THE NAB AFL Women's competition may have finished up at the end of March, but women's football is in full swing around the country.
Earlier this year, womens.afl previewed the state league seasons. With all now at least a third of the way – if not halfway – through, it seemed a perfect opportunity to check in.
Which sides have made the early running? Who has had their kicking boots on? And are there any early smoky mature-age draftees ahead of October?
Adelaide Footy Women
The Adelaide Footy League gets off to a later start than most of its state counterparts, with the SANFLW taking the main stage in South Australia until mid-May.
Six rounds in, SMOSH West Lakes, which was promoted from division two before the season began, is sitting undefeated on top of the ladder ahead of Adelaide Uni and Salisbury.
Stephanie Walker (Adelaide Uni) is topping the goalkicking tally, with SMOSH West Lakes teammates Kiana Lee and Rebekah Wanganeen following behind.
AFL Canberra
Queanbeyan has had a stunning start to the season, sitting undefeated in first place with a percentage of 2237.
Halfway through the season, the Tigers are unsurprisingly also dominating the goalkicking table, with Jacqueline Parry, Jessica Stramandinoli and Alexia Hamilton occupying the first three spots.
Sarah Tutt (Belconnen) and Ella Ross (Queanbeyan) round out the top five.
NTFLW
The summer competition is currently on hiatus, but some of the Northern Territory's top players are running around for NT Thunder in the VFLW.
Adelaide-listed Top End player Danielle Ponter has kicked six goals from her three games, while usual defender Angela Foley has three goals from her four.
Gold Coast recruit and Darwin local Jasmyn Hewett has played three games on her return from a long-term ankle injury that saw her sidelined for the entire AFLW season.
QAFLW
There's a two-horse race currently at the top of the QAFLW ladder, with Bond University and Yeronga South Brisbane sitting first and second with seven wins and two losses each.
At the other end of the ladder, Aspley Hornets are last in its first season in the competition, having won its opening game of the season against Coorparoo.
Delisted Lion Megan Hunt hasn't done her chances of getting re-drafted any harm, leading the QAFLW goalkicking by seven with four rounds remaining.
Fellow former Lions Kalinda Howarth (Bond Uni) and Jade Ransfield (Yeronga South Brisbane) are in the top three, followed by Ruby McDowell (Maroochydore) and Jesse Wardlaw (Coorparoo/Brisbane AFLW).
SANFLW
The SANFLW season finished a month ago, with South Adelaide winning its second successive flag.
South defeated North Adelaide by 22 points, with first-year player Indy Tahau named best on ground.
Norwood dominated the awards night, seeing midfielder Najwa Allen, Monique Hollick (who played for Adelaide in 2017) and Hannah Dunn make it a Redlegs trifecta.
Allen and Dunn (who was a Giants' injury replacement player in 2017) both played for the Southern Giants, a GWS representative side, during last year's Winter Series.
North Adelaide's Kelly Barltrop was the competition's leading goalkicker.
AFL Sydney
It's getting busy at the top of the AFL Sydney ladder, with three teams – Macquarie Uni, East Coast Eagles and Sydney Uni Bombers – sitting on nine wins and one loss with another nine games to play.
Rylee McGartland has had a flying start to the year, the East Coast Eagle kicking 33 goals to lead the goalkicking by six.
Melissa Brydon (Macquarie Uni), Amber Laven (Sydney Uni), Rheanna Lotter and Ashlee McClure (both Southern Power) round out the top five.
The NSW-based Greater Western Sydney players are split between sides (including a few playing in the AFL Canberra competition), with the team coming together for invitational matches against VFLW sides.
The Giants have so far won all three of matches against Williamstown, Richmond and Melbourne Uni.
They've used the opportunity to experiment with playing positions, including Tanya Hetherington forward, Aimee Schmidt in defence and the delisted Delma Gisu on the wing and at half-back.
Recruit Jess Allan has also played, following the conclusion of the army commitments that saw her take the 2019 AFLW season off.
TSLW
Launceston, boosted by the performances of North Melbourne youngsters Daria Bannister and Chloe and Libby Haines, is sitting two games clear on top of the ladder.
Seven rounds into a 16-round season, Glenorchy just has its nose in front of Clarence in second place.
Launceston teammates Brie Rattray and Bannister are first and second on the goalkicking table, with former Roos rookie Jessie Williams (Clarence), Emily McKinnell (North Launceston) and Natalie Daniels (Glenorchy) in the top five.
VFLW
Seven weeks into a 16-round season, Collingwood is four points clear on top of the ladder with a match in hand, ahead of future AFLW sides Southern Saints (St Kilda) and Richmond.
At the other end of the ladder, standalone club Williamstown is yet to win a game, while Carlton, Essendon and Darebin have won one each.
Collingwood small midfielder Jaimee Lambert (pictured in main image above) is enjoying a purple patch in front of goal, leading the competition, followed by Tayla Stahl (Richmond V/AFLW), Jasmine Garner (Melbourne Uni/North Melbourne), Caitlin Greiser (Southern Saints) and Maddy Guerin (Casey/Melbourne).
Other stats leaders include Lambert (most disposals), Bonnie Toogood (marks, Western Bulldogs V/AFLW), Tayla Dinuccio (tackles, Western Bulldogs VFLW) and Nicole McMahon (hitouts, Western Bulldogs VFLW).
WAFLW
The premier women's competition in Western Australia was revamped this year, with the new WAFLW featuring five teams.
After seven rounds, Subiaco is sitting two games clear in first spot from Claremont.
East Fremantle and Swan Districts have won two games apiece, while Peel is sitting last on one win.
Unlike the WAFL, WAFLW teams aren't aligned with any AFLW clubs, meaning players are split between the five sides.
Subiaco's Tarnee Tester is leading the goalkicking from 18-year-old Roxy Roux (East Fremantle), Tayla Bresland (Peel Thunder/Fremantle AFLW), Brooke Whyte (Claremont) and Bronwyn Hansen (Swan Districts).
