3 minute read

Fast facts about the 14 AFLW clubs contesting the fourth season of the competition.

HOW THE 14 AFLW CLUBS ARE SHAPING UP FOR THE 2020 SEASON

ADELAIDE

Coach: Matthew Clarke

Captains: Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall

Past finishes: 1st, 5th, 1st

Big outs: Chelsea Randall (knee), Hannah Button nee Martin (knee)

Big ins: Courtney Gum (GWS), Najwa Allen (Norwood)

Outlook: The injury bug has bitten down hard on the Crows with the loss of co-captain Randall and premiership winning midfielder Button. Will it derail their premiership defence?

BRISBANE

Coach: Craig Starcevich

Captain: Emma Zielke

Past finishes: 4th Conference B, 2nd, 2nd

Big outs: Leah Kaslar (Brisbane), Sabrina Frederick (Richmond), Nat Exon (St Kilda), Kate McCarthy (St Kilda)

Big ins: Cathy Svarc (Wilston Grange/QAFLW), Orla O'Dwyer (Camogie/Hurling), Sophie Conway (returning from ACL)

Outlook: Brisbane were pillaged for a second straight off-season by rival clubs, leaving the Lions with a relatively young list. Coming off a two-win season, that doesn't bode well.

CARLTON

Coach: Daniel Harford

Captain: Kerryn Harrington, Katie Loynes

Past finishes: 2nd, 8th, 4th

Big outs: Brianna Davey (Collingwood), Rhiannon Watt (St Kilda)

Big ins: Lucy McEvoy (Geelong Falcons), Grace Egan (VFLW Tigers), Brooke Vernon (Dandenong)

Outlook: Last season's losing grand finalists face a major battle to get back to the big dance again this year.

COLLINGWOOD

Coach: Steve Symonds

Captain: Steph Chiocci

Past finishes: 5th Conference B, 6th, 5th

Big outs: Darcy Guttridge (St Kilda), Melissa Kuys (St Kilda), Cecelia McIntosh (retired), Iilish Ross (Richmond), Holly Whitford (Richmond)

Big ins: Brianna Davey (Carlton), Ebony O'Dea (GWS), Chloe Molloy (back from injury)

Outlook: Last year's wooden spooners loom as the big improvers in 2020. The additions of Carlton star Brianna Davey and the return from injury of Chloe Molloy are huge.

FREMANTLE

Coach: Trent Cooper

Captain: Kara Antonio (nee Donnellan)

Past finishes: 2nd Conference A, 7th, 7th

Big outs: Dana Hooker (West Coast), Ann McMahon (work injury), Kellie Gibson (West Coast), Mel Caulfield (West Coast), Alicia Janz (West Coast)

Big ins: Mia-Rae Clifford (Geelong), Kate Flood (Ireland), Roxanne Roux (East Fremantle)

Outlook: Finally cracked through for a finals appearance last season, but West Coast have since raided their list, with the loss of Dana Hooker set to hurt the most. Aine Tighe's season-ending knee injury depletes their ruck stocks.

GEELONG

Coach: Paul Hood

Captain: Melissa Hickey

Past finishes: 2nd Conference B

Big outs: Erin Hoare (retired), Mia Rae-Clifford (Fremantle)

Big ins: Nina Morrison (returning from ACL), Millie Brown (Murray Bushrangers/Victoria Country)

Outlook: The youthful Cats shocked a few by making finals from the weaker conference in their first season. With only minor tweaks to their squad, will Geelong hold ground or go backwards?

GOLD COAST

Coach: David Lake

Captain: Leah Kaslar, Sam Virgo

Past finishes: n/a

Big outs: n/a

Big ins: Leah Kaslar (Brisbane), Sam Virgo (Brisbane), Tiarna Ernst (Western Bulldogs), Jamie Stanton (North Melbourne), Hannah Dunn (GWS)

Outlook: Kaslar, Virgo and Ernst will prop up their defence. But do they have the cattle to compete across the midfield and up forward?

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Coach: Alan McConnell

Captain: Alicia Eva

Past finishes: 3rd Conference B, 4th, 8th

Big outs: Amanda Farrugia (retired), Courtney Gum (Adelaide), Emma Swanson (West Coast)

Big ins: Jessica Allen (Adelaide), Maggie Gorham (Belconnen)

Outlook: The Giants have lost inaugural skipper Farrugia and former AFLPA MVP Gum. But in better news, Cora Staunton has recovered from a broken leg and will join fellow Irish star Yvonne Bonner up forward.

MELBOURNE

Coach: Mick Stinear

Captains: Daisy Pearce

Past finishes: 4th Conference A, 3rd, 3rd

Big outs: Bianca Jacobson (work commitments), Katherine Smith (ACL), Shae Sloane (ACL)

Big ins: Daisy Pearce (maternity leave), Libby Birch (Bulldogs), Sinead Goldrick (Ireland), Niamh McEvoy (Ireland)

Outlook: Will start the season as one of the major contenders, with the return of Daisy Pearce after giving birth to twins a massive bonus.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Coach: Scott Gowans

Captain: Emma Kearney

Past finishes: 3rd Conference A

Big outs: Jess Duffin (pregnancy), Mo Hope (delisted), Jamie Stanton (Gold Coast)

Big ins: Mia King (Launceston)

Outlook: The third-highest scoring team last year, the Kangaroos are aiming to convert a strong debut season into a first finals appearance. The loss of marking defender Duffin won't help their cause.

RICHMOND

Coach: Tom Hunter

Captains: Katie Brennan

Past finishes: n/a

Big outs: n/a

Big ins: Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs), Monique Conti (Western Bulldogs), Sabrina Frederick (Brisbane), Christina Bernardi (GWS)

Outlook: The Tigers are pining their hopes on big-name recruits. But have they got the right mix? With Frederick and Bernardi locking down key forward positions, Brennan is set to spend more time alongside Conti in the midfield.

ST KILDA

Coach: Peta Searle

Captains: Rhiannon Watt, Kate Shierlaw, Cat Phillips

Past finishes: n/a

Big outs: n/a

Big ins: Tilly Lucas-Rodd (Carlton), Nat Exon (Brisbane), Georgia Patrikios (Calder Cannons), Cat Phillips (Demons), Kate Shierlaw (VFLW)

Outlook: It's always tough for an expansion side to fire straight away, and the Saints are tipped to struggle in their first season.

WEST COAST

Coach: Luke Dwyer

Captains: Emma Swanson

Past finishes: n/a

Big outs: n/a

Big ins: Dana Hooker (Fremantle), Emma Swanson (GWS), Kellie Gibson (Fremantle), Mel Caulfield (Fremantle), Maddy Collier (GWS)

Outlook: It doesn't look great. The team lacks out-and-out starpower, and are among the favourites to collect the wooden spoon.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Coach: Nathan Burke

Captain: Ellie Blackburn

Past finishes: 5th Conference B, 1st, 6th

Big outs: Katie Brennan (Richmond), Monique Conti (Richmond)

Big ins: Gabby Newton (Northern Knights), Nell Morris-Dalton, Gemma Lagioia (Oakleigh Chargers), Elisabeth Georgostathis (Western Jets)

Outlook: The loss of Katie Brennan is a huge blow to their title hopes, but their flurry of early draft picks could make up for that loss.