Collingwood star Chloe Molloy has informed the Pies she will be leaving and is on the verge of joining the Swans when the AFLW priority signing period opens in March.
Earlier this week, the league finalised terms for player movement this off-season. The four expansion teams from season seven – Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney – will be able to sign priority signing period players without a trade.
Chloe Molloy celebrates a goal for the Pies.Credit:AFL Photos
The Swans were granted three additional list spots for the upcoming season eight, which will be reduced to two for season nine, and permitted to sign up to five players during the priority signing period.
Sydney were also offered the ability to offer a longer-term contract with an additional two seasons more than allowed in the season eight list rules for two players. They are also permitted to offer a longer-term contract with an additional one season more than allowed in season eight list rules for three players.
The number of priority signing players a club can lose is based on where they finished on the ladder in season seven.
Molloy, who was taken at pick three in the 2017 draft, has played 47 games since making her debut in 2018 and been All-Australian twice. She was named Rising Star in 2018 and won the Pies’ best and fairest that same year.
The Swans released a statement confirming Molloy had “indicated an interest” in signing with them.
“We will continue working with Chloe and the AFL to bring her to Sydney through the mechanisms provided by the AFL,” the statement said.
“The club will provide a further update when the AFLW priority signing period opens on March 1.”
Collingwood’s head of women’s football, Jess Burger, thanked Molloy for her outstanding contribution to the club.
“Since being drafted to Collingwood, ‘Moy’ has been a valued member of our program,” Burger said.
“Over the past five years, Chloe has been a great ambassador for our club and the wider AFLW competition and it’s been great to watch her grow and develop as both a player and person over the course of that time.
“Not only has Chloe demonstrated outstanding talent on the field, but she has also made strong contributions off field including as an opposition analyst during her time on the sidelines with a Lisfranc injury in 2019.
“In this situation, we understand that she was interested in seeking an opportunity interstate in pursuit of a new lifestyle.
“Whilst we’re disappointed Chloe won’t be a part of the continued growth of our program, we are confident in the depth and talent of our playing list to ensure continued improvement in the 2023 season and beyond.”
“On behalf of everyone at Collingwood, we would like to thank Chloe for all she has brought to our club and we wish her all the best for this next chapter of her career.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
