IT BARELY feels like 30 days since the last AFLW top-30 countdown, but two seasons in one year means twice the opportunity to pull a list together.
As always, the criteria is based on form shown in the previous season, with the All-Australian team, club and AFL best and fairest counts providing some guidance.
>>SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL COUNT SO FAR
Feedback was also sought from some club officials and even a player or two themselves.
This pre-season, womens.afl will reveal the next batch of players every five days (excluding the first out of the blocks).
Apologies in advance for not including every single fan's favourite player, as there are now 540 players to cut down to 30.
No.5 ASH RIDDELL (North Melbourne)
Previous rankings: No.14 2022 S6, No.17 2021
Riddell's ball-winning ways knew no bounds in 2022, setting a record for most disposals in an AFLW match with 42.
Supremely fit and able to cover the ground with ease, it's Riddell's work on the inside and in disposal chains that allows Jas Garner, Jenna Bruton and Emma Kearney off half-back be as effective as they are.
Named All-Australian, the North Melbourne best and fairest finished fourth in the AFLW award after averaging 29.3 disposals, 362.4m gained, 5.1 clearances and 3.9 tackles.
No.4 EBONY MARINOFF (Adelaide)
Previous rankings: No.6 2022 S6, No.15 2020
Finishing second in Adelaide's best and fairest behind Anne Hatchard, and third in the AFLW best and fairest, Marinoff had another outstanding season for the Crows.
Always a strong ball-winner and tackler, Marinoff has worked hard on her disposal over the past few years, and her long kicks into attack set up Adelaide time and time again.
Marinoff averaged 24.3 disposals, 400.0m gained, 7.3 tackles and 4.0 clearances a game in 2022.
No.3 ANNE HATCHARD (Adelaide)
Previous rankings: No.18 2022 S6, No.7 2021, No.17 2020
Hatchard cemented her claim as a big-game player with the best-on-ground medal in Adelaide's premiership triumph.
A strong body in the contest, Hatchard's workrate across all four quarters means it's often a case of death by a thousand cuts, finding the footy all over the field.
Just one vote away from winning the AFLW best and fairest, the All-Australian Hatchard won Adelaide's count, averaging 24.3 disposals, 344.9m gained, 6.8 marks and 2.7 clearances.
No.2 HAYLEY MILLER (Fremantle)
Previous rankings: N/A
The Fremantle skipper was one of the most improved players in the competition in 2022, consistently turning out match-winning performances as the Dockers took to life on the road in the Melbourne hub.
Miller found plenty of the footy, averaging 18.7 touches, 371.0m gained, 6.1 tackles and 3.6 clearances, but it was her ability to hit the scoreboard that pushed her into second in this count, kicking 10.9 for the year.
She broke Kiara Bowers' stranglehold on Fremantle's best and fairest, led the AFLW count at one stage before finishing fifth and was named All-Australian vice-captain.
No.1 EMILY BATES (Brisbane)
Previous rankings: No.22 2021, No.18 2020
Could it be anyone else but the Lion queen?
Bates won every award possible in 2022 short of making the Grand Final: AFLW best and fairest, Brisbane best and fairest, All Australian, AFLCA champion player of the year and AFLPA MVP.
Improved fitness – particularly her endurance – was what drove Bates to new heights in 2022, using the ball well, burning off would-be taggers week after week and kicking goals when required, too.
Bates averaged 21.3 disposals, 315.5m gained, 7.1 tackles, 5.2 clearances and 4.1 inside 50s.
THE COUNT SO FAR…
No.30 Ashleigh Woodland (Adelaide)
No.29 Tilly Lucas-Rodd (Hawthorn, St Kilda in season six)
No.28 Breann Moody (Carlton)
No.27 Mimi Hill (Carlton)
No.26 Tayla Harris (Melbourne)
No.25 Daisy Pearce (Melbourne)
No.24 Emma Swanson (West Coast)
No.23 Kerryn Peterson (Carlton)
No.22 Tyla Hanks (Melbourne)
No.21 Ruby Schleicher (Collingwood)
No.20 Erin Phillips (Port Adelaide, Adelaide in season six)
No.19 Maddy Prespakis (Carlton)
No.18 Lauren Pearce (Melbourne)
No.17 Sarah Allan (Adelaide)
No.16 Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs)
No.15 Orla O'Dwyer (Brisbane)
No.14 Nat Grider (Brisbane)
No.13 Katie Brennan (Richmond)
No.12 Emma Kearney (North Melbourne)
No.11 Brit Bonnici (Collingwood)
No.10 Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs)
No.9 Jaimee Lambert (Collingwood)
No.8 Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)
No.7 Monique Conti (Richmond)
No.6 Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
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