Last year, I released my very first top 50 AFLW players after the inaugural season. Like all the top 50 lists I've done over the past few years, it's been a lot of fun compiling the list together and it was pretty well-recieved when I released it.
Now it's time to reveal my top 50 AFLW players among this year. It's funny how much of a difference a year makes. Darcy Vescio, Brianna Davey and Kate McCarthy were all top-10 players last year, but don't feature this year due to form or season-ending knee injuries (Davey), replaced by three ladies making their debut in the top 50 this year, including two first-year players. Might sound a little crazy I know, but they have thoroughly earned their spots.
Adelaide and Brisbane were the talk of the AFLW town after making the Grand Final. The Lions went into the match undefeated and the Crows managed to pull of an upset for the ages. These two sides had nine and seven players in the top 50 respectively.
It all changes this year. Brisbane have a fifth of the list littered with Lions players – that's right – 10 of the top 50 players are Brisbane players. This time last year, Jess Wuetschner (6) barely scraped in my top 50, but this year she's firmly entrenched in the top 10, however she misses out on a spot in the top five, nor is she the highest-ranked Lion on the list. It's not Ally Anderson (12) was an unknown heading into this year, but has improved among leaps and bounds at the conclusion of 2018 and it's not Sabrina Frederick-Traub (16) who dominated games at various stages of the season
The honour of top Lion goes to Kate Lutkins, who put together one of the most dominant seasons from a defenders stand-point. She was hardly beaten and found plenty of the ball from start to finish and for that, she was rewarded accordingly. An All-Australian, a club best and fairest and if the Lions had won the premiership, she'd definitely have the best on ground medal sewn up as well. She gets the number two spot on my list. Her partner-in-crime in defence Leah Kaslar (24) makes the list as well as Emily Bates (22), Jamie Stanton (36), Emma Zielke (39), Tahlia Randall (44) and Sophie Conway (47).
The Crows have only five players in this year. Erin Phillips was the number one player last year, but her quad injury early in the season hurt her chances of going back-to-back this year, but she still makes the top-half of the top 50, ranked 25th. Chelsea Randall (4) had a magnificent year in the backline and finds herself in the top five after a year that saw her claim the Crows' best and fairest and claim All-Australian captaincy. Ebony Marinoff (14) had another terrific year leading the tackles by a fair length (Averaged 11.7 per game) whilst the seasons of Sarah Allan (26) and Angela Foley (43) in defence should not be overlooked either.
The premiers have eight players in this year's top 50. If Isabel Huntington wasn't injured and Katie Brennan was able to consistently get on the park (missed four games with injury and suspension), that could've become 10.
Three of the eight are in the top 10 and five are in the top 20, including the new number one player in Emma Kearney. Despite leaving the club to go join North Melbourne for 2019, Kearney's ability to win the ball, break the lines and set team mates up in the forward line have been critical to the team's success in 2018. Her partner-in-crime Ellie Blackburn (5) is a lock in the top-five, whilst Hannah Scott (18) is a lock as a top 20 player of the competition.
2018's leading goal-kicker Brooke Lochland (15) is amongst the game's most improved, not just her ability to hit the goal-sheet, but she consistently gets her hands on the ball and her work-rate is remarkable, whilst the Grand Final's best on ground Monique Conti (10) started her first season in the AFLW solid enough and improved with each game and culminated in a little piece of history – in any other year, she probably could've won the league's Rising Star award. Kirsty Lamb (38) flew under the radar as a midfielder, whilst the defensive pair Libby Birch (28) and Lauren Spark (37) have been incredible in the back-line all year long.
Collingwood, who finished sixth this season, also have eight players in the top 50, led by first-year sensation Chloe Molloy (9), who enjoyed a cracking year in defence – a position that was completely foreign to her. Molloy won the competition's Rising Star award and named an All-Australian from defence, providing intercept marks and drive from half-back have been top-notch from start to finish. Jasmine Garner (21) and Christina Bernardi (23) have also been brilliant all-year long.
