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AFLW clubs at a glance ahead of season eight


The Melbourne Demons will be out to defend their AFLW premiership crown without retired superstar Daisy Pearce. Picture: Jason O'Brien.

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.


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