AFTER a long preseason, fourteen AFLW teams head into round one looking to kick their 2022 season off with a bang. 

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With the coveted Hampson-Hardeman Cup between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, the Western Derby and a Grand Final rematch all taking place this weekend, there aren't just premiership points on the line, but also plenty of bragging rights. 

Friday, January 7

St Kilda v Richmond at Skybus Stadium, 7.15pm AEDT

• St Kilda was known for being tough to score against in its inaugural season, but as it attempted to become more attacking in 2021 its defence loosened up and the side conceded 15 more points each game than it did the previous year. The balance between defence and attack will be important for the Saints this season, and round one is their first chance to find it. 
• Richmond, however, was able to do the opposite, conceding two fewer goals each game while almost doubling its own score in 2021 compared to the year before. The developing depth the Tigers have on each line will be challenging to contain across a full four quarters. 
• Tip: While last time they met the Saints were able to keep the Tigers goalless (the first goalless performance in the competition's history) the story is likely to be very different this time around. With some real talent missing from St Kilda's squad, Richmond is in the box seat. Tigers by 30.

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Tigers

Saturday, January 8

North Melbourne v Geelong at Arden Street Oval, 5.10pm AEDT

• North Melbourne is one of the most prolific scoring sides the competition has seen, averaging 40+ points for each season since joining the competition in 2019 - the only side to have done so. While the forward line might look a little different this year, it will be equally hard to contain. And who could forget Emma King's three goal first quarter the last time these two sides met in round one last year? 
• While the Roos can pile on scores, Geelong are at the other end of the scale. In 2021 the Cats were the second-worst scoring side the competition has seen, averaging 18.2 points per game, but they have certainly recruited depth all over the field in an effort to fix the problem. 
• Tip: Expect to see a more free-flowing Geelong this weekend, but North Melbourne's clean kick-mark game will be too much to handle. Roos by 25.

WATCH IT LIVE Kangaroos v Cats

Fremantle v West Coast at Fremantle Oval, 5.50pm AWST

• Fremantle's forward line will be without two of its three highest goal kickers this season in Sabreena Duffy and Ashley Sharp, so will be reliant on some fresh faces to support Gemma Houghton and Gabby O'Sullivan. How well, and how quickly, that forward line finds chemistry will dictate Fremantle's fortunes. 
• West Coast has had a strong contested ball game since its inaugural season thanks to the recruitment of Dana Hooker and Emma Swanson. What it has struggled to do, however, is efficiently transition to outside ball movement and continue to control the footy once the clearance is won. As their scratch match showed, this is something the Eagles have worked on over the preseason, and young trio Mikayla Bowen, Bella Lewis and Charlie Thomas are leading that charge. 
• Tip: Fremantle is yet to lose a match for points against their cross-town rivals, but this Western Derby is shaping to be the closest yet. Fremantle by two points.

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Eagles

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval, 7.00pm AEDT

• Last time these two sides faced off, Melbourne enjoyed periods of control, but it was the Dogs who took their chances in front of goal and eventually prevailed. The young Western Bulldogs list is highly athletic and will look to run-and-gun, using their hands through the middle of the ground to get the ball moving forward. 
• Melbourne has stockpiled a host of tall, agile forwards in their tilt at the 2022 flag. The Demons come into the year as the tallest side in the competition, while the Dogs are the fourth shortest. Adding Tayla Harris and Georgia Campbell to Shelley Scott, Jackie Parry, Kate Hore and Alyssa Bannan will provide the Demons with plenty of flexibility in the forward half of the ground and will likely stretch the Dogs' defence and keep them on their toes. 
• Tip: While the sides won't just be after the four points, but the Hampson-Hardeman Cup as well, the Demons look ready to hit the ground running. Melbourne by 10 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Bulldogs v Demons

Sunday, January 9

Adelaide v Brisbane at Flinders University Stadium, 1.40pm ACDT

• In the head-to-head, Brisbane leads Adelaide 4-2, while each side has enjoyed a Grand Final victory over the other. Both teams are experienced and well-drilled, setting up well behind the ball to make the ground small and retain territory and for this reason, matches between the Crows and Lions come with significant momentum shifts from quarter to quarter and moment to moment. 
• Brisbane won its premiership off the back of pressure, one-percenters, and team-first actions. The Lions know when to take possession, or when to tap the ball along to a teammate, which makes them tough to defend through the middle of the ground, and a hard team to tackle. 
• Tip: While you can never write off the Crows, Brisbane looks so settled on every line and unpredictable in-game. Lions by four points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Lions

