The second-ever AFLW season commences in just a matter of a days, and to lead up to the Friday night blockbuster between Carlton and Collingwood, I decided to bring back what I did last year and do a full-scale preview of each women’s team.
I will be predicting where you club will finish in season 2018 as well as predicting each team’s best and fairest winner, leading goal kicker, one draftee to look out for and best 21 for your side.
So without further ado, let’s get started with this mammoth AFLW Season Preview.
Adelaide
After securing the first-ever AFLW premiership in 2017, the Crows will become the hunted in 2018, rather than the hunters, but they have the coach and the cattle to make a serious challenge of going back-to-back. It’s going to be fascinating to watch teams try to quell the league’s reigning best and fairest in Erin Phillips, but I think she is too talented and too fit to be stopped. I also expect Ebony Marinoff will back up her 2017, to which she won the league’s Rising Star award with an even better year, perhaps one that might have her in contention for the league’s best and fairest this year.
The recruitment and success of Sarah Perkins has been a huge story during 2017. Overlooked entirely in the draft, the Crows threw her a lifeline via Free Agency and from there, we witnessed something special in the woman now known to many as ‘Tex’. She was the focal point up forward and delivered in spades, kicking 11 goals in 8 games and became an All-Australian and a premiership hero, and along with a worthy support cast of Abbey Holmes, Jess Sedunary, Jenna McCormick and Jess Allan, she could put in an even better performance this year.
The loss of marquee Kellie Gibson hurts to some degree, but the Crows have the depth to cover her with talented draftees Jess Allan, Eloise Jones and Jasmyn Hewett all expected to get some game time this year. Otherwise the Crows still have most of their team that won the premiership in 2017. Bec Goddard is a very smart coach and there will be no surprises here if the Crows get to the Grand Final again this year. Phillips and Chelsea Randall will again co-captain the Crows this year – both have proven to be extraordinary leaders.
Predicted Finish:1st
Best And Fairest Prediction: Ebony Marinoff
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Sarah Perkins
One Draftee To Watch: Jess Allan
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Dayna Cox, Courtney Cramey, Talia Radan
HB: Angela Foley, Chelsea Randall, Rachel Killian
MID: Rhiannon Metcalfe, Ebony Marinoff, Erin Phillips, Deni Varnhagen
HF: Sally Riley, Jess Allan, Jess Sedunary
F: Jenna McCormick, Sarah Perkins, Abbey Holmes
INT: Eloise Jones, Stevie-Lee Thompson, Georgia Bevan, Jasmyn Hewett, Anne Hatchard
Brisbane
The Lions went through the entire home and away season unbeaten, winning their first six games before securing a draw against Carlton in the final round to end the season on top of the ladder. Unfortunately, they suffered heartache when the Crows defeated them in the Grand Final in a very close game, one goal was all that separated the two sides. Still, this result proved that Brisbane will be a very tough team to beat in 2018 and beyond, and will be amongst the front runners again in 2018.
Unfortunately, they will go into 2018 without two players that were regular features in Brisbane’s side last year. Sam Virgo is a superbly underrated defender and for her to go down with a ruptured ACL will be a huge loss in the backline, but they still have a formidable defence that proved to be one of the best in the league last year. Tayla Harris’ much publicised move to Carlton was a huge talking point throughout the off-season, but the loss won’t affect them too greatly. This opens up an opportunity for Sabrina Fredrick-Traub to make the forward line her own as well as giving promising ex-Blue Bella Ayre more of an opportunity to log some game time in. Add the mosquito fleet of Kate McCarthy, Kaitlyn Ashmore and Jess Wuetschner, then this forward line is still capable of kicking a winning score.
Even with the losses of Harris and Virgo, the Lions still have a very formidable team and one that is still very capable of contending for the flag. Watching how Brisbane’s first draft pick in the ultra-talented Jordan Zanchetta operates in a midfield that consists of captain Emma Zielke and reigning best and fairest winner Emily Bates will be exciting. She has the potential to become an elite ball-winning midfielder and if it weren’t for a knee injury in 2016, she could’ve been in the Lions side and perhaps have been the difference in 2017.
