On Friday, I previewed the five teams that make up the first of two conferences in the AFLW. Today, I will present what I think of the season ahead for the other five sides that make up conference B. The sides are Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong and GWS.
The first reaction among this group is that GWS and Brisbane are the two sides to beat in this group, but having listened to the Giants give the Lions a touch up in their practice match over the weekend, the second spot looks like it will be up for grabs. Considering that Carlton will be much better than they were last season and Geelong and Collingwood unknown quantities – The Cats entering the league this season and the Pies having lost a plethora of players over the off-season.
So let's have a look at these five teams with a bit more in-depth. Like Pool A, I will write about the teams in order of where I think they will finish in their group. If you didn't see who I thought finished where in Pool A, the link will be down below.
5th – Collingwood
Fixture
Round 1: vs Geelong (A)
Round 2: vs Melbourne (H) Round 3: vs Fremantle (A)
Round 4: vs GWS (H) Round 5: vs Carlton (A) Round 6: vs North Melbourne (H) Round 7: vs Brisbane (H)
Consider it an off-season of hell for the Collingwood Football Club. They lost Mo Hope, Jasmine Garner, Emma King, Christina Bernardi, Jess Duffin and Amelia Barden to other clubs. Caitlyn Edwards retired to pursue a rugby career and their Rising Star Chloe Molloy is out for the season with a bad foot injury, which she sustained in the VFLW. Upon the initial reaction, I believed they were going to get belted from pillar to post. But their practice match against the Bulldogs might suggest they won't be pushovers.
There were a number of players coming into the side this year that showed promise in that practice game, which saw the Pies go down by seven points. Sarah Rowe, who was taken as a rookie selection, kicked a pair of goals and looks like she could be another Irish recruit that has a positive impact. Katie Lynch, Jordyn Allen and Mikala Cann – who were Collingwood's first three picks on draft day – all look like they'll impact straightaway and ex-Lions Jordan Membrey and Nicole Hildebrand will bring some much-needed experience. They will also have highly-touted Darcy Guttridge back after she missed all of last year with a broken collarbone.
For the Pies to compete in season 2019, they're going to need the likes of Jaimee Lambert, Steph Chiocci, Emma Grant, Sarah D'Arcy and others to play their best footy. The fixture itself isn't exactly kind to them. They have Geelong at Geelong in round one and after that, there's Melbourne, Fremantle at Fremantle Oval and GWS. I think they've simply lost too much to find themselves up the ladder this year, which is a shame, because they started finding some rhythm at the tail-end of last season.
4th – Geelong
Fixture
Round 1: vs Collingwood (H) Round 2: vs Western Bulldogs (A) Round 3: vs Adelaide (A)
Round 4: vs Carlton (H) Round 5: vs Brisbane (A) Round 6: vs Fremantle (H) Round 7: vs GWS (A)
If I've said it once about this side, I've probably said it 100 times now – Geelong are the great unknown of the AFLW. Looking at their list, it's a mixture of experience and youth, which is by all means, not a bad thing at all. A lot of their youth have potential to be big things in the league. Nina Morrison and Sophie Van De Heuval were the top two picks in last year's draft and both look will impact straightaway. Likewise Olivia Purcell, Rebecca Webster and Georgia Clarke.
They have solid signings on every line. Phoebe McWilliams kicked four on Carlton in their practice match over the weekend and looks like she'll be the go-to forward. Mel Hickey will captain the side this season and she's an elite operator at half-back. Richelle Cranston, Maddy Boyd, Aasta O'Connor and Anna Teague are all solid players as well and will provide valuable experience for all those who haven't played AFLW footy yet. They have also picked up players such as Meg McDonald, Mia-Rae Clifford, Hayley Trevean and Maddy Keryk from their VFLW side – players who have also had experience at AFLW level.
I think this year will be all about both the VFLW-listed players and the young draftees getting adjusted to playing AFLW footy as opposed to state level. They're going to be a very interesting team to watch. They were victorious over Carlton in their practice match, but we won't know much else about this team until they take the field in Geelong to play Collingwood in round one.