Carlton v Collingwood at Ikon Park, 4.10pm AEDT

• Carlton's focal point up forward will dictate its method of attack. Recruits Jess Good and Imogen Milford have the skills to be big key forward targets for the talented Darcy Vescio, Nicola Stevens and Georgia Gee to work off, but it would be a baptism by fire against a tough Collingwood backline. The Blues just need to equal the aerial ball so the ground-level players can get to work. 
• The rebounding game of both sides will play a big part in the result of this game. Carlton's defence is spearheaded by captain Kerryn Harrington who is one of the best ball-users in the competition (averaging 80 per cent disposal efficiency over the last two seasons), while the breakthrough of Ruby Schleicher last year saw a change in how the Pies chose to exit defence, running the ball more often than the usual long kick out of Stacey Livingstone. 
• Tip: While the Blues will be looking to rectify their poor start to last year's season, Collingwood has top-level talent on every line and should be able to get the job done for the third time running. Pies by 10 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Blues v Magpies

Gold Coast v Greater Western Sydney at Great Barrier Reef Arena, 5.10pm AEST

• With Maddison Levi inactive this season and Kalinda Howarth ready for a stint in defence, Sarah Perkins needs some real support in the forward line if the Suns are to avoid another winless season. The agile Tori Groves-Little looks a chance to step up in that area, able to win the ball, evade, and find the goals. 
• In their five seasons, the Giants have started the year with a win just once—in 2020 against a newly-minted Gold Coast. This weekend is a real chance for GWS to really kick start its season, while unveiling some talented recruits in the process. 
• Tip: Gold Coast's interrupted recent weeks is tough to ignore, and while the Giants have also had their issues, they should come away with their second ever round one win. Giants by 20 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Suns v Giants

GREATER Western Sydney has overcome the loss of Olympic gold medallist Chloe Dalton to post a 15-point NAB AFLW win over Gold Coast at Great Barrier Reef Arena.

Dalton starred in the opening half of Sunday's match, with the highlight a burst through the middle that set up a goal to Katherine Smith in the second term.

But Dalton, who won Olympic gold with the Australian Rugby 7s team in 2016 and is also a former WNBL player, was forced off the field a short time later after hurting her shoulder while being crunched.

The Giants led by five points at the time of Dalton's exit, and they produced a commanding effort in the second half to seal the 5.6 (36) to 3.3 (21) win.

Dalton was ruled out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics just weeks out from the Games after suffering a broken cheekbone.

She was looking to put that disappointment behind her by having a standout campaign for the Giants in 2022, but she could miss the rest of the season if scans reveal a serious injury.

Giants midfielder Alyce Parker was arguably best afield with 21 disposals and eight tackles, while Alicia Eva (22 possessions), Haneen Zreika (16 disposals), and 40-year-old Irish forward Cora Staunton (two goals) were also crucial.

GWS defender Brid Stack, who broke her neck in a practice game a year ago, was solid in her AFLW debut, putting her body on the line in some key moments.

Kalinda Howarth tallied 13 disposals and a goal for Gold Coast, while No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom showed promise with 11 touches.

The opening half was an intense armwrestle that featured four lead changes as both sides went hard at the ball.

SUNS v GIANTS Full match coverage and stats

The Giants dominated the clearances early and scored the first goal of the match, but Howarth helped turn the momentum Gold Coast's way with a lively effort inside 50m.

Howarth's goal, and a major to Tara Bohanna, helped give the Suns a nine-point edge at quarter-time, but the margin was back to one point by the long break after GWS dug in during the second quarter.

GWS dominated the third term, with the Suns not registering their first inside 50m until the final three minutes of the quarter.

Although the Giants could only kick one goal for the term, their dominance continued in the final quarter, with Staunton's second goal sealing the win.

GOLD COAST                                 2.3     3.3     3.3     3.3     (21) 
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     1.0     3.2     4.3     5.6     (36) 

GOALS 
Gold Coast: Bohanna, Howarth, Perkins
Greater Western Sydney: Staunton 2, Beeson, Privitelli, Smith

BEST  
Gold Coast: Stanton, Howarth, Ahrens, Bella, Rowbottom
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Eva, Beeson, Zreika, Mackrill

INJURIES  
Gold Coast: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Dalton (shoulder)

Reports: Nil 

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