HOW THE 18 AFLW CLUBS ARE SHAPING UP FOR THE 2023 SEASON
ADELAIDE
Coach: Matthew Clarke
Captain: Chelsea Randall
Past finishes: Premiers (2017, 2019, 2022a), 3rd (2022b)
Outs: Ash Saint (Port Adelaide), Jasmine Simmons (Port Adelaide), Sarah Allan (hamstring), Dayna Cox (retired), Marijana Rajcic (retired)
Ins: Sarah Goodwin (Port Adelaide), Jessica Allan (GWS Giants), Taylah Levy (rookie)
Outlook: The Crows will be looking to recapture their best form after falling short of the grand final in November, losing to Brisbane by 23 points in a preliminary final.
BRISBANE
Coach: Craig Starcevich
Captain: Breanna Koenen
Past finishes: Premiers (2021), 3rd (2022a), runners-up (2022b)
Outs: Jesse Wardlaw (St Kilda), Emily Bates (Hawthorn), Greta Bodey (Hawthorn)
Ins: Jade Pregelj (Gold Coast), Ellie Hampson (Gold Coast), Brooke Sheridan (Lions academy), Caitlin Wendland (SANFLW)
Outlook: The Lions face a challenge to stay near the top after being one of the best teams in the history of the competition. They will most likely be feeling the loss of leading goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw, league best-and-fairest Emily Bates and All-Australian Greta Bodey.
CARLTON
Coach: Mathew Buck
Captains: Kerryn Peterson
Past finishes: 14th (2022b), 8th (2022a), 7th (2021)
Outs: Lucy McEvoy (Carlton), Natalie Plane (St Kilda), Serena Gibbs (Fremantle), Elise O'Dea (retired)
Ins: Harriet Cordner (Richmond), Tahia Reed (Fremantle), Dayna Finn (Ireland), Lulu Beatty (pick 5), Maddy Hendrie (pick 9)
Outlook: The Blues finished 14th on the ladder in season seven. Following a massive reshaping of Carlton's AFLW program, Mathew Buck replaces Daniel Harford as the head coach.
COLLINGWOOD
Coach: Stephen Symonds
Captains: Brianna Davey
Past finishes: 6th (2022b), 6th (2022a), 3rd (2021)
Outs: Steph Chiocci (St Kilda), Chloe Molloy (Sydney), Alison Downie (retired)
Ins: Brianna Davey (returning from ACL), Brit Bonnici (ACL), Tarni White (St Kilda), Nell Morris-Dalton (Western Bulldogs)
Outlook: Bolstered by the return of inaugural captain Bri Davey and All-Australian midfielder Brit Bonnici, Collingwood are looking stronger than ever. The Pies struggled without them throughout 2022.
ESSENDON
Coach: Natalie Wood
Captains: Stephanie Cain, Bonnie Toogood
Past finishes: 10th (2022b - debut season)
Outs: None
Ins: Georgia Nanscawen (returning from ACL), Kodie Jacques (Richmond), Brooke Brown (North Melbourne), Leah Cutting (St Kilda)
Outlook: Essendon were the best-performed of the four expansion clubs in season seven, finishing 10th. Former Hockeyroo Georgia Nanscawen, the first player signed to the women's team, will finally make her debut after tearing her ACL in 2021.
FREMANTLE
Coach: Lisa Webb
Captain: Alex Pearce
Past finishes: 12th (2022b), 5th (2022a), 5th (2021)
Outs: Janelle Cuthbertson (Port Adelaide), Amy Franklin (West Coast), Ashley Sharp (retired)
Ins: Serena Gibbs (Carlton), Tahleah Mulder (pick 3), Emelie Fiedler (pick 7)
Outlook: Fremantle will be looking to make finals after missing out in season seven. The Dockers snatched wins in both preseason simulation matches, including a defeat of city rivals West Coast. Former Fremantle player Lisa Webb makes her return but this time as the coach, after Trent Cooper was sacked last November.
GEELONG
Coach: Daniel Lowther
Captain: Meg McDonald
Past finishes: 5th (2022b), 12th (2022a), 13th (2021)
Outs: Maddy Keryk (Port Adelaide), Georgia Clarke (Essendon), Laura Gardiner (Sydney)
Ins: Erin Hoare (pick 1), Kate Surman (Port Adelaide), Aishling Moloney (Ireland), Anna-Rose Kennedy (Ireland)
Outlook: Geelong will be a team to keep an eye on, making finals in season seven despite dropping to 12th in the season prior. Midfielder Amy McDonald and forward Chloe Scheer will no doubt star again.
GOLD COAST
Coach: Cameron Joyce
Captain: Tara Bohanna
Past finishes: 9th (2022b), 10th (2022a), 14th (2021)
Outs: Courtney Jones (Richmond), Serena Watson (St Kilda), Ellie Hampson (Brisbane)
Ins: Maddy Brancatisano (Richmond), Jamie Stanton (returning from ACL), Niamh McLaughlin (Ireland)
Outlook: Gold Coast just missed out on a first finals campaign last season, finishing ninth. Season eight could see the Suns make their mark on the competition, with the side retaining 23 players including 2022 No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom.
