The fourth AFLW season kicks off in just a couple of weeks’ time, and the pundits are working on their predictions for the season ahead. Whilst I have already delivered my predictions on who will finish where in the conferences, there’s still the predictions of things like the All-Australians, who might win the Rising Star and other things that are up in the air.
Whilst I’ve already given out my ladder predictions, there’s still some things that I haven’t yet mentioned, and I thought, why not be daring a little bit and make some predictions for the year that whilst is not entirely out of question, they might still sound enough left-field to make them your own predictions.
From picking All-Australians to picking out who might win the flag and everything else in between.
These are six predictions that might sound slightly outlandish, but are still a chance to happen for the 2020 AFLW Season
Nina Morrison Bounces Back To Be An All-Australian
Now this is putting a bit of pressure on the number one draft pick on 2018. Nina Morrison, who will return from a knee injury this season, had a debut to remember against Collingwood. She picked up 22 disposals, eight tackles and the three votes in what would be Geelong’s first win in the AFLW. Unfortunately, she would rupture the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee at training in the lead up to round two and would miss the remainder of the year.
Having had the privilege to speak to her on the A3 Footy Podcast (Go and listen to it if you got time), she would be just aiming to get back on the park and playing all eight games of the home and away season. If she can string the games together, then I firmly believe that she can be in with the chance to get an All-Australian spot. The challenge though is that the midfielders coming through the AFLW right now are not exactly few and far between – there were plenty of star midfielders that missed out last year.
I’ll back Nina in to have a strong year to at least be in consideration.
Joint AFLW Best And Fairest Winners
We haven’t had joint-winners yet in the short history of the league. Erin Phillips has won two of the three league best and fairests – the other being Emma Kearney. Last year, Phillips had the medal sewn up by round five and was eight votes clear of the next best player, that being Dana Hooker. With Phillips still recovering from her knee injury that she sustained in the AFLW Grand Final last year, picking a favourite to win the medal this year should be as open as we’ve seen for a while.
So why not see a tie this year? It’ll happen eventually and with Phillips no certainty to play round one, or even the first half of the season, it provides a chance for other midfielders to delve in and have a crack and seriously there are some names here that are definitely worthy of a medal. Kearney of course should be considered again, but think of names like Hooker, Maddy Prespakis, Monique Conti, Karen Paxman to name a few. I’d also strongly consider Phillips’ teammates: Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff – both look set to have massive seasons again.
Imagine if they both Hatchard and Marinoff led the pack at the end of the vote count? That would be ludicrous, but would confirm how stacked the Crows are for midfield depth.
Round 1: Richmond and Carlton Lock Out Ikon Park
Round one is going to tell us so much about what lies ahead for the 14 teams. The season opener will give us a good indication as to what we can expect from the Richmond Football Club in 2020. Carlton, after making the Grand Final last year, are obviously expected to contend again and should be at the pointy end of the season this year, if they can maintain a healthy list. All the elements are pointing to an sure-fire cracking game of football to kick off the 2020 AFLW season. Let’s go all the way and predict that this will be the second lock-out that Ikon Park has had since the competition started.
The last time this happened of course, was the first-ever game for premiership points between Carlton and archrivals Collingwood. I think it’ll be a lockout for a few reasons: 1) this is going to be Richmond’s first-ever game for premiership points and given how big their supporter base is, they’ll come in droves. 2) Carlton’s success of making the Grand Final will entice the Blues supporters to come down and get behind them as they look to go one better and 3) it’s something for the footy-mad (Like me) to get down and watch what should be a good game of footy.
Richmond Wins A Final
So whilst we’re on the Tigers, we need a bold prediction for the Finals. For those that read the Season Previews, you would have read that I had Richmond finishing third in conference A. In the new Finals format this year, the top three sides from each conference will qualify for the Finals – the top side gets the first week off whilst second from one conference battles third from the other. It’s unique and given that they AFLW insist on conferences (sigh), we might as well go along with it and see what this brings.
Out of the four teams coming into the fold this year, Richmond are best placed to not just play finals, but to perhaps take a scalp in that first week. They’ve got the core players covered: key forwards, a solid midfield group led by and a defensive set-up that proved itself in the VFLW last year. We’ll know more about them in a few weeks when they take the field at Ikon Park for the very first time. But for now, my early call is that they’ll win themselves a Final in the first week. With all due respect to Geelong, if they could make the Finals last year, there’s absolutely no reason why Richmond can’t at least push in the first week.
A Number One Draft Pick Wins The AFLW Rising Star Award For The First Time
When you read this title, you’re probably going to think instantly of Gabby Newton, last year’s number one draft pick is going to win this year’s Rising Star. It’s bold to think this in a respect, out of just last year’s Draft Class, there’s probably half a dozen well and truly in the running: Think Lucy McEvoy, Georgia Patrikios, Sophie Molan, Mia King, Lily Postlethwaite among others as other serious contenders. But we’re meant to be going a little left-field here, so here it comes. I think this year is going to be the year that we’ll see Izzy Huntington break out into an emerging star of the competition and beats all of those just mentioned.
I think back to that game up in Queensland nearly two years ago, and the way she teared apart that Brisbane defence in a matter of minutes, that speaks so much about what she is capable of. And for those that are wondering what it takes to be eligible for nominations, players must be under 21 at the start of the year and not been previously nominated. Huntington doesn’t turn 21 until February, making her eligible and history shows those that win the Rising Star award, often claim another award or two. So while we’re at it, let’s see Izzy get an All-Australian as well and leading the competition’s goal kicking isn’t beyond her either if she can get a full season.
Lauren Pearce Returns To Guide Melbourne To It’s First Flag
It’s easy to get caught up with the return of Daisy Pearce and how this might just be the one thing the Dees need to finally get to the promised land. If you think this, you’re somewhat correct. I think she can come back in and provide the impact on games that can help Melbourne reach their goal. But she’s not the be-all, end-all of it, as great of a player she’s been for the Demons all this time. Last year Melbourne performed very well in the middle in her absence.
The key to their premiership chances this year is Lauren Pearce, who is arguably the most important piece in that Melbourne midfield. She’ll miss perhaps the first half of the home and away season as she recovers from knee surgery. Season 2019 was a banner year for Pearce, as she was named in the ruck of the AFLW All-Australian team. Later on in the year she won the VFLW best and fairest after a stunning year for Darebin. Her absence will leave a bit of a void in the square, averaging just a tad under 20 hitouts per game, so her ability to palm it down to the likes of Daisy, Karen Paxman and company will be critical at the back-end of the season.
Perhaps even influential enough to take them all they way, she'll be huge for them at the business end of the season. As the saying goes: It’s not how you start, but how you finish.