With Carlton AFLW captain Brianna Davey officially requesting a trade to Collingwood, the two teams now have to work out a trade.

As Davey is choosing to join an existing club, she cannot simply sign with the Pies, meaning a deal must be agreed to between the sides.

However, the AFLW rules make that difficult as players who have re-signed with their existing club are not technically allowed to be traded.

This means the likes of captain Steph Chiocci, NAB AFL Rising Star winner Chloe Molloy, 2019 best and fairest Jaimee Lambert and the nine other players they have re-signed for 2020 and beyond can’t be involved in any deal for Davey.

However, the AFL has confirmed a loophole in the rules that could make that possible.

Collingwood and Carlton can exchange players under contract if those players agree to be traded.

Both the players and the club would have to mutually agree to the trade for it to happen, but it is allowed under the rules.

Collingwood holds pick one in the draft, but that could change pending the AFL finalising the draft order.

Last year, expansion side Geelong was awarded the top two picks in the draft, despite Carlton finishing on the bottom of the ladder.

Something similar could happen this year with the four expansion sides currently set to pick at the bottom of the first round. The draft order will be confirmed on the 23rd of April.

That pick will likely be involved in any trade, but the Blues will ask for more – and rightly so.

A precedent was set between the two sides in 2017 when Nicola Stevens was traded from the Pies to the Blues.

Carlton gave up picks five, 13 and 21 for Stevens and pick 28.

Davey, arguably a top five player in the competition and a club captain, warrants more and the Blues will certainly play hard ball.

The 24-year-old had a brilliant season after tearing her ACL in 2018, winning Carlton’s best and fairest alongside teenager Maddy Prespakis.

Davey also has the option of entering the draft if a trade cannot be agreed to.

Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said the club will work out her request this week.

“Bri has made contact with myself and the club and let us know she would like to look at a trade to Collingwood,” said Lloyd.

“At the moment, all the girls are currently out of contract, it’s the nature of the one-year deals so there is plenty of movement in AFLW and we will sit down and work through Bri’s request this week.”

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