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
