WITH less than three weeks to go until the start of the second season of the NAB AFL Women's competition, teams will take to the field for the first time in an official capacity this weekend.
Although some teams have already played scratch matches against state league and academy squads over summer, every side will have a formal practice match before the season gets underway on Friday, February 2.
Collingwood and Melbourne kick off proceedings on Friday night at the Holden Centre across from the MCG, while fellow Victorian sides Western Bulldogs and Carlton will make the trek to Mars Stadium in Ballarat, west of Melbourne, for their match on Saturday evening.
The Blues have said all 11 of their new players – including recruits Nicola Stevens (from Collingwood) and Tayla Harris (Brisbane Lions), and all draftees and rookies – will take part in the match.
Greater Western Sydney will host the Brisbane Lions at its training ground, WestConnex Centre at Sydney Olympic Park, on Saturday morning.
Premier Adelaide will incorporate its practice game against Fremantle (in Darwin at TIO Stadium on Saturday night) into a training camp at the team's second base.
Captains old and new
Carlton's best and fairest winner Brianna Davey will lead the Blues in 2018, with last year's skipper Lauren Arnell providing support as vice-captain.
Steph Chiocci (Collingwood) and Kara Donnellan (Fremantle) will again take the reins of their respective sides.
Brittany Bonnici and Emma Grant (Collingwood), Amy Lavell (Fremantle) and Sarah Hosking (Carlton) are among the new faces in the vice-captaincy roles.
Others are yet to announce their leadership groups.
Cruel blow for Melbourne forward
Ainslie Kemp will miss the 2018 season after rupturing her ACL in her right knee last week.
Kemp was taking part in a training drill when her knee buckled underneath her.
The 20-year-old played four matches last season, and had shown strong form on the track before her injury.
Melbourne will upgrade a rookie to cover for Kemp closer to the start of the season. Its options are ruck Erin Hoare, midfielder Maddie Shevlin and key defender Anna Teague.
One to watch
Continuing on the Melbourne theme, don't be surprised if All Australian defender Melissa Hickey spends time in the midfield this season.
It remains to be seen how Hickey can squeeze into a midfield boasting the likes of Daisy Pearce, Elise O'Dea and (at times) Karen Paxman, but coach Mick Stinear has indicated the move may be made.
"She's ready to be a key contributor in our midfield and will be one to watch next season," he said in a player-by-player update on melbournefc.com.au.
Hickey did play on Erin Phillips through the middle of the ground in the Demons' upset win over the Crows in round six, and matched the league's best and fairest well.
Erin Phillips and Mel Hickey compete for the footy last year. Picture: AFL Photos
Where will the young forwards play?
Isabel Huntington and Chloe Molloy come into their first seasons of AFLW as highly touted key forwards, but are not guaranteed to take their place inside 50 immediately.
Bulldogs coach Paul Groves has said Huntington may play off half-back or at centre half-back while she adjusts to the pace and standard of AFLW. The No. 1 draft pick has not played a match since rupturing her ACL in September 2016.
Molloy is capable of playing a variety of positions, with Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman having said she can slot into the middle of the ground or across half-back, as well as her customary forward role.
The No.3 draft pick was the equal-leading goalkicker in 2017 in the VFLW competition, aged just 19.
Can Dockers fill their new house?
Fremantle members were the first to get their hands on tickets for the Dockers' historic match at the new Optus Stadium in Perth (AFLW round two). The $2 tickets went on sale on Monday for the February 10 clash against Collingwood.
The Magpies are a high-drawing side, and Fremantle is hoping to sell out the 60,000-seat stadium, which would be an incredible achievement. The record for the biggest AFLW crowd is 24,568, set in last year's lockout opening match between Collingwood and Carlton.
Did you miss it?
While you've been enjoying your summer break, the AFLW news has continued.
- While Gold Coast will not enter the competition until 2020, the Suns will participate in a winter competition in 2018 involving the Brisbane Lions and GWS.
- Fremantle rookie Lisa Webb, from an elite running background, stamped her pre-season credentials by dominating a club time trial.
- The Giants' Irish recruit Cora Staunton won her sixth All-Ireland senior ladies club (Gaelic) football title with Carnacon, in Ireland's north-west. Staunton is earmarked for a key forward position with the Giants.
- VFLW club Box Hill Hawks has been renamed Hawthorn for 2018. The VFL team will continue to play as the Box Hill Hawks.
- Non-AFLW sides have started recruiting for the 2018 state league seasons, with former AFLW players Jess Kennedy and Tahni Nestor signing with Richmond and Hawthorn respectively. GWS forward and Victorian Phoebe McWilliams will play her state league season with Hawthorn. With Diamond Creek, St Kilda Sharks, Seaford, Cranbourne and Eastern Devils no longer in the VFLW, expect to see more signings later in the year.
- Star GWS recruit Alicia Eva is solidifying her base in NSW, taking on the head coaching role with the NSW/ACT youth girls' program. The former Magpie will be assisted by Giants teammate and the 2016 No.1 draft pick Nicola Barr.
- The AFLW ripples have hit Australia's theatre scene, with a new interpretation of Alice In Wonderland seeing the role of Alice transformed into a footy-loving girl who wants to play football. The production, currently at the Sydney Festival, sees Alice being played by an Indigenous woman (Dubs Yunipingu) for the first time.
