The captains of the 14 teams in the NAB AFL Women’s competition have given their predictions for the upcoming season, with Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions the strong favourites expected to set the pace on the field.

As the NAB AFL Women’s Competition launches today, the 14 skippers were anonymously polled on five key questions on how they believe the season will unfold, with Melbourne (seven votes), Brisbane (five votes) and Collingwood and Adelaide (one vote each) drawing the most nominations for which other club apart from their own is most likely to push into this year’s Grand Final.

2021 AFLW Best and Fairest winner Brianna Davey (Collingwood) was tipped to be a three-way joint stand-out player of the competition with two votes alongside Kiara Bowers (Fremantle) and Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs).

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Collingwood’s Chloe Molloy was tipped to kick the most goals in the competition with four votes with Carlton’s Darcy Vescio (three votes) and Western Bulldogs’ Isabel Huntington (two votes) in hot pursuit.

Number two selection in the 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Draft, Georgie Prespakis (Geelong Cats), was overwhelmingly selected by ten judges to claim the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star award in her debut season.

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The full survey results were polled by:
Adelaide Crows – Chelsea Randall; Brisbane Lions – Bree Koenen; Carlton – Kerryn Harrington; Collingwood – Steph Chiocci; Fremantle – Hayley Miller; Geelong Cats – Meg McDonald; Gold Coast SUNS –Hannah Dunn; GWS GIANTS – Alicia Eva; Melbourne – Daisy Pearce; North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos – Emma Kearney; Richmond – Katie Brennan; St Kilda – Hannah Priest; West Coast Eagles – Emma Swanson; Western Bulldogs – Ellie Blackburn

Which other team apart from your own is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
7 – Melbourne
5 – Brisbane
1 – Adelaide Crows
1 –Collingwood

Who will win the competition Best and Fairest?
2 - Bri Davey (Collingwood)
2 – Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs)
2 – Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
1 – Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)
1 – Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
1 – Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)
1 – Monique Conti (Richmond)
1 – Alyce Parker (GWS GIANTS)
1 – Ebony Marnioff (Adelaide Crows)
1 - Brit Bonnici (Collingwood)
1 – Tyla Hanks (Melbourne)

Who will kick the most goals in the competition?
4 – Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)
3 – Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
2 – Isabel Huntington (Western Bulldogs)
1 – Tayla Harris (Melbourne)
1 – Jesse Wardlaw (Brisbane Lions)
1 – Kate Hore (Melbourne)
1 – Dakota Davidson (Brisbane Lions)
1 – Gemma Houghton (Fremantle)

Who will win the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star?
10 – Georgie Prespakis (Geelong Cats)
1 – Ellie McKenzie (Richmond)
1 – Jess Fitzgerald (Western Bulldogs)
1 – Charlie Thomas (West Coat Eagles)
1 – Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast SUNS)

Who from your Club is the best player from another sport?
Adelaide Crows – Jasmine Simmons (Basketball)
Brisbane Lions – Greta Bodey (Soccer)
Carlton – Brooke Walker (Rugby 7s)
Collingwood – Ash Brazill (Netball)
Fremantle – Janelle Cutherbertson (Tennis)
Geelong Cats – Rachel Kearns (Gaelic)
Gold Coast SUNS – Tori Groves-Little (Rugby)
GWS GIANTS – Cora Staunton (Gaelic)
Melbourne – Libby Birch (Netball)
North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos – Jess Duffin (Cricket)
Richmond – Tessa Lavey (Basketball)
St Kilda – Jess Matin (Cricket)
Western Bulldogs – Bonnie Toogood (Netball)
West Coast Eagles– Niamh Kelly (Gaelic)