Emma King (49) however, has been overthrown as the AFLW's best ruckwoman in the land. Through no fault of her own though, as the coaching staff thought it was a good idea to play her forward. As a result, GWS' Erin McKinnon (20) became the All-Australian ruck after another impressive year as a ruck, however Alicia Eva (8) and AFLPA Women's MVP Courtney Gum (11) are the top Giants in the list – they have six in the top 50 this year, including Phoebe McWilliams (31), Jess Dal Pos (48) and captain Amanda Farrugia (45) Last but certainly not least, rounding out the top 10, it just wouldn't be one, without Melbourne pair Daisy Pearce (3) and Karen Paxman (7), and along with Elise O'Dea (13), continued their reign as one of AFLW's most dominant midfield trio, whilst recruit Tegan Cunningham (19) capped off a great debut year with a top-20 spot. Dana Hooker (17) is the highest-ranked of three Fremantle Dockers, whilst former Brisbane forward Tayla Harris (29) is the highest-ranked of three Carlton players in what has been a dismal year for the Blues.
Alex Docherty's Top 50 AFLW Players 50. Breann Moody – Carlton Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 7.6 Average Hitouts: 21
49. Emma King – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: 14 2018 Games: 7
2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 8 Average Hitouts: 18
48. Jess Dal Pos – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: 16 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 11
47. Sophie Conway – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 5
Average Disposals: 7.8
46. Jaimee Lambert – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: 41 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 14.9
45. Amanda Farrugia – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 2
Average Disposals: 11
44. Tahlia Randall – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 6.6 Average Hitouts: 17.5
43. Angela Foley – Adelaide Last Years Ranking: N/A
2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 13.3
42. Richelle Cranston – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 10
41. Stephanie Chiocci – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: 38 2018 Games: 5 2018 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 14
40. Jess Duffin – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: 35 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 1 Average Dispsoals: 13.5
39. Emma Zielke – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: 25 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0
Average Disposals: 12.3
38. Kirsty Lamb – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 12.8
37. Lauren Spark – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 7.5
36. Jamie Stanton – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 16.6
35. Sarah Hosking – Carlton Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 12
34. Melissa Hickey – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: 19 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 11
33. Ebony Antonio – Fremantle Last Years Ranking: 40 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 13.4
32. Tayla Harris – Carlton Last Years Ranking: 18 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 9.8
31. Phoebe McWilliams – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: 29 2018 Games:7 2018 Goals: 7
Average Disposals: 7.7
30. Bianca Jakobsson – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: 39 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 12.5
29. Moana Hope – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: 21 2018 Games: 6 2018 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 8.7
28. Libby Birch – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 6.5
27. Kara Donnellan – Fremantle Last Years Ranking: 11 2018 Games: 7
2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 15
26. Sarah Allan - Adelaide Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 9
25. Erin Phillips – Adelaide Last Years Ranking: 1 2018 Games: 5 2018 Goals: 7 Average Disposals: 12
24. Leah Kaslar – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: 42 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 7.5
23. Christina Bernardi – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 9 Average Disposals: 11.4
22. Emily Bates – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: 26 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 17.4
21. Jasmine Garner – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 12.4
20. Erin McKinnon – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: 37 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 0 Average Disposals: 5 Average Hitouts: 24.7
19. Tegan Cunningham – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 9 Average Disposals: 7.9
18. Hannah Scott – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: 24 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 10.5
17. Dana Hooker – Fremantle Last Years Ranking: 23 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 17.6
16. Sabrina Frederick-Traub – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: 9 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 8 Average Disposals: 11.4
15. Brooke Lochland – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 12 Average Disposals: 12
14. Ebony Marinoff – Adelaide Last Years Ranking: 10 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 0
Average Disposals: 15.6
13. Elise O'Dea – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: 13 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 4 Average Disposals: 17.6
12. Ally Anderson – Brisbane Last Years Rankings: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 18
11. Courtney Gum – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 5 Average Disposals: 14.7
10. Monique Conti – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 13.8
9. Chloe Molloy – Collingwood Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 14.4
8. Alicia Eva – Greater Western Sydney Last Years Ranking: 45 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 17.9
7. Karen Paxman – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: 5 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 17.7
6. Jess Wuetschner – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: 47 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 13 Average Disposals: 9.6
5. Ellie Blackburn – Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: 3 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 16.9
4. Chelsea Randall – Adelaide Last Years Ranking: 12 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 16.3
3. Daisy Pearce – Melbourne Last Years Ranking: 2 2018 Games: 7 2018 Goals: 2 Average Disposals: 18.1
2. Kate Lutkins – Brisbane Last Years Ranking: N/A 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 1 Average Disposals: 17.8
1. Emma Kearney - Western Bulldogs Last Years Ranking: 6 2018 Games: 8 2018 Goals: 3 Average Disposals: 19