It's the dawn of a new age for Australian sporting fans as the 2017 AFL Women's League (AFLW) is set to begin from Friday, February 3rd. The AFLW Fixture kicks off with a clash between Collingwood and Carlton, but before then it's time for our 2017 AFLW Season Preview.
The inaugural AFLW season is certainly an exciting prospect. Ultimately, however, it's hard to know what to expect. In the past, only two rosters of women have taken to the field and now there are eight full teams. We know how good AFL Women's stars like Daisy Pearce, Moana Hope and Katie Brennan are, but it will be interesting to see the quality of play in a brand-new league with 160+ players. The AFL has done a lot of work for grassroots women's AFL with junior clubs popping up all over the country, but the AFLW is still in it's infancy.
Regardless, the enthusiasm and hype around the AFLW is enormous - especially after the record-setting TV ratings of the "all star" game last September. I'm personally very keen to support the AFLW and hope that a majority of AFL fans do the same. While it may never reach the heights of the top AFL league, there is no doubt the AFLW will likely become the pinnacle of women's sport in Australia.
At the moment previous exhibition matches, the draft and the marquee players (each club has 2) will give us the best indication of which teams will contend for the AFLW premiership, while there have already been some practice matches played around the country. There is also a lot of information and stats out there, including on the official AFLW website.
2017 AFLW Quick Guide
- 8 team competition
- 22 players per team
- 16 v 16 players on the field
- 15 minute quarters plus 'time on'
- 7 round fixture (beginning Friday, February 3rd)
- Each teams play opponents once (two best records progress)
- Grand Final played on Saturday, March 25th
- All games televised on either pay or free-to-air TV
2017 AFL Women's Team Previews
Adelaide Crows
If we take into account the AFLW Premiership odds offered by Australian sports betting websites, the Adelaide Crows are a relative outsider to contend in the inaugural season. However, their marquee players Chelsea Randall and Kellie Gibson would suggest otherwise. Randall is a tough marking key forward who can play time in the middle, while Gibson is a versatile goal-kicking midfielder, so both can be very damaging to the scoreboard. Gibson is only 20 years of age and could arguably grow into the best player in the country considering her pedigree as a junior Rugby 7s gold medallist and the fact she has played senior women's football since she was 14. Might be a better chance than the bookies suggest.
Premiership odds: $8 at CrownBet
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions AFLW team have already started their 2017 campaign on a high note, winning a recent practice match against the Giants. Take note the game was played in the wet, which perhaps tells us that this Brisbane team don't mind a hard-fought scrappy style. In saying that, the Lions also have plenty of silk with marquee player Tayla Harris and 2nd pick in the AFLW Draft Emily Bates both great ball-users. Add in Brisbane's other marquee player Sabrina Frederick Traub - a high-leaping, overhead marking ruck/forward - and it's hard to see why the Lions are CrownBet's roughest chance to go all the way. Their list might not be as deep as teams like the Bulldogs and Demons, but don't be surprised if the Lions win a few unexpected game or even push for the flag.
Premiership odds: $15 at CrownBet
Carlton Blues
The Blues look like a real threat for the 2017 AFL Women's premiership. Their three key players - marquee signings Darcy Vescio and Brianna Davey and priority pick Lauren Arnell - are no doubt destined to be some of the best players in the competition. Arnell is simply one of the most experienced women's football players in the country, winning 8 premierships with the Darebin Falcons (three times with Vescio), being a leading goal kicker in 2013, a 3-time All Australian and having played all six key Bulldogs v Melbourne exhibition games. Davey, meanwhile, has proven herself as an elite athlete, being a former goalkeeper for the Matildas. Plenty of pressure as one of the biggest clubs in Australia. It will be interesting to see how far this team can go.
Premiership odds: $5 at CrownBet
Collingwood Magpies
It's no surprise that the biggest club in the AFL has plenty of expectation around their women's team. It's deserved too considering their marquee player Moana Hope is arguably the most exciting player in the AFLW. Hope is simply the most dangerous full forward in the country, kicking 106 goals for VFLW team St Kilda last year. With Hope's fellow marquee player Emma King the best ruck in the comp, silky midfielder Stephan Chiocci and elite defender Nicla Stevens, there is no doubt the Magpies have the pillars in place to go all the way.
