned by head office – urging the AFL to give clubs the chance to offer players the security of longer contracts.
“I wish we could sign longer deals,” she said.
“Any player would love that sort of stability.
“At the moment one year is awesome. I’ll take another year next year if that’s possible.
“As long as it keep expanding every year there are going to be offers thrown around left, right and centre … everyone’s getting offers (but) I wasn’t entertaining anything else.”
The pair believe Carlton can jump up the ladder in 2019 by moving the magnets around the whiteboard rather than mass-scale recruitment.
“It’s more about looking at the list, maybe re-shuffling people around and trying new things out,” Vescio said.
“I’m sure Harf is looking at it with fresh eyes. I’m pretty confident with the girls we’ve got.”
Davey missed her club’s season this year after an ACL injury in round two, but says she’s on track to make a comeback in time for the pre-season.
She said the arrival of an out-and-out midfielder would allow Vescio to spend more time forward to help the Blues kick winning scores.
“A key midfielder would be good to bring through, someone with a bit more experience, because we’ve got a raw young list.”
