A YOUNG Lion is the one to snatch the ruck position in womens.afl's Team of the Week away from Breann Moody for the first time this year.

Tahlia Hickie (34 hitouts, 12 to advantage, three clearances) tallied the second-highest number of hitouts behind Erin McKinnon and Emma King's shared record of 39 in her match against Geelong.

The team is selected to mirror the All-Australian side: five defenders, six midfielders (including a ruck), five forwards and five interchange players.  

Like the All-Australian team, it has players selected in general categories, rather than in traditional positions. The 16-a-side set-up often means teams play with varying configurations, making set selections (e.g wings and flanks) difficult. 

2022 FIXTURE Every match, every round

DEFENDERS

Sarah Allan (Adelaide), Eleanor Brown (Western Bulldogs), Nat Grider (Brisbane), Maddy McMahon (Geelong), Aine Tighe (Fremantle)

Holding down the key defensive posts are the cool and collected Allan (13 disposals, seven intercepts), McMahon (13 disposals, seven intercepts, six marks) and in her first game in the backline, Tighe (12 intercepts, six marks).

Grider (16 disposals, five tackles) dictated play from defence, while two weeks between games didn't faze Brown against the Giants (18 disposals, 10 intercept).

The Western Bulldogs' Eleanor Brown and GWS's Cora Staunton compete for the ball during round four, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

MIDFIELDERS

Tahlia Hickie (Brisbane, ruck), Emily Bates (Brisbane), Anne Hatchard (Adelaide), Mia King (North Melbourne), Hayley Miller (Fremantle), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne)

Bates (24 disposals, seven clearances) and Miller (19, two goals v Collingwood) backed up last round's strong performances, as did Hatchard (29, nine marks).

North Melbourne teammates Riddell (30 touches, four clearances) and King (25 and four) combined beautifully, the latter taking home the 10 coaches votes in a breakout performance.

Brisbane's Emily Bates kicks the ball during round four, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

FORWARDS

Nicola Barr (GWS), Tara Bohanna (Gold Coast), Erin Phillips (Adelaide), Chloe Scheer (Geelong), Louise Stephenson (GWS)

Barr wasn't content with kicking her first goal in the AFLW in her sixth season, slotting three for the game, while teammate Stephenson kicked two.

Phillips and Scheer booted three apiece in their matches, while Bohanna's strong AFLW debut season continued with 2.3 against Richmond.

Geelong's Chloe Scheer celebrates a goal during round four, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

INTERCHANGE

Katie Brennan (Richmond), Ali Drennan (Gold Coast), Aileen Gilroy (North Melbourne), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)

Brennan (11 disposals, two goals) battled admirably in an understrength forward line, while Gilroy's rebound (15 disposals, 13 intercepts) was dynamic to say the least.

In an incredibly tough week for midfielders to win selection, Bowers (26, five clearances v Collingwood), Marinoff (26 and five) and Drennan (27 and nine) take the last three spots on offer.

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