HAWTHORN is well placed to craft a competitive inaugural list ahead of its entry to the AFLW in season seven, according to coach Bec Goddard.

Goddard is as knowledgeable as anyone when it comes to putting together a successful AFLW team, boasting the first ever premiership team with Adelaide back in 2017. 

PLAYER MOVEMENT Who's going? Who's staying? All the latest news

"I feel like we have a very good understanding of what an AFLW premiership blueprint looks like," Goddard told womens.afl.

"And we are in extensive discussions with players that we believe fit that." 

Goddard views season seven as a genuine opportunity for any team to claim the premiership. 

"I think in 20 years' time when we look back on the history of this competition, we will look at two very winnable seasons. The first was season one, because nobody knew what to expect, and the second will be season seven, because all the bands are breaking up, it's a short turnaround, and anyone could take it if they build their list the right way." 

"It's almost a reset." 

Injecting experienced AFLW talent to an inaugural list is "critical" according to Goddard, reflecting on North Melbourne's first squad in 2019. 

EXPANSION LIST RULES How the four new clubs can sign players

"Laura Kane and Scott Gowans came from a women's football space and Melbourne Uni and built a really successful program there, and nearly stole it in the first year they came in," Goddard said. 

Goddard is strong in supporting women searching for a liveable wage as part of their decisions to move clubs. 

"I know how difficult it is to choose relationships and growth with a layer of financial pressure hanging over it all. I will never criticise any woman who wants to set herself up for now and into the future as a full-time athlete," she said. 

Hawthorn has been linked to league Best and Fairest Emily Bates and tough Collingwood midfielder Jaimee Lambert, but also boast a strong VFLW program to draw from. 

"I keep a very close eye on the VFLW," Goddard said. 

"We wanted a certain training standard that has been different from previous seasons in the VFLW and obviously there's a whole heap of things that have been happening, having COVID affecting so much, but this year we wanted to be really sure that we had high standards and fit players and some quality training because we wanted to prepare the best we could." 

While Goddard won't put a number on how many inaugural AFLW Hawks will be drawn from the club's VFLW program, the club's first signing, Bridget Deed, did in fact come from within. 

To date, Hawthorn has confirmed three player signings, Deed - who recently came fourth in the NAB League Girls Best and Fairest  - athletic forward Zoe Barbakos and versatile forward Sophie Locke.