A COMPARATIVELY short AFL Women's season means players are only ever a hamstring injury away from missing the vast majority of the season.
Some players also take the season off for work or personal reasons, and 2020 will see a number return to the AFLW field.
FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game
Who should you refresh your memory about before round one starts on Friday?
Jess Allan (Adelaide & GWS, army 2019)
The young ruck is a star of the future, and after taking a year off for army training, has picked up her footy again with Greater Western Sydney as she is now based in Canberra.
Allan has only four AFLW games under her belt, but she has an impressive junior resume, including the under-18 All Australian vice-captaincy in 2017 after being named in the ruck.
Sophie Conway (Brisbane, ACL 2019)
Conway lit up the AFLW stage in her debut season of 2018, kicking four goals in her six games and impressing with her hard running and game sense.
She ruptured her ACL in June 2018 while training with Richmond's VFLW side, ruling her out of the 2019 season.
The NAB AFLW Rising Star nominee is now ready and raring to go this year after taking part in the Lions' practice matches.
Brianna Green (Fremantle & West Coast, ACL 2019)
Green holds the dubious unofficial record of having the worst injury luck in the competition.
The Docker-turned-Eagle has played just three games over three years, missing the entire 2019 season while still recovering from a torn ACL suffered 12 months prior.
Green's first season was cut down by a broken collarbone. At her best, she's a lively inside midfielder and a fierce tackler.
THIS IS THE BEST! #AFLW
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) April 17, 2019
"Looking forward to putting on the new colours in 2020?? I can’t thank @westcoasteagles enough for making my childhood dream come true ????"
-Brianna Green, via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/7t8W5rV6BV
Jasmyn Hewett (Adelaide & Gold Coast, ankle injury 2019)
The highly athletic key-position player was impressive for Adelaide in the 2018 season, with her booming kick catching the eye.
Hewett needed ankle surgery after landing awkwardly in the ruck during a 2019 practice match, ruling her out of the Crows' premiership season.
Originally a South Australian but more recently calling Darwin home, Hewett is now representing Gold Coast as an expansion signing.
A NUMBERS GAME Your club's jumper owners for season 2020
Rhiannon Metcalfe (Adelaide, ACL 2019)
Adelaide's starting ruck for the first two seasons was sidelined by a torn ACL suffered in a practice match last year.
A fierce competitor, Metcalfe may not be back for round one but is hoping to play in the 2020 season alongside fellow ruck Jess Foley and newbie Montana McKinnon.
Chloe Molloy (Collingwood, foot injury 2019)
It was one hell of a debut season from Molloy, winning the 2018 NAB AFLW Rising Star, finishing equal-second in the League's best and fairest and named an All Australian defender.
A serious foot injury suffered in the preliminary final of the 2018 VFLW season ruled her out of last year's AFLW competition, and the Pies will be thrilled to have their star back on deck.
Molloy can play on any line, and has spent time forward and in the midfield this pre-season.
Catch @chloemollloy if you can ??
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) January 13, 2020
After a year on the sidelines, the 2018 NAB AFL Women's Rising Star is back in 2020, entering @_sjblack's Top 30 #AFLW Players countdown at #25.
The Top 30 so far: https://t.co/8gRcty5JcU pic.twitter.com/Gw9iG1L2Ex
Daisy Pearce (Melbourne, pregnancy 2019)
You probably don't need a reminder about Pearce, but here's one anyway.
The Melbourne superstar has already picked up where she left off, voted back in as captain after missing a season to have twins.
She'll be raring to go in round one against North Melbourne, having spent some time at half-back during a practice match with Collingwood.
Daisy Pearce looking sharp this morning in her first game back after pregnancy ???????? pic.twitter.com/RKYeecxlaU
— Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) January 25, 2020
FOLLOW THE LEADER Your club's 2020 captain and leadership group
Talia Radan (Adelaide, Melbourne & West Coast, shoulder injury 2019)
While Radan's shoulder injury didn't rule her out of her one and only season with Melbourne, her reconstruction certainly put her behind the eight-ball over pre-season after she moved from Adelaide.
The premiership defender has a steady head on her shoulders and will add some experience to West Coast's inaugural line-up.
Jess Sedunary (Adelaide & St Kilda, foot injury 2019)
While Adelaide's incredibly strong attack was able to cover the loss of Sedunary in 2019, she's a high-quality forward who will add some dash and dare to St Kilda's forward line.
Sedunary almost made it back in time for Adelaide's Grand Final but reinjured her foot.
She is right to go after playing a handful of games for the Southern Saints at the tail end of the 2019 VFLW season, and is now a member of the club's leadership group.
Britt Tully (GWS, personal reasons 2019)
Midfield bull Tully decided to put her footy on hold in 2019 after two strong seasons with the Giants.
The Canberran will add strength to a GWS on-field brigade featuring Alicia Eva, Bec Beeson and Alyce Parker, especially given Courtney Gum's short-lived retirement and move to Adelaide.
