DEFENDER Ella Heads is now a Port Adelaide player, after being traded to the club from Sydney in a trade involving four clubs.

Heads arrives at Alberton in a trade which also sees Port Adelaide significantly strengthen its hand at next week’s Telstra AFLW Draft with an additional pick.

The trade also involves defender Ashleigh Van Loon leaving Essendon for Sydney and a host of picks swapping between the Bombers, Swans, Brisbane and the Power.

Heads spent time in the Swans’ Academy before being joining the AFLW side as an open-age signing ahead of the AFLW’s season seven.

She made her AFLW debut in 2022 and has played 33 consecutive games since, averaging 12.2 disposals, 4.5 tackles and 3.4 marks.

Defender Ella Heads made her debut in 2022 and has played 33 consecutive games since. Image: AFL Photos.

She played every game in her debut season and finished top-five in the club best and fairest, then was named in the AFL Players’ Association 22Under22 last year.

At 175cm, the 21-year-old can play as a tall defender and has also shown an ability to find the ball, including a 21-disposal effort against the Western Bulldogs this year.

List Manager Naomi Maidment was pleased to welcome the 2023 Rising Star nominee to Port Adelaide.

“Ella is a proven consistent performer in defence, an area we needed to bolster following the retirements of Ange Foley, Hannah Dunn and Maddy Keryk,” Maidment said.

“She reads the ball well, marks strongly, and will provide elite ball use out of defence, and at 21 and with more than 30 games under her belt already, we think she will complement our young, developing backline.

“We are excited to get Ella to Alberton and see her continue to improve in our program.

“We are also pleased to have significantly strengthened our draft hand in advance of what will be the first completely national AFLW Draft.”

Port Adelaide now holds picks 17, 33, 40, 47, 53 and 69 for Monday’s Telstra AFLW Draft.