The 2018 AFLW season is underway from Friday and we have previewed all eight teams, ahead of what is set to be another outstanding edition of competition.
2017 champions the Adelaide Crows remain $3.75 favourites to successfully defend their title in season 2, while Carlton ($4.25), Melbourne ($4.50) and the Western Bulldogs ($6) occupy the next few lines of betting.
ADELAIDE CROWS
The Crows came from the clouds to seal the inaugural AFLW flag in 2017. The Crows will be one of the favourites to grab success again. Adelaide skipper Erin Phillips was the benchmark of the competition. Phillips swept aside the all challengers to claim every individual award. Phillips was named the competitions best player and picked-up best on ground during the Grand Final. Midfielder Ebony Marinoff won the Rising Star award for 2017. Marinoff’s partnership with Phillips needs to improve for the Crows to go back-to-back. With the rest of the competition gunning for them, the pressure will be on the Crows to re-produce their 2017 form. The draw has been kind to the Crows who play Brisbane at home in round one and avoided a trip to Perth.
2017 RESULT: 1ST
2018 PREDICTION: 3RD
PLAYER TO WATCH: ERIN PHILLIPS
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions will be hurting after a first season that promised so much. The Lions were undefeated for the regular season, falling at the final hurdle to the Crows in the Grand Final. Tayla Harris’s move to Carlton adds some extra pressure to the Lions forward line. The Lions coaching staff have their work cut out for them after they lost All Australian defender Samantha Virgo for 2018 with an injury. Sabrina Federick-Taub will be a key weapon for the Lions. The ruck-forward will be looking to replicate her form from 2017. The Lions have a tough draw facing Adelaide, Carlton and Melbourne on the road in the opening three rounds. The Lions are a well-organised unit but on paper, lack depth to compete with some of the bigger teams in Melbourne.
2017 RESULT: 2ND
2018 PREDICTION: 4TH
PLAYER TO WATCH: SABRINA FEDERICK-TAUB
CARLTON
The Blues have been one of the most aggressive teams in the competition during the trade period. Carlton snared Nicola Stevens from Collingwood and Brisbane’s Tayla Harris. Steven’s recruitment was a coup for the Blues. The Pies Best and Fairest winner, Stevens will provide some sorely needed drive from the backline. With Harris in the forward line, the Blues have the potential to be devastating in attack. Darcy Vescio has been tipped by league pundits to be the competitions leading goal-kicker. The Blues will depth gives them a real edge. If they can control address their issues in the midfield, then they justify their early season favouritism for the flag.
2017 RESULT: 4TH
2018 PREDICTION: 1ST
PLAYER TO WATCH: DARCY VESCIO
COLLINGWOOD
On paper, the Pies have assembled one of the strongest forward lines in the competition. The issue for Collingwood is that they have had to let go of their premier players in Nicola Stevens and Alicia Eva. The 2017 Best and Fairest Winner, Stevens was traded to the Blues. The Pies will miss her drive from the backline. The Pies picked up the 1st pick in the draft in the trade for Eva. Collingwood used their draft leverage to pick up Victorian local Chris Molloy. Molloy has the potential to take the competition by storm after outscoring Darcy Vescio in the VFLW. Collingwood will struggle against the likes of the Crows and the Blues. The Pies lack depth through the midfield and are a couple of seasons away from challenging for the flag.
2017 RESULT: 5TH
2018 PREDICTION: 6TH
PLAYER TO WATCH: CHRIS MOLLOY
FREMANTLE
Fremantle were initially the competition favourites in 2017 before their first season was crippled by injury. The Dockers struggled to put together a competitive list and face an uphill battle to compete with the likes of Adelaide and Carlton. The hot conditions and the trip across the Nullarbor will still be a cause of concern for the interstate sides. A number of Dockers players start their second season under an injury cloud. Dana Hooker remains one of the bright spots for Fremantle. Hooker has proven to be one of the premier midfielders in the competition. The Dockers will struggle up forward to score goals. With trips to Adelaide and Brisbane, it could be a long season for Fremantle.
2017 RESULT: 7TH
2018 PREDICTION: 8TH
PLAYER TO WATCH: DANA HOOKER
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Greater Western Sydney picked up the wooden spoon in their first season in the competition. GWS with injury and the ability to turn possession into points. Rene Forth will slot back into a Giants midfield that includes All-Australian Jess Dal Pos and number one draft pick Nicola Bar. Emma McKinnon will be one to watch in 2018. The youngster remains one of the best ruckmen in the competition. If the Giants don’t improve their woeful efforts across the backline, then they’ll struggle to be competitive. The Giants were the only team to concede more than 300 points in the regular season. With too much work to do at both ends of the park, the Giants will struggle to have an impact on the competition.
2017 RESULT: 8TH
2018 PREDICTION: 7TH
PLAYER TO WATCH: ERIN MCKINNON
MELBOURNE
Melbourne enters their second season as one of the favourites for the flag. The Demons were on track for the 2017 Grand Final, until a shock loss to GWS. The Demons have spent the preseason putting together one of the best playing lists in the competition. Melbourne have one of the strongest sides in the comp. Daisy Pearce is the stand-out in a midfield that includes the likes of Karen Paxman and Elise O’Dea. Pearce has the ability to step into the forward line and float across half back. If the Demons can find a way to convert possession into points, then they should march into the Grand Final. Melbourne will be one of the teams to watch come finals time and should finish in the top two.
2017 RESULT: 3RD
2018 PREDICTION: 2ND
PLAYER TO WATCH: DAISY PEARCE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
If Katie Brennan can stay healthy the Bulldogs will prove a difficult proposition for opposing teams. Brennan has been one of the form players of the WFLW competition and will be looking to continue her dominance when the season commences. The Bulldogs were unable to compete without Brennan in 2017. The Bulldogs have recruited some exciting young talent in the offseason to go with the experience on their playing list. They used the number one draft pick to select forward Isabel Huntington. The Dogs may not be in a position to challenge for the flag, but the pieces are in place to make a significant push for finals footy in 2019.
2017 RESULT: 6TH
2018 PREDICTION: 5TH
PLAYER TO WATCH: KATIE BRENNAN