Predicted Finish: 3rd
Best And Fairest Prediction: Sabrina Fredrick-Traub
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Kate McCarthy
One Draftee To Watch: Jordan Zanchetta
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Tahlia Randall, Leah Kaslar, Breanna Koenan
HB: Nicole Hildebrand, Kate Lutkins, Renee Cowan
MID: Sharni Webb, Emma Zielke, Emily Bates, Jordan Zanchetta
HF: Kaitlyn Ashmore, Sabrina Fredrick-Traub, Nat Exon
F: Kate McCarthy, Bella Ayre, Jess Wuetschner
INT: Kalinda Howarth, Brittany Gibson, Megan Hunt, Jamie Stanton, Jess Keeffe
Carlton
The Blues started off so well in season 2017, winning their opening two games, but in the end, they could only finish as high as fourth, only registering one more win and a draw with Brisbane at the end of the home and away season. Brianna Davey shone all throughout the season, and even battled a back injury to still average 19 disposals and four marks per game. I look forward to seeing her thrive under her newly-appointed captaincy.
In the off-season, Carlton traded in well with a focus to win now, acquiring Collingwood best and fairest winner Nicola Stevens and ex-Brisbane young gun Tayla Harris, with the Blues hoping they can have an immediate impact. Having Stevens in defence means it could potentially free up Davey to play in the midfield more, where she can be extremely damaging, whilst Harris could thrive working with the league’s leading goal-kicker from last year in Darcy Vescio – if the two can gel together early, then they could prove to be a hard task to stop in the long run.
Having said that, the list still has a few holes in it. The main problem is their midfield depth, which falls a fair bit after Davey, Sarah Hosking and Lauren Arnell. There is also the conundrum of who can kick their goals if both Vescio and Harris fail to fire. Draftee Sophie Li has been very impressive since her arrival to Carlton and could loom as a huge surprise packet up forward. Also look out for Bridie Kennedy, who was one of two recipients of the TAC Cup Best and Fairest award last year. They aren’t far off a Grand Final berth, but whether or not their recruiting has paid massive dividends remain to be seen.
Predicted Finish: 4th
Best And Fairest Prediction: Brianna Davey
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Darcy Vescio
One Draftee To Watch: Sophie Li
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Danielle Hardiman, Kate Gillespie-Jones, Laura Attard
HB: Lauren Brazzale, Nicola Stevens, Sarah Last
MID: Alison Downie, Brianna Davey, Sarah Hosking, Lauren Arnell
HF: Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Tayla Harris, Shae Audley
F: Jess Hosking, Darcy Vescio, Sophie Li
INT: Katie Loynes, Bridie Kennedy, Kerryn Harrington, Gabriella Pound, Madison Gay
Collingwood
The Pies were extremely disappointing from the word go in season 2017. The list promised so much, but delivered on very little. After three rounds, they were 0-3, but recovered to finish the season winning three of the last four. Their star forward Moana Hope battled injury all throughout last season and there just simply weren’t enough ball-winners to make the Pies a formidable side, thus why Jaimee Lambert was brought into the side. At her best, she is a ball magnet, and given that she struggled with injury last year, the Pies will welcome her in with welcome arms.
If the midfield – led again by Steph Chiocci – can fire, then it will be an absolute delight for the forwards, which boasts a lot of firepower. Aside from Hope, there are proven talents in Jasmine Garner, Jess Duffin, Sarah D’Arcy and Chloe Molloy, who won the VFLW’s goal-kicking award last year as an 18-year old. It’s not hard to see why the Pies were all the rave last year. But they need their midfielders to fire this year. Brittany Bonnici, Amelia Barden and Christina Bernardi are all solid players, but they haven’t been able to tear games apart, and they will seriously miss the input of Alicia Eva this year, who was by far their best mid in the side.
Collingwood are a side that will struggle mightily compared to the other three Victorian sides, but I still think the list is capable of a couple of wins this year, but Pies fans must embrace for an ugly season before things can get better. Aside from watching Molloy and Darcy Guttridge – who will miss most of the season with a collarbone injury – develop into stars, watch out for former Netballer Ash Brazill to slot into the Collingwood line-up and play a solid role during the season.
