The raid of Carlton by rival AFLW clubs looks to have paid the Blues some dividends, with the club expected to move for veteran forward Phoebe McWilliams in next week's AFL sign and trade period.

36-year-old McWilliams has played 45 AFLW games at GWS and Geelong, and has kicked 35 goals over her career. Ten goals for the struggling Cats last season was good enough to take out the club's goalkicking award.

McWilliams was selected as a priority player for the Giants, returning to Victoria for the Cats' inaugural season.

According to Womens.afl, the Blues are also closing in on Collingwood midfielder Amelia Velardo, but will likely lose foundation player Lauren Brazzale in exchange.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Darcy Vescio and Lauren Brazzale of the Blues celebrates kicking a goal during the round 9 AFLW match between the GWS Giants and the Carlton Blues at Blacktown International Sportspark on March 28, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

11-gamer Velardo, who turns 20 on Saturday, played every game from Round 5 for the Pies over the summer, showing exciting signs around the stoppages.

The 25th pick in the 2020 draft was a Carlton supporter growing up, and admitted in an Upstart article last year that her family was somewhat unsettled by her selection by Collingwood.

Carlton's off-season has been brutal, having lost AFLW best-and-fairest winner Madison Prespakis to Essendon along with dimunitive forward Georgia Gee.

Grace Egan is expected to be a Tiger and Nicola Stevens a Saint, while Charlotte Wilson is reportedly on her way to Melbourne.

Finally, Courtney Jones is expected to join the Suns.