THE EIGHT women's clubs have taken varying approaches to their initial list builds, with only one – Collingwood – selecting a ruckman.
Seven of the 16 marquee players announced on Wednesday afternoon are prolific ball-winners and clearance experts.
Fremantle (Kara Donnellan and Kiara Bowers) and Greater Western Sydney (Renee Forth and Emma Swanson) chose two on-ballers.
In contrast, Carlton preferred a forward (Darcy Vescio) and defender (Brianna Davey) as its cornerstones.
Collingwood was the only club to target a ruckman, the high-leaping West Australian Emma King, along with sharp-shooter Moana Hope.
The 22-year-old King is eager to tap into advice from Magpies big men Brodie Grundy, Jarrod Witts, Mason Cox and Darcy Moore when she sets up at the club's Olympic Park headquarters late next month.
"I'm definitely hoping to get some skills and tips from them, and from the ruck coach as well," she said.
The 185cm ruckman with premiership favourites Coastal Titans in the WAWFL is keen to use the Holden Centre training staff and facilities to keep improving her aerobic capacity so she can remain on the ball for longer periods during a game.
"That's one of my keys, but I'm definitely still working on it. You have to be able to keep up with the midfielders," she said.
"I like to spend a lot of time on the ball. That's the way I play. I rotate forward when I can for a rest."
King missed the West Coast-Fremantle women's derby in Perth in early April as she was holidaying in the United States after completing a degree in architecture.
But she impressed with her ruck work feeding on-ballers when Western Australia played the Western Bulldogs in an exhibition game at Etihad Stadium early last month.
King is one of five West Australians in the marquee selections who will be heading interstate to start preparing for the inaugural season of the women's league.
"Other than the weather, I'm pretty excited about it. I'll finish our club season late in August and then move over well before the season," King said.
"I'll definitely have a break given there's effectively going to be three seasons in one. We'll go back to start club football again after the AFL season finishes (in early March)."
King has a twin sister living in Sydney and she said her parents were happy she had the opportunity to further her football career in Victoria.
"They're overjoyed because they know this is what I wanted – to be part of football in Melbourne," she said.