The manager of wantaway former number AFLW draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner hopes rival clubs “respect” her wishes to play at North Melbourne.
Two years after being selected by the Western Bulldogs as top of her class in 2023, Weston-Turner will be back in the draft on Monday night after the Kangaroos were unable to trade her in before the deadline.
Weston-Turner was selected from Spotswood and the Western Jets.
North Melbourne, the back-to-back reigning premiers who have won a record 27-straight games, were unable to satisfy the Bulldogs through picks and players for the 20-year-old.
“She’s very disappointed,” Weston-Turner’s manager Michael Oakes told AFL Media.
“We felt she had a great opportunity to go to another club, despite who the club was, it was a good fit for her as a player and a person.
“Despite best efforts, couldn’t get it done.”
Oakes believes the Bulldogs were “saving face” by not accepting a trade for Weston-Turner.
The Kangaroos’ first pick in the draft stands at number 37, and could be pushed back further depending on bids.
Weston-Turner is sure to receive intense interest from other clubs who will have selections in the draft before the Kangaroos do.
Brisbane and Hawthorn floated their interest in Weston-Turner, before North were locked in as her desired destination.
Oakes insisted Weston-Turner would get to North in the draft.
“She’s committed, and they’ve committed to taking her,” he said.
“I have a beer deal with Keegan (Hawks AFLW boss Keegan Brooksby not to draft her), and she chose not to go to Brisbane because she didn’t want to move interstate, so I hope they respect that.”
Weston-Turner only managed one senior game this season, for eight overall in the AFLW, as the Bulldogs finished 12th for a second straight year.
The Bulldogs offered her a two-year deal to remain at the Whitten Oval, but Weston-Turner rejected that and has chosen to nominate for the draft.
“Any deal we entertained for Kristie-Lee – a former number one pick and talented key position player with outstanding attributes and a high ceiling – would have to be in the club’s best interests,” Bulldogs AFLW list manager Dan Fisher said.
“We were prepared to do a trade from the outset, but unfortunately in our opinion what North Melbourne offered was not suitable and not reflective of where we valued Kristie-Lee.
“While the situation is equally disappointing for Kristie-Lee as it is for us, accepting the deal that was offered to us would have been a disservice to our club.”
