MANY AFLW stars made moves to new clubs in the offseason, and as we head toward season seven of the AFLW, we take a look at some of said players and predict what kind of impact they can potentially make on their new teams.

Today’s subject is a little different in the sense that it is someone that was not traded, but had to come through the draft. It is former Docker turned Dee, Sabreena Duffy.

After deciding to focus on her mental health and pursuing greater opportunities at work, Duffy chose to sit out last AFLW season.

Then, in a move that shocked many in the AFLW community, and may have been to do with a foot injury she sustained in the WAFLW, Fremantle decided not to offer the livewire forward a contract for season seven.

At only 22, there was a lot more Duffy could give at AFLW level, so what was Fremantle’s loss proved Melbourne’s gain after the Dees picked her up in the post-draft free agency period.

Duffy comes to the Dees from another high performing team in Fremantle, so will certainly not feel out of place in the talented Melbourne forward line.

Some may question why Duffy chose Melbourne of all clubs to come to, when the Dees had just lost several forwards to other clubs because they were not getting many opportunities.

The difference between Duffy and the recently departed Dees is that Duffy is a completely different kind of forward to most of the recent departures.

Ever since Aliesha Newman left after the 2020, Melbourne have really needed that extra zippy small forward to compliment their forward line and create that extra element, and Duffy certainly fits that mould.

Duffy is a smaller forward, who can slot in at the feet of the taller forwards like Tayla Harris and Eden Zanker and crumb balls from them, or even work out behind them and swoop on the dropped marks.

Secondly, Duffy is quick, far quicker than the only non-tall departed Dee in Krstel Petrevski. This means she can sneak out the back of the packs on any loose balls and speed away from opponents and snap the major.

She can work well alongside fellow shorter, zippy forward Kate Hore and fellow quick forward Alyssa Bannan to inject some serious speed into Melbourne’s forward line.

With both Hore and Bannan playing further up the ground at times, Duffy’s inclusion also ensures that pace the other two provide does not get lost if they move further up the ground.

So, is Duffy that final piece the Dees needed to crack through for that first flag they have been so close to getting for so long? We will all find out soon enough.