AFLW returned to our screens over the weekend – and whether you are a fan of the game or not – how bloody good is it to have football back. Round one has come and gone and with it came a number of highlights. Which is why I thought I'd list off nine things - whether it was a certain player or just something in the league - that I liked from round one of the third-ever AFLW season.
Nina Morrison
The number one pick in last year's AFLW Draft showed everyone in Geelong's first-ever game that she will be a force this season. She led everyone on the ground in disposals with 22 touches, she recorded eight tackles for the game, which was second to Brittany Bonnici, who had nine. On top of that, she kicked the winning point in the dying minutes. It was a cracking debut from Nina Morrison and that performance should have teams on notice during the year. Unsurprisingly, she was one of two players nominated for the Rising Star award this week.
Lauren Spark
The Bulldogs' number 11 announced herself as one of the premier defenders of AFLW in 2018. On Saturday night against the Crows, she took an league-record 11 marks and quite a few of those were intercept marks when Adelaide were threatening to put the contest out of reach. She was one of a few Bulldog defenders that stood tall in the back-line when they were under extreme pressure. She definitely has risen another level in her game and will be unquestionably a big reason why the Dogs can go back-to-back.
A Game Of The Season Candidate
Those that braved the heatwave on Sunday and trekked to Casey Fields were given a show when Melbourne and Fremantle played out a thriller. Plus with a scoreline of 59-55, it should shut up those that openly criticise the game – these women will get better with every week. The Dockers were 20 points up at half time, Melbourne erased that with a five goal third term and took a 14-point lead heading into the final change. Fremantle took care of that with a three-goal final term to hold on in a thriller.
Whilst We're On Fremantle...
This win showed me that the Dockers won't be the pushovers many expected in 2019. After two disappointing campaigns, they've won their first game interstate on Sunday and they did it overcoming tough opposition in Melbourne. Kiara Bowers' first game since she was signed as a marquee in 2016 was remarkable – 13 disposals and 12 tackles after missing two seasons with a knee injury. Sabreena Duffy was dangerous up forward in her first game and the usual suspects in Dana Hooker and Ebony Antonio starred.
Brisbane Aren't Going Anywhere
After losing a number of players in their best 21 last year, there were quite a few people ready to write off the Lions this year. But in true Brisbane fashion, they grinded out a stunning win over a GWS team that had been highly fancied by many experts. They had to come from a goal down twice, before they rallied for a three-goal burst in the third term. Jess Wuetschner is looking like an early favourite for the league's goal-kicking award this season. She just seems to find a way to make the opportunities happen. Ally Anderson and Emily Bates both had 22 touches and will be the keys to their midfield battles this season.
Emma King
The former Collingwood marquee player looked determined to reclaim her mantle as the league's best ruckwoman. And if her performance against Carlton was anything to go by, then you can bet that she will give Erin McKinnon a real fight on her hands. King kicked two goals off good contested marks, recorded 16 hitouts and had 10 disposals and seven tackles in a sterling all-around effort. Strange enough, North play GWS this Friday night in what will be a massive test for the Roos. Perhaps we will have a better idea who will be the leading ruck by then?
Ebony Marinoff
In amidst the damage that Adelaide did to themselves on Saturday night, there was one shining light and that was the work of Ebony Marinoff in the middle. The 2017 Rising Star winner recorded herself 25 disposals and 11 tackles – continuing the tackling form that she has produced in her first two seasons. We know that from the first season that she is a very good player, but 2019 will be the season that she puts herself into the top echelon of midfielders – if she isn't there already. Without her, the Crows wouldn't have had so many opportunities in front of goal Saturday night.
The New Kick-In Rule
This weekend was the first time we got to see players free to run it out of the goal square without kicking it to themselves. Whilst my initial thought of this rule came with some scepticism, watching some of the AFLW's best runners take it out of the square and hit the target made it a little bit more free-flowing, which I think is okay without changing any of the major dynamics of the game. I will admit I will miss the tradition of players kicking the ball to themselves, but I could get used to this new rule.
Alyce Parker
Whilst the Giants were a little bit disappointing against Brisbane, 18-year old debutant Alyce Parker showed why a lot of experts believed she was a top-three talent in the Draft class last year. Against a Brisbane midfield that has been in the past two Grand Finals, Parker recorded 18 disposals – half of those contested possessions – as well four marks and three tackles to be named alongside Nina Morrison as the Rising Star nominations of the week. Those that followed Parker in the under-18s last year shouldn't be surprised, as she blitzed the under-18 carnival, being named All-Australian captain.