Premiership odds: $7 at CrownBet
Fremantle Dockers
With a list that ticks all the boxes, the Dockers are the second favourites to take out the 2017 AFLW premiership. Captain Kara Donnellan is one of the best midfielders in the comp and will provide tremendous leadership with experience as a captain in the WAWFL. Unfortunately, fellow marquee player Kiara Bowers underwent ACL surgery last September, so won't feature in the inaugural AFLW. That's a huge loss to Fremantle considering Bowers is rated as the best runner in the comp. Fremantle's top draft picks Hayley Miller and Brianna Green are ones to watch, while key forward Kira Philipps impressed in an exhibition match in 2016. The WAWFL is considered to be a great breeding ground for talent and the Dockers certainly have some of the most experienced women in the league.
Premiership odds: $4.50 at CrownBet
GWS Giants
The Giants go into the 2017 AFLW season having lost marquee player Renee Forth to a knee injury in the WAWFL finals. Forth would have likely been selected as captain if she was playing, with the tough ball magnet considered a fantastic role model who will now play an off-field role for the Giants. That role will actually be quite important considering the Giants have one of the least experienced lists in the AFLW. Number 1 draft pick Nicola Barr will be looking to continue her form which saw her win the best and fairest in the AFL Sydney women's competition, while it will be interesting to see what 37-year old WNBL legend Jessica Bibby can do on the field. The Giants will likely find the 2017 AFLW season tough, but there is still plenty of potential there.
Premiership odds: $15 at CrownBet
Melbourne Demons
Along with the Western Bulldogs, the Melbourne Demons are synonymous with women's AFL. The same can be said about marquee player Daisy Pearce who is rated as the best player in the country with 4 All Australians, 8 premierships and 6 VWFL best and fairest awards. Not only is Pearce a great player, she is also a great role model and advocate for women's AFL, so don't be surprised to see plenty of her face over the next few weeks. Outside of Pearce, the Demons have a list that includes elite defender veteran Mel Hickey and half-back playmaker Karen Paxman, along with emerging stars Elise O'Dea and Deanna Berry. Thanks to Pearce, the Demons will be a favourite team for many fans and so there will be a lot of pressure to perform. They might just have a list capable of living up to those expectations.
Premiership odds: $6 at CrownBet
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are rated as the best team in the comp by bookies who believe they will join the men's team as premiers. Their list is packed with exciting talent including marquee players Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn who both look primed to star in 2017. Brennan has kicked a combined 150 goals over the last three WVFL seasons, while Blackburn is an elite inside midfielder who has dominated the stat sheet in key games. The Bulldogs top draft picks include key-back and pinch-hitting ruck Aasta O'Conner, tough midfielder Hannah Scot and rising star Jaimee Lambert who at just 160cm is the kind of hard-nosed inside midfielder who finds the ball at stoppages. The Bulldogs have a balanced and experienced list and if everything goes right, will be hard to beat.
Premiership odds: $4 at CrownBet
2017 AFL Women's Prediction
Until we see a couple of games, it's so hard to make a prediction for the first-ever AFLW season. There is, however, an argument to be made that the favourites are over-valued and that's why I think Collingwood at $7 are too good to pass up. I'm not sure there are many defenders who can stop Moana Hope, while there is plenty of talent in the midfield and up back - I really think on paper they have as strong a list as the Bulldogs or Dockers.
Tip: Collingwood Magpies to win 2017 AFLW - $7 at CrownBet
I also think the Lions are a value play here. Their list might not have as much experience as some of their competitors, but they have some elite talent and emerging stars. Get on them at $15 at CrownBet while you can as they are as short as $9 at some betting sites which I believe is closer to their true value.
Value Play: Brisbane Lions to win 2017 AFLW - $15 at CrownBet
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Bet on the 2017 AFLW
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