Predicted Finish: 6th
Best And Fairest Prediction: Jaimee Lambert
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Jasmine Garner
One Draftee To Watch: Ash Brazill
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Cecilia McIntosh, Stacey Livingstone, Caitlyn Edwards
HB: Emma Grant, Meg Hutchins, Bree White
MID: Emma King, Steph Chiocci, Amelia Barden, Brittany Bonnici
HF: Chloe Molloy, Jasmine Garner, Jaimee Lambert
F: Jess Duffin, Moana Hope, Sarah D’Arcy
INT: Ash Brazill, Darcy Guttridge, Lauren Tesoriero, Ruby Schleicher, Christina Bernardi
Fremantle
The Dockers were probably the biggest disappointment in season 2017. They entered round one last year as one of the premiership favourites due to the overall talent that Western Australia has and a superb coach that is Michelle Cowan. By the end of round seven, they were only percentage ahead of the last-placed Greater Western Sydney Giants. As they head into their second season, things are only mildly better for the Dockers, but with the injury list already mounting on this group, there is already a bit of doubt about this side heading into 2018.
They got Adelaide premiership player Kellie Gibson for pretty much nothing, but unfortunately she’ll miss most of the year with a hip injury and they won’t get back marquee midfielder Kiara Bowers until halfway through the year as she continues to recover from a knee injury that kept her out of the entire 2017 campaign and Kirby Bentley, who was a regular feature in Fremantle’s 22 last year, will miss the entire season with a ruptured ACL. Meaning it will be left up to draftees like Emily McGuire, Evangeline Gooch, Jodie White and Tayla McAuliffe to fill the holes left by the injured.
The midfield is still good enough to give some of the lesser sides a shake. Kara Donnellan should be able to back her up very impressive 2017 season, whilst there will be solid support in the likes of Lara Filocamo and Dana Hooker, which should make Bowers’ inclusion midway through the year all the more easier. But other than that trio, the Dockers need more from the likes of Belinda Smith and Hayley Miller, both of whom I believe are very good players. As it stands at the moment, they are my pick at the moment to win the wooden spoon this year, after they narrowly just missed it last year.
Predicted Finish: 8th
Best And Fairest Prediction: Kara Donnellan
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Stacey Barr
Draftee To Watch: Tayla McAuliffe
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Alex Williams, Ebony Antonio, Leah Mascall
HB: Belinda Smith, Tayla Bresland, Hayley Miller
MID: Gemma Houghton, Kara Donnellan, Kiara Bowers, Dana Hooker
HF: Kellie Gibson, Amy Lavell, Lara Filocamo
F: Emily McGuire, Stacey Barr, Amy Sharp
INT: Evangeline Gooch, Stephanie Cain, Alicia Janz, Melissa Caulfield, Brianna Green
GWS Giants
In Season 2017, the Giants finished where most experts predicted where they would finish at the start of the year – in last place. But don’t let that position fool you. The Giants did give teams a challenge throughout the year, and they even did manage to topple a premiership favourite in Melbourne. So the promise in this side is there, but it will be interesting to see how all the recruits fare in their first year in GWS colours, and there are a number of them that can help this side climb up the ladder in 2018. In Alan McConnell’s first year as coach of the Giants, we could see improvement out of sight.
The most important names are midfielders Renee Forth and Alicia Eva. Forth, who was named as a marquee player for the Giants before the start of last season, missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury, meaning she comes in pretty much like a new recruit. Both her and Eva will add a lot of class into a young midfield brigade and will give some much needed support for the likes of Jess Dal Pos and Emma Swanson, who were perhaps the two biggest stars in the Giants’ engine room. Dare I say that if Forth can get back to her best footy early, her influence on the team could be enough to see her claim a fairytale best and fairest win.
The additions of Tanya Hetherington and Rebecca Privitelli will shore up the defensive stocks for the year ahead, whilst the addition of Ireland’s Cora Staunton has had quite a few people talking. Staunton is a 10-time women’s Gaelic Football All-Star and given her talents as a forward in Gaelic Football, should see some time up forward in the AFLW this season in a Giants’ forward line that is on the rise. Phoebe McWilliams was a surprise packet up forward last season, but expect her to be the focal point again this year. The list is certainly good enough to avoid the spoon this year, but how far can they really go?