GWS
Coach: Cameron Bernasconi
Captain: Alicia Eva
Past finishes: 11th (2022b), 9th (2022a), 9th (2021)
Outs: Cora Staunton (retired), Georgina Fowler (Melbourne), Jess Allan (Adelaide)
Ins: Isabel Huntington (returning from ACL), Caitlin Miller (pick 8), Annise Bradfield (Gold Coast)
Outlook: Greater Western Sydney will be looking to bounce back from an all-time low finish in 11th place last season. The Giants will be without three-time leading goalkicker Cora Staunton, who retired in March.
HAWTHORN
Coach: Bec Goddard
Captain: Tilly Lucas-Rodd
Past finishes: 15th (2022b - debut season)
Outs: Eliza Shannon (North Melbourne), Jess Duffin (retired) Kate McCarthy (retired)
Ins: Emily Bates (Brisbane), Greta Bodey (Brisbane), Mattea Breed (pick 4), Casey Dumont (soccer)
Outlook: Hawthorn are expected to make a mark on the competition this season having gained the expertise of 2022 league best and fairest Emily Bates and All-Australian Greta Bodey. The Hawks had three wins out of 10 games in their debut season.
MELBOURNE
Coach: Mick Stinear
Captain: Kate Hore
Past finishes: Premiers (2022b), 2nd (2022a), 4th (2021)
Outs: Daisy Pearce (retired), Sabreena Duffy (delisted)
Ins: Georgina Fowler (GWS), Saraid Taylor (Richmond), Eliza McNamara (returning from spinal injury)
Outlook: Melbourne are the team to beat this season and will look to go back-to-back premiers with new captain Kate Hore. The Demons have retained the entire premiership side and dominated their preseason matches despite missing Daisy Pearce.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Coach: Darren Crocker
Captain: Emma Kearney
Past finishes: 8th (2022b), 4th (2022a), 6th (2021)
Outs: Brooke Brown (Essendon), Grace Campbell (Collingwood), Danielle Hardiman (retired)
Ins: Kate Shierlaw (St Kilda), Elizabeth McGrath (Port Adelaide), Ailish Considine (Adelaide)
Outlook: North Melbourne will be hunting for the elusive premiership flag. The Roos were knocked out in the season seven preliminary finals by Melbourne, their best finish since 2020.
PORT ADELAIDE
Coach: Lauren Arnell
Captain: Erin Phillips
Past finishes: 17th (2022b - debut season)
Outs: Kate Surman (Geelong), Sarah Goodwin (Adelaide)
Ins: Ash Saint (Adelaide), Maddy Keryk (Geelong), Janelle Cuthbertson (Fremantle), Jasmin Stewart (Fremantle)
Outlook: Port Adelaide have had a red-hot preseason, defeating St Kilda and the Giants by 30-point margins - a stark difference from their one-game win inaugural season. Former Crow and 2022 league-leading goalkicker Ash Saint joins Erin Phillips.
RICHMOND
Coach: Ryan Ferguson
Captain: Katie Brennan
Past finishes: 4th (2022b), 11th (2022a), 10th (2021)
Outs: Maddy Brancatisano (Gold Coast), Harriet Cordner (Carlton), Kodi Jacques (Essendon)
Ins: Caitlin Greiser (St Kilda), Courtney Jones (Gold Coast), Shelby Knoll (pick 24)
Outlook: Four-time All-Australian Monique Conti is expected to produce her best season yet. The Tigers are looking to surpass their fourth finish last season with new recruits Caitlin Greiser and Courtney Jones.
ST KILDA
Coach: Nick Dal Santo
Captain: Hannah Priest
Past finishes: 13th (2022b), 13th (2022a), 11th (2021)
Outs: Kate Shierlaw (North Melbourne), Tarni White (Collingwood), Catilin Gresier (Richmond)
Ins: Jesse Wardlaw (Brisbane), Steph Chiocci (Collingwood), Jaimee Lambert (Collingwood)
Outlook: St Kilda have yet to make finals in their AFLW existence. Recruits All-Australian Jesse Wardlaw and Jamiee Lambert could make a top-eight finish a reality.
SYDNEY
Coach: Scott Gowans
Captains: Chloe Molloy, Lucy McEvoy
Past finishes: 18th (2022b - debut season)
Outs: Maddy Collier (ACL), Hayley Bullas (ACL), Molly Eastman (Richmond)
Ins: Chloe Molloy (Collingwood), Lucy McEvoy (Carlton), Laura Gardiner (Geelong)
Outlook: The Swans will be looking for their maiden win and could find it in round one's Sydney derby. Recruits and co-captains Chloe Molloy and Lucy McEvoy have so far led them to two simulation wins in the preseason.
WEST COAST
Coach: Michael Prior
Captain: Emma Swanson
Past finishes: 16th (2022b), 14th (2022a), 12th (2021)
Outs: Krstel Petrevski (ankle), Hayley Bullas (Sydney)
Ins: Shanae Davison (returning from ACL), Amy Franklin (Fremantle)
Outlook: West Coast finished season seven near the bottom, surrounded by the expansion clubs. The Eagles could turn it around this season with 29 re-signed players and Shanae Davison returning from an ACL injury.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Coach: Nathan Burke
Captain: Ellie Blackburn
Past finishes: 7th (2022b), 7th (2022a), 8th (2021)
Outs: Nell Morris-Dalton (Collingwood), Brooke Vernon (retired)
Ins: Dominique Carruthers (pick 11), Maggie Gorhan (from retirement)
Outlook: The Western Bulldogs are on the road to recapturing their 2018 premiership form, making finals for the first time since then in season seven. The side remains much the same, minus Nell Morris-Dalton who moved to Collingwood.