With just over two weeks until Geelong and Collingwood kick off the 2019 AFLW season, it is time for me to preview each of the 10 AFLW sides and what I think will happen to each side this year – It is time for my yearly AFLW season preview.
In years gone by, I've just done one huge article, writing a small piece on each team. But this year it will be split in two – with five teams done today and the other five to be done in the coming days. So if you haven't figured it out yet, the teams will be split into the two pools that the AFL had assigned them too when the fixture was released last year.
Today I'll be looking at Pool A. Arguably the the toughest group of the pair. With reigning premiers Western Bulldogs along with Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle and North Melbourne. As the Dogs are defending champions, expect the Demons and the Crows to contend up there, as well as North Melbourne, who have looked to have recruited exceptionally well. The Dockers loom as the wildcard in all of this as their improvement has been steady over the past couple of seasons.
I''ll list the teams in the order I think they will finish in the group. So let's get going.
5th – Fremantle
Fixture
Round 1: vs Melbourne (A) Round 2: vs Brisbane (H)
Round 3: vs Collingwood (H) Round 4: vs Adelaide (A)
Round 5: vs Western Bulldogs (H) Round 6: vs Geelong (A) Round 7: vs North Melbourne (H)
Despite finishing second-last in 2018, there were signs in amongst the Fremantle camp that they are on the up. They defeated Melbourne and were close against Adelaide and Brisbane last season. Unfortunately, they are grouped with some of the best in the league in 2019 and it is going to be a very tough ask for Trent Cooper in his first season to get the Dockers up the ladder and past sides such as the Bulldogs, Melbourne and Adelaide.
The one thing I like from this Dockers team is that they are very physical and they also don't mind to run. But the one thing that they need to do is improve all their skills work as it was the worst in the league last year. Another problem is that injuries to key players hurt them extensively last year. Kiara Bowers didn't play a game last season, Kellie Gibson missed a lot of footy with a hip problem and Kirby Bentley was considered a key pillar in defence and missed all of last year with a knee injury.
If Bowers and Gibson get full and fit seasons into them, then they will make life tough for the opposition, but right now, it's difficult to see them get past anyone else in their group. Aside from Kara Donnellan, Ebony Antonio, Dana Hooker and maybe one or two others, there isn't enough on the list that suggests anything different will happen this season. Sabreena Duffy and Jasmin Stewart are ones to look forward to in the future, but will rue missing out on the likes of Mackenzie Dowrik and Kate Bartlett – both were guns in WAWFL under-18s.
4th – North Melbourne
Fixture Round 1: vs Carlton (H)
Round 2: vs GWS (A) Round 3: vs Western Bulldogs (H) Round 4: vs Melbourne (A) Round 5: vs Adelaide (H) Round 6: vs Collingwood (A) Round 7: vs Fremantle (A)
This is where the next four spots get very difficult. North Melbourne are a better side than this prediction might suggest, but their opening five games are going to be a massive test in how good they can be. Carlton don't look like they are going to be a pushover side this season, and then come games against GWS, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Adelaide. Having Fremantle in WA in the last game of the season doesn't aid the cause either.
Emma Kearney was the best player in the league last season, but will have to work with a different midfield group this year. This will include premiership team mate Jenna Bruton, Jamie Stanton, Brittany Gibson, Emma Humphries and others. They were all solid players for their former clubs, but North will need them to pick up an extra gear if they are to go far in their first year. If this happens, then it will benefit the forwards such as Moana Hope, Jasmine Garner and Kaitlyn Ashmore Another big questions is how the teenagers/VFLW signings will impact the side? I've liked watching both of Ash Riddell and Sophie Abbatangelo at state level and believe they have something to offer in the top flight. Daisy Bateman was North's first selection at the draft and believe they have themselves a gem of a player. Drafted as a small forward, she is talented enough to push in the middle somewhere down the line. The first three games will dictate where North are heading this year. Win at least two of them and they're as big a chance as any.
3rd – Melbourne
Fixture
Round 1: vs Fremantle (H) Round 2: vs Collingwood (A) Round 3: vs Brisbane (A)
Round 4: vs North Melbourne (H) Round 5: vs GWS (A) Round 6: vs Western Bulldogs (A) Round 7: vs Adelaide (H)
Melbourne were very close to playing off in a Grand Final last season, pipped in the dying minutes by the Western Bulldogs, who went on to win the flag. There's no denying that the Demons are a good team and they have since day one of the competition, but with their best player Daisy Pearce to miss the season due to her pregnancy, it now puts pressure on a number of their midfielders to step up and ensure they don't miss finals again.