Predicted Finish: 7th
Best And Fairest Prediction: Renee Forth
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Phoebe McWilliams
One Draftee To Watch: Cora Staunton
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Amanda Farrugia, Renee Tomkins, Rebecca Privitelli
HB: Emma Swanson, Tanya Hetherington, Nicola Barr
MID: Erin McKinnon, Renee Forth, Jess Dal Pos, Alicia Eva
HF: Aimee Schmidt, Jacinda Barclay, Louise Stephenson
F: Cora Staunton, Phoebe McWilliams, Rebecca Beeson
INT: Pepa Randall, Maddy Boyd, Courtney Gum, Pippa Smyth, Maddy Collier
Melbourne
Out of all the sides that failed to qualify for the AFLW Grand Final last year, I feel strongly that Melbourne are perhaps the best side of the six to challenge for the flag. They won five of seven games, and if it weren’t for a shocking loss to the Giants, the Demons probably would’ve been a huge chance of a Grand Final last season. A 54-point win over Fremantle in the final round of the home and away season stamped how good this side can actually become in 2018.
It starts with the big four of Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman, Melissa Hickey and Elise O’Dea. This quartet are perhaps the biggest group in the AFLW today, and along with the assistance from the likes of Lily Mithen, Shelley Scott and a host of others will make this midfield very hard to beat. In addition to adding forward recruits Bianca Jakobsson, Eden Zanker and Tegan Cunningham to aid emerging forward Alyssa Mifsud, who booted nine goals last year, it should make Melbourne’s forward line not just extremely exciting to watch, but potentially dominant in years to come.
Some people will have the Dees finish as the premiers, but I’m not prepared to predict that just yet. Yes they’ll be a chance, yes they have every position on the ground well covered and yes they have the talent. But the one thing that stood out was when the pressure was on, they couldn’t handle it the slightest, but once they learn to weather the storm, then they will be considered a genuine threat to the Crows’ plans of going back-to-back.
Predicted Finish: 2nd
Best And Fairest Prediction: Karen Paxman
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Alyssa Mifsud
One Draftee To Watch: Eden Zanker
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Katherine Smith, Laura Duryea, Meg Downie
HB: Jasmine Grierson, Melissa Hickey, Ashleigh Guest
MID: Lauren Pearce, Daisy Pearce, Elise O’Dea, Karen Paxman
HF: Bianca Jakobsson, Tegan Cunningham, Cat Phillips
F: Eden Zanker, Alyssa Mifsud, Richelle Cranston
INT: Erin Hoare, Lily Mithen, Brooke Patterson, Shelley Scott, Sarah Lampard
Western Bulldogs
12 months ago, I made the bold prediction that the Western Bulldogs could go all the way and win the flag. They started very promisingly, dispatching Fremantle by over five goals, but from there they disappointed and finished with two wins from seven games and narrowly avoided the wooden spoon. Injuries played their role in the team’s demise, the one most notable was captain Katie Brennan struggled with an ankle injury. When she fully recovered from her injury, she dominated the Victorian women’s league, winning the VFLW best and fairest in only 13 games. Now back at full fitness, Brennan will be the focal point in a forward line that failed to function at times last year.
But the number one problem without doubt was the lack of midfield help for star duo Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney. This problem was rectified at the AFLW Draft, as they recruited Monique Conti, Daria Bannister and Jenna Bruton, all three have a lot of talent between them and should thrive in an engine room alongside the pair of Bulldog best and fairest winners. Number one draft pick Isabel Huntington also adds another dimension to the team. She can play and excel as a key forward, but has also shown her capabilities further up the ground. It will be interesting to see what her role within the team is come round one.
The Bulldogs have been super keen on improving from their disastrous 2017 campaign and I feel that they can at least double their wins tally from the 2017 season. Most of the side is at 100 percent and will give a lot of teams a run for their money in season 2018. If the midfield draftees can do their bit, then Blackburn should emerge as a genuine chance for the league’s best and fairest this year, she is that damn good of a player.
Predicted Finish: 5th
Best And Fairest Prediction: Ellie Blackburn
Leading Goal Kicker Prediction: Katie Brennan
One Draftee To Watch: Daria Bannister
Alex Docherty’s Best 21
B: Libby Birch, Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes
HB: Hannah Scott, Lauren Spark, Nicole Callinan
MID: Tiarna Ernst, Ellie Blackburn, Emma Kearney, Jenna Bruton
HF: Deanna Berry, Katie Brennan, Kirsty Lamb
F: Kirsten McLeod, Isabel Huntington, Aasta O’Connor
INT: Daria Bannister, Emma Mackie, Brooke Lochland, Angelica Gogos, Monique Conti