AFLW exposed as lopsided Eilish Sheerin trade highlights ‘tricky’ situation

AFLW premiers North Melbourne have made their undefeated 2024 team even stronger by snaffling Richmond star Eilish Sheerin on the final day of the trade period.

While all eyes were on Melbourne high-flyer Tayla Harris’s attempted (but failed) move to Hawthorn, the Kangaroos handed over their first-round pick (No.18) in exchange for two-time All Australian Sheerin on Wednesday morning.

Sheerin’s departure, for a relatively low price, is eyebrow-raising given she had finished second behind Monique Conti in their best and fairest in three consecutive seasons.

The lopsided trade stunned fans while Channel 7 commentator Jason Bennett said it highlighted a growing problem for the AFLW.

“The can’t-lose Roos just keep getting stronger,” Bennett said.

“Great list management to stay ahead of chasing pack.

“Having said that, we haven’t got talent spread right in AFLW yet.

“Need equalisation measures to kick in now that the competition has 18 established teams.

“Trickier landscape than men’s though.”

Sheerin has departed despite Richmond’s return to the finals this season.

But the Tigers are some way off joining the likes of North Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide among the perennial contenders, while the gap between the league’s best and worst appears to have grown.

A mature-aged recruit who joined the Tigers in 2022, Sheerin was a revelation, earning back-to-back All Australian berths as a defender before moving into the midfield in 2024, where she averaged 18.4 disposals and 7.4 tackles per game.

“We are excited to strengthen our playing list further with the addition of Eilish,” North Melbourne AFLW list manager Flynn Loft said.

“She is very competitive and impressive athletically with her run and dash away from the stoppage, matched with her strength around the ball.

“Her attributes in our system will be well-suited to taking her game even further, and we look forward to officially welcoming her into the club.”

Richmond said they are “disappointed” by Sheerin’s departure.

“Eilish gave everything of herself when she was with us and for this we are incredibly grateful,” Tigers football boss Kate Sheahan said.

“She has had a profound impact during her time at Richmond and we appreciate her contribution to our team throughout her three seasons.

“While we are disappointed Eilish is leaving, we are delighted to have improved our draft hand ahead of next week’s draft.”

Elsewhere, St Kilda’s Irish dasher Grace Kelly reunited with sister Niamh at Adelaide as GWS’s former No.1 pick Nicola Barr joined the Saints in a three-way trade.

Kelly, 30, heads to Adelaide after 21 games at St Kilda and 23 at West Coast.

The Crows gave up pick No.52, which went to the Giants, who gave up pick No.57 along with Barr to the Saints.

Barr’s 2024 was ruined by a serious hamstring injury but the versatile Sydneysider, the No.1 pick in the inaugural state-based 2016 draft, has shown her wares in midfield, defence and attack.

Barr, 28, has signed a three-year deal with the Saints.

Also on Wednesday, Essendon’s Ash Van Loon headed to Sydney and Swan Ella Heads joined Port Adelaide as part of a four-way trade also involving the Brisbane Lions.

A handful of draft picks were also involved in the deal, including Port swapping pick No.15 for Brisbane’s No.17 while shuffling later selections.

The Bombers claimed the Lions’ pick No.35.

The trade period closed at 4pm AEDT on Wednesday with the high-profile Harris move falling over.

Negotiations between Melbourne and Hawthorn had been tense over the past two weeks, and there was no agreement between the clubs when the deadline arrived.

Melbourne has an offer on the table for Harris, but the high-flying forward has an option to delist herself and nominate for the draft.

- With 7NEWS