They should find themselves 2-0 with games against Fremantle and Collingwood to start the year. But then it gets very hard as they play five sides expected to contend this season. Elise O'Dea and Karen Paxman are elite midfielders, but they're going to need assistance from the likes of Lily Mithen, Kate Hore, Sarah Lampard and ex-Blue Maddy Gay. Having in young on-ballers such as Tyla Hanks and Maddy Brancatisano in the side will help as well – both will be stars down the line if they don't impact straightaway.
They have a solid core, but is it enough to get them to the Finals? Tegan Cunningham was a revelation last season as a key forward and Eden Zanker will get some game time for sure, and they have the speed in Cat Phillips and Aleisha Newman to cause opposition defenders headaches. Down back, Meg Downie was an All-Australian last season and having recruited Talia Radan from Adelaide will help in their key position stocks as well. They're a solid team, but I think they'll just miss out again.
2nd - Adelaide
Fixture
Round 1: vs Western Bulldogs (H) Round 2: vs Carlton (A)
Round 3: vs Geelong (H) Round 4: vs Fremantle (H) Round 5: vs North Melbourne (A)
Round 6: vs GWS (H) Round 7: vs Melbourne (A)
Adelaide's chances of going back-to-back last year were hampered severely due to the quad injury of Erin Phillips who dominated in the first year. They still gave it a crack, but fell just off the mark. If Phillips is 110 percent fit this time around, they will be in with the chance. If she falls at some stage, it makes the job extraordinarily difficult. The draw sees them play four home games – three in Adelaide and one in Darwin. They'll start the year against the defending champs Western Bulldogs – a game that they must win to solidfy themselves as contenders.
The Crows aren't a bad side, they didn't win a premiership in season one for no reason. Chelsea Randall is a gun player, Ebony Marinoff is the young star on the rise and players such as Sarah Allan, Angela Foley and Courtney Cramey are very good players. But it's the impact from Phillips that makes the team stand out. With her not in the team, Adelaide are more of a 'middle of the pack' side. Dare I say they are team that are predominantly 'B+ players', with the exception of those mentioned and a couple of others.
Ex-Giant Renee Forth will be a very interesting player to watch. Having played a couple of games last season for GWS returning from a knee injury, she struggled to get any form in the time she had. But under a fresh start, it could be what the Crows need to get back to the promised land. Look out for the young guns such as Nikki Gore, Danielle Ponter and Chloe Scheer to make some noise early in the season. If they keep their core group of players fit, they'll definitely push for a top two spot.
1st – Western Bulldogs
Fixture
Round 1: vs Adelaide (A)
Round 2: vs Geelong (H) Round 3: vs North Melbourne (A) Round 4: vs Brisbane (H) Round 5: vs Fremantle (A) Round 6: vs Melbourne (H) Round 7: vs Carlton (H)
Even with premiership players Emma Kearney, Jenna Bruton and Aasta O'Connor all missing this time around, I think the Western Bulldogs still have a bloody good list on paper. They have 18 players who played in their premiership back in the side, plus Katie Brennan and Izzy Huntington. They'll need to feature heavily if the Dogs want to go back to back. They'll also need to find out how they can fill the gap left by Kearney who won the league's best and fairest last year.
We know Ellie Blackburn, who was just recently appointed co-captain alongside Brennan, will be one to watch this year – she's a star. Kirsty Lamb is a very good inside midfielder, as is Angelica Gogos. Emma Mackie had a great season for Hawthorn in the VFLW and should get more time in the middle this year. Could we see Monique Conti play more in the midfield this year? She announced herself as a star of the league in the Grand Final last year, named as the best on the ground.
There is also plenty of intrigue around their new players. Belinda Smith looks like a nice pick-up from Fremantle. Eleanor Brown is an elite runner and could play early on, Irish recruit Aisling McCarthy could surprise a few, given the success of Cora Staunton at the Giants last year and Kate Bartlett was highly rated at under-18 level. Also watch out for the improvement on players such as Libby Birch, Bonnie Toogood, Aisling Utri and many others. It's not an easy draw, but there's no reason why they won't challenge for back-to-back flags.
Don't go too far as in the coming days, I will preview the remaining teams in the AFLW.