AFL WOMEN'S teams will hit the track for the first time this week, with Melbourne starting to plan for a season without stars Daisy Pearce, Melissa Hickey and Richelle Cranston.
The Demons will be desperate to qualify for the Grand Final in 2019 after two near misses, but will start training without inspirational skipper Pearce, who is sitting out this season due to her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, former vice-captain Hickey and power forward Cranston will be training down the highway at new AFLW club Geelong, having crossed during the expansion signing period in May.
LISTEN Catch up on the AFLW off-season
A whole host of clubs – Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs – will start their summer campaigns on Wednesday.
Brisbane will be aiming to win its maiden AFLW premiership next year after consecutive six-point Grand Final losses, while the Western Bulldogs will begin training for its flag defence.
Three new coaches will be in charge of sides in 2019, with Matthew Clarke (Adelaide), Daniel Harford (Carlton) and Trent Cooper (Fremantle) making their AFLW coaching debuts.
Expansion club North Melbourne will have its first ever AFLW training session on Thursday, with fellow newbie Geelong waiting until Tuesday, November 20, to start its campaign.
The surprise packet of 2018, GWS, takes to the track for the first time on Saturday, November 17.
AFL.com.au will have a report from each club's first training week, with articles published from November 14 onwards.
Throughout the pre-season, profile pieces on players and coach interviews from all 10 clubs will be published before the first match of the season – Geelong hosting Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium – on Saturday, February 2.
