AFLW premiership player Kellie Gibson has been released by the Crows to return home to Perth.

The Crows worked to try and secure a trade for Gibson, who was a marquee player in the inaugural AFLW season, after she informed the Club of her desire to return to Western Australia for personal reasons.

The Club explored trade options with Fremantle and involving multiple clubs, but with draft picks holding almost no value for non-Victorian clubs because of the competition’s state-based drafts, what was considered as a fair trade could not be reached.

General Manager of Football Administration Phil Harper said the Club was supportive of the 20-year-old’s decision.

“As a member of our history-making AFLW premiership team, Kellie played an important role at the Club during the inaugural season. We respect her desire to return home for personal reasons and wish her all the best,” he said.

Gibson is now an unrestricted free agent, allowing her to be picked up by another club during the free agency period.

The AFLW signing and trade period concluded on Friday (May 26).

In line with AFLW rules, clubs could re-sign up to 22 members of their 2017 squads during this period.

The Crows have secured 20 members of their premiership team including co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall.

They are joined by South-Australian based teammates Sarah Perkins, Courtney Cramey, Ebony Marinoff Jenna McCormick, Talia Radan, Anne Hatchard, Dayna Cox, Jess Sedunary, Justine Mules, Rhiannon Metcalfe, Rachael Killian, Deni Varnhagen, Georgia Bevan and Sarah Allan.

Northern Territory players Abbey Holmes, Stevie-Lee Thompson and joint-vice captains Ange Foley and Sally Riley have also inked new deals with the Club.