A desire to be part of something new led Monique Conti to make the difficult move from the Western Bulldogs to Richmond.

Having been denied the chance to move to the Tigers as a straightforward expansion signing because the Dogs had already lost their quota of four players to a new club, Conti endured a protracted period in limbo, but has ended up at Punt Road, traded to Richmond for pick one in this year's draft.

It is a major blow for the Dogs, who lost league best and fairest Emma Kearney to North Melbourne last year and co-captain Katie Brennan to the Tigers earlier this month.

Monique Conti. Credit:Jason South

The loss of Conti - who doesn’t turn 20 until later this year - may be the biggest loss of all. Leaving her promising basketball career to one side, Conti is already a very accomplished AFLW player, named best afield in the Dogs’ winning grand final side last year, and earning a best-and-fairest and All-Australian selection this year.