FORMER Essendon VFL and VFLW football operations manager Ash Brown is now Carlton's general manager of women's football.

Brown will take on the role vacated by Nicole Graves, who held the position for the past year before parting ways with the club.

He has been at the Bombers for the past nine years in a variety of roles and was heavily involved in setting up the Bombers' VFLW team, which joined the competition in 2018.

"I am excited for this opportunity, the women's programs here at Carlton have continued to improve year on year and I look forward to leading the continued growth moving forward," Brown said.

"With the VFLW season already underway, I'm ready to get started straight away working with the entire playing group and staff for, what is sure to be, exciting VFLW and AFLW seasons."

Brown's appointment comes on the back of former Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman joining the club as AFLW and VFLW list manager.

Midfielder Katie Loynes now has a dual role as player and recruiting manager, while Tara Bonello (women's footy operations manager), Daniel Harford (AFLW coach) and Shannon McFerran (AFLW senior assistant and VFLW coach) continue in their positions.

"We are delighted to have Ash on board, he will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our women's program," Carlton's head of football Brad Lloyd said.

"Ash shares our belief in the direction we want to take our women's program and will provide a leading hand growing both our AFLW and VFLW teams."

In other AFLW news, Gold Coast has signed small forward Maddy Roberts as an open-age selection.

The four expansion clubs – Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast – can continue to add players from their academies and state league sides over winter as they build their lists.

Roberts plays for Coolangatta in the QAFLW and has represented the Suns in Winter Series matches.

She has also trained with Brisbane over the past few seasons.

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