3rd – Carlton Fixture
Round 1: vs North Melbourne (A) Round 2: vs Adelaide (H) Round 3: vs GWS (A) Round 4: vs Geelong (A) Round 5: vs Collingwood (H) Round 6: vs Brisbane (H) Round 7: vs Western Bulldogs (A)
Last year, Carlton were the wooden spooners of the AFLW. Not a whole lot went right in 2018. They were 2-0 after two rounds and from there, they lost their captain, and arguably best player, and failed to win another game from there on out – even being on the receiving end of a history-making shellacking. Under a new coach in Daniel Harford this season, following the resignation of Damien Keeping, the Blues will look like a rejuvenated outfit in 2019.
Their captain Bri Davey came back from a season-ending knee injury in the practice match over the weekend and slotted four goals playing forward. Having played more as a midfielder and a defender in the past couple of seasons, expect her to play more forward this year and if three or four goals is the norm this year, then the Blues will be in for a good year. Don't worry too much about the hole in the middle that was there last year. The inclusions of Amelia Mullane (nee Barden)and highly-touted young gun Maddie Prespakis should fill the gap quite nicely. Don't forget the likes of the Hosking twins and Katie Loynes – who was one of two players to win their best and fairest last year.
If Saturday's game against Geelong was anything to go by, then expect Daniel Harford's game plan to be more of a run-and-gun style as opposed to a defensively-minded structure that was enforced in the previous two seasons. They're going to be more fun to watch this season. Especially if the trio of Davey, Tayla Harris and Darcy Vescio get their way up forward. This list is capable of winning at least three games this year.
2nd – Brisbane Lions
Fixture Round 1: vs GWS (H)
Round 2: vs Fremantle (A)
Round 3: vs Melbourne (H)
Round 4: vs Western Bulldogs (A)
Round 5: vs Geelong (H)
Round 6: vs Carlton (A) Round 7: vs Collingwood (A)
The Lions are going to be another team that will be intriguing to monitor after somewhat of a tumultuous 12 months. Having lost their second straight Grand Final by a goal was compounded by the fact that they lost five good players to other clubs and young gun Sophie Conway will miss this year with a knee injury. Conway's influence on the ground is perhaps a little underrated, but in a season where they need players to step up, she's going to be a huge loss.
Despite the losses, there's still talent on this list that suggests they won't slide down the ladder aggressively. They added in Lauren Arnell, the former Carlton captain will add some depth in the middle and perhaps be an option up forward. Of their draftees Paige Parker looks like she'll be a nice player, likewise Nat Grider. Lauren Bella has the potential to be one of the top rucks in a few years time and Mackenzie Dowrick is a player that will help fill the gap left by the departing Lions.
Some people have already written off the Brisbane Lions as premiership contenders. And even though they did get walloped by GWS in the practice match over the weekend, I think that the Lions will be a much better side than that come the end of the season. Craig Starcevich is a very good coach and I wouldn't be shocked to see if he has any other coaching tricks or moves up his sleeve.
1st – GWS Fixture
Round 1: vs Brisbane (A)
Round 2: vs North Melbourne (H)
Round 3: vs Carlton (H)
Round 4: vs Collingwood (A)
Round 5: vs Melbourne (H) Round 6: vs Adelaide (A)
Round 7: vs Geelong (H)
From finishing wooden spooners in the inaugural season of AFLW to finishing a game short of playing off in the Grand Final last year, there is no doubt that the Giants made big strides in their development in 2018. All I can say is expect another big stride in 2019. One that will see them catapult themselves right into Finals contention. If their practice match against Brisbane was any indication of how they'll play during the season, then they're going to be hard to stop.
The inclusion of Christina Bernardi from Collingwood will help their forward line to a degree, considering they lost Phoebe McWilliams to Geelong. Giant fans would also love to see another step in Cora Staunton's development, after she was a revelation last year. Their first pick in the last year's draft, Alyce Parker, will compliment what is already an impressive midfield brigade. One that consists of Courtney Gum, Alicia Eva, Jess Dal Pos and Emma Swanson. Furthermore, you've got Erin McKinnon, one of the best rucks in the competition, and it's going to be tough for sides to quell this midfield.
The fixture also favours the Giants. Should they beat Brisbane in Queensland in round one, the majority of the games they play are very much winnable – perhaps only Adelaide in Adelaide is the one I'd jot them down for a loss. They have solid players on every line. Players such as Nicola Barr, Tanya Hetherington, Amanda Farrugia, Jacinda Barclay and Louise Stephenson are all going to be pivotal in their quest for the premiership this year, and I believe that they will at least make the last four. Playing off in the Grand Final will definitely not be out of conversation either.