Collingwood’s 2020 draftees Amelia Velardo, Joanna Lin, Bella Smith, and Abbi Moloney head up a list of six players who have signed fresh deals with the club today.

Their signatures were joined by 2019 draftees Alana Porter and Ebony O’Dea, all who have recommitted for the 2021/22 campaign.

Smith and Velardo made their AFLW debut in Collingwood’s round one victory over Carlton at Ikon Park.

Smith was selected for six matches across the season including the qualifying and preliminary finals. The midfielder was top five in disposal efficiency rate (82 per cent) for the league.  

Lin made her debut in Collingwood’s round two 29-point victory against Geelong. The 19-year-old kicked three goals across nine matches.

Moloney was called up in round six and contributed two goals to Collingwood’s 36-point Victoria against the Western Bulldogs.

Known for being pivotal in one-on-one contests, Porter has not missed a game since her debut in round one of the 2020 campaign, whilst O’Dea’s elite tackling made her particularly impactful in the Pies’ 2021 finals series.

Collingwood’s GM of Women’s Sport, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, said today’s signings indicate strength in the program’s future.

“In the final week of the AFLW trade and sign period, we are thrilled to sign six promising young talented women. 

“It has been an ongoing strategy to invest in the program’s youth to ensure we are primed for long-haul success.

“Today we have retained some of the competition’s top first-year players. The future is strong at Collingwood.”