AS PRACTICE matches were played across the country, Greater Western Sydney signalled its intentions for the 2018 NAB AFL Women's season, scoring more than half its total 2017 goals in just one game.
The Giants dominated the Lions in their clash, kicking 12 goals after managing just 23 for the entire 2017 season.
On a general note, the standard of play was higher than last year, with better skills on show and more scoring in all matches.
Collingwood 7.4 (46) d Melbourne 6.7 (43)
Friday night at Holden Centre, Olympic Park Oval
Melbourne looks to have developed a dangerous forward duo, with draftee Tegan Cunningham kicking three goals in a half. The former WNBL basketballer, who's 186cm tall, worked well with fellow tall Alyssa Mifsud (one goal).
Speedster Maddy Guerin, 18, and former Giant Ashleigh Guest were two other new Demons to impress.
Collingwood started to wrest control of the match in the third term, winning the ball out of the middle despite ruck Emma King resting in the second half on the sidelines. Rookie Eliza Hynes and Ruby Schleicher took the reins in her absence.
The forward combination of Sarah Dargan, Sarah D'Arcy and Darcy Guttridge (while providing some name confusion) was effective, as was the addition of regular defender Meg Hutchins (two goals).
The Magpies kicked the last five goals of the match to steal a three-point win.
But the win came at a cost, with Guttridge breaking her collarbone in the final minutes. The Pies remain hopeful she will be fit to play near the end of the seven-week season, depending on her rate of recovery.
Greater Western Sydney 12.4 (76) d Brisbane Lions 4.2 (26)
Saturday morning at WestConnex Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
The Giants showed they won't be the easybeats of last season under new coach Alan McConnell, scoring an astonishing 50-point win over 2017 minor premiers Brisbane Lions.
The Giants and Lions had agreed to play five 15-minute terms to get as much match practice into the players as possible.
Greater Western Sydney's tactic of signing older and experienced players in the off-season looks to be a good one, with Irishwoman Cora Staunton and Courtney Gum (both 36 years old) kicking two goals each.
Returning marquee player Renee Forth, who missed the first season with a torn ACL, also kicked a goal in her first game in the orange and charcoal.
The Lions used the practice match as an opportunity to blood young forwards Sophie Conway (one goal), Kalinda Howarth and Gabby Collingwood.
Their best were defenders Leah Kaslar and Tahlia Randall, along with Ally Anderson and Sharni Webb.
Carlton 8.8 (56) d Western Bulldogs 6.4 (40)
Saturday night at Mars Stadium, Ballarat
No.1 draft pick Isabel Huntington hit the ground running in her first game since September 2016, kicking one goal while playing across half-forward.
Huntington missed all of 2017 following a knee reconstruction.
The Bulldogs, who were without stars Katie Brennan (virus) and Emma Kearney (rested due to cricket commitments but acted as team runner), nonetheless performed well, indicating their depth has improved since last season.
Ruck Aasta O'Connor (two goals) was back to her best, while draftees Daria Bannister and Jenna Bruton were a strong link between the midfield and forward line.
Carlton led for nearly the entire match, after star recruit Tayla Harris kicked her first goal in navy blue in the opening minutes. Her tackling and pressure were also on show.
Darcy Vescio played limited game time in her return from a torn PCL in her knee but still managed to kick three goals, having lost none of her agility at ground level.
Midfielder Sophie Li was busy for the Blues, and draftee Georgia Gee set up several goals.
No.1 pick Isabel Huntington in action for the Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Photos
Fremantle 6.6 (42) d Adelaide 4.6 (30)
Saturday night at TIO Stadium, Darwin
An undermanned Adelaide took to the field without Erin Phillips, Chelsea Randall and Sarah Perkins.
Fremantle was without Kara Donnellan and Kiara Bowers, who will miss the opening rounds as she continues her recovery from a knee reconstruction.
The Dockers were the dominant side for most of the night, with Stacey Barr (three goals) looking threatening playing closer to goal than last year.
Rookie Lisa Webb, playing in the midfield, was a standout for Fremantle, as was Hayley Miller, who provided plenty of run off half-back.
The Crows drew level in the dying minutes, but some undisciplined play – a 50m penalty for giving the ball back incorrectly and another free for holding – saw the Dockers win by two goals.
Ruth Wallace, a quick forward in the Vescio mould, looks like a steal for Adelaide, while Jasmyn Hewett hit the post with her two shots on goal.
The versatile Allan sisters were used at opposing ends of the ground and occasionally in the ruck, with Sarah holding down full-back and Jess roaming up forward.
Last-touch rule makes its debut
The weekend marked the official debut of the last-touch rule and it was generally well received.
Players made a noticeable effort to keep the ball in play and switched play into the corridor more often.
The controlling field umpire decides whether a free kick is awarded or not, and if it is, uses the existing "deliberate out of bounds" signal.
Melbourne's Daisy Pearce, who was rested in the final quarter, was seen discussing the rule with the umpires' supervisor and suggesting alternate signals to avoid confusion.
Leadership announcements
With February 2 (the start of round one) drawing closer, several more clubs confirmed their leadership groups for the season.
Adelaide will stick with a premiership-winning formula, with Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips continuing as co-captains. Courtney Cramey has been promoted to the leadership group and will join Angela Foley and Sally Riley as vice-captains.
The Giants once again elected Amanda Farrugia as captain. Ex- Magpie Alicia Eva will be her deputy, showing the impact she has had on the team over summer. Jess Dal Pos, Emma Swanson and draftee Tanya Hetherington round out the leadership group.
Emma Zielke continues as Brisbane Lions skipper, with defender Leah Kaslar promoted to vice-captain. Emily Bates, Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Kate Lutkins and Sharni Webb form the rest of the leadership group.
This just leaves Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs as teams yet to confirm their leaders.
Embedded with the Magpies
A piece going behind the scenes at Collingwood will be published next week on AFL.com.au in the lead-up to round one.
Look forward to reading about:
- Darcy Guttridge experiencing the highs and lows of football in the space of two days
- Ash Brazill (and her alter ego) no longer having to play footy on the sly
- Britt Bonnici's battles with moon boots
- What happens inside the coaches' box on match day
Here's an excerpt:
Later that night, after Meg Hutchins had taken Guttridge's free kick and calmly slotted the winning goal, the team sat on the floor of Collingwood's gym, wincing as they peeled off strapping tape, swapping war stories from the game.
"Girls, just before you go to recovery, 'Gutters' has a broken collarbone. An ambulance is here and she's going to go to hospital," footy operations manager Mathew James said.
"You can check in with her if you like before you hop in the pool. Remember, 'Hutch' may have kicked the goal, but 'Gutters' set it up."
Guttridge's best mate, rookie Holly Whitford, was in tears talking to coach Wayne Siekman after the match. Oddly enough, the fierce and focused Whitford may be the one promoted to take Guttridge's spot while she's injured. That's footy.
One-man show
Michael Christian will be the Match Review Panel officer for the 2018 AFLW season, as he will be for the AFL competition.
Christian will review all AFLW games on Monday after a round (not progressively as will be the case for the AFL), with findings released in the afternoon.
