The captains of the 14 teams in the NAB AFL Women's competition have made their predictions ahead of the coming season, with North Melbourne the strong favourites to set the pace in 2020.
The 14 skippers were anonymously polled on five key questions on how they believe the season will unfold, with North Melbourne (eight votes) and Melbourne (three votes) drawing the most nominations for which other club apart from their own is most likely to push into this year's Grand Final. The Adelaide Crows (two votes) and newcomers Richmond (one vote) were also predicted by the captains to perform strongly in the 2020 season.
2018 AFLW Best and Fairest winner Emma Kearney (North Melbourne) was tipped to be the standout player of the competition with three votes while Anne Hatchard (Adelaide Crows), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) and Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne) are also expected to be onfield stars.
Western Bulldogs forward Brooke Lochland was nominated by three captains to top the goalkicking while Collingwood's Ash Brazill has again been tipped to be the star athlete who has come from another sport (netball).
The full survey results below ...
(captains polled: Adelaide Crows – Chelsea Randall; Brisbane Lions – Emma Zielke; Carlton – Katie Loynes; Collingwood – Steph Chiocci
Fremantle – Kara Antonio; Geelong Cats – Melissa Hickey; Gold Coast Suns – Leah Kaslar; GWS Giants – Alicia Eva; Melbourne – Daisy Pearce; North Melbourne – Emma Kearney; Richmond – Katie Brennan; St Kilda – Rhiannon Watt; West Coast Eagles – Emma Swanson; Western Bulldogs – Ellie Blackburn):
Which other team apart from your own is most likely to reach the Grand Final?
8 – North Melbourne
3 – Melbourne
2 – Adelaide Crows
1 – Richmond
Who will win the competition Best and Fairest?
3 – Emma Kearney (North Melbourne)
2 – Anne Hatchard (Adelaide Crows)
2 – Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
2 – Daisy Pearce (Melbourne)
2 – Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)
1 – Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
1 – Monique Conti (Richmond)
1 – Dana Hooker (West Coast Eagles)
Who will kick the most goals in the competition?
3 – Brooke Lochland (Western Bulldogs)
1 – Danielle Ponter (Adelaide Crows)
1 – Stevie-Lee Thompson (Adelaide Crows)
1 – Jessica Weutschner (Brisbane Lions)
1 – Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
1 – Roxanne Roux (Fremantle)
1 – Renee Garing (Geelong Cats)
1 – Tegan Cunningham (Melbourne)
1 – Katie Brennan (Richmond)
1 – Kate Shierlaw (St Kilda)
1 – Dana Hooker (West Coast Eagles)
1 – Kirsten McLeod (Western Bulldogs)
Who will win the NAB AFL Women's Rising Star?
4 – Georgia Patrikios (St Kilda)
2 – Lucy McEvoy (Carlton)
1 – Madison Newman (Adelaide Crows)
1 – Lily Postlethwaite (Brisbane Lions)
1 – Roxanne Roux (Fremantle)
1 – Denby Taylor (Geelong Cats)
1 – Serene Watson (Gold Coast SUNS)
1 – Sophie Molan (Richmond)
1 – Gabby Newton (Western Bulldogs)
1 – Elisabeth Georgostathis (Western Bulldogs)
Who will be the best player from another sport?
4 – Ash Brazill (Collingwood)
2 – Chloe Dalton (Carlton)
1 – Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows)
1 – Aisling Sheridan (Collingwood)
1 – Sarah Rowe (Collingwood)
1 – Nina Morrison (Geelong Cats)
1 – Cora Staunton (GWS GIANTS)
1 – Sinead Goldrick (Melbourne)
1 – Niamh Kelly (West Coast Eagles)
1 – Danielle Marshall (Western Bulldogs)
In 2019, three captains correctly nominated the Adelaide Crows as the eventual Premiership team and NAB AFL Women's Rising Star winner Madison Prespakis from Carlton was also correctly nominated by three leaders in the build-up to last season.
