A crash course on the AFLW’s four brand new teams

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A brand new AFLW season’s around the corner, with four teams entering the League. Get to know the new kids on the block.

The inclusion of the Bombers, Power, Swans and Hawks will complete the AFLW’s transition to 18 teams. It will be fascinating to see how quickly the newcomers are up to speed and how the League adjusts; as more talent is spread out and more doors open for extra prospects.

ESSENDON

Stars of the side

Headlining the list of talent recruited by Essendon is Madison Prespakis. The star midfielder joins Essendon after four years and 34 games with her previous club Carlton. Prespakis was the club Best and Fairest winner last season. 

Ellyse Gamble joins from the Western Bulldogs, a reliable defender with 24 games worth of AFLW experience. And reuniting with Gamble is the Dogs’ 2021-22 leading goal-kicker Bonnie Toogood, coming off a career-best season.

Other big stars set to light up the competition for Essendon are Daria Bannister, Georgia Gee and Danielle Marshall, who made history after being the first American to play in the league. 

First-year expectations

Essendon’s signing spree will no doubt help kick start their journey and ease the burden on its crop of new draftees.

Long-term injury list

Essendon will be without Georgia Nanscawen after the midfielder sustained an ACL tear during the VFLW grand final last month. Joining Nanscawen on the inactive list will be fellow VFLW teammate Eloise Ashley-Cooper (foot), prompting the club to sign Alex Morcom and Lily-Rose Williamson as replacements.

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PORT ADELAIDE

Stars of the side

Port Adelaide scored one of the biggest signatures during the recent sign and trade period, securing the ‘AFLW’s GOAT’ Erin Phillips. The three-time premiership sensation brings a stack of experience and excels as both a mid and forward. 

40-gamer Gemma Houghton will put on the black, white and teal for season seven, moving east from Fremantle. The 28-year-old’s a two-time All-Australian and was also twice the Dockers’ leading goal scorer.

Port’s got another family dynasty emerging with the arrival of Yasmin Duursma, following in the footsteps of older brother Xavier. Duursma made the switch from netball to football, recently making the cut in AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan’s list of the 30 best Draft prospects from the recent class. 

Other big stars looking for success in Port Adelaide colours are Maria Moloney, Indy Tahau and Jacquiline Yorston.

First-year expectations

Like Essendon, Port Adelaide’s playing list is stacked with huge names, setting the club up for a promising debut campaign in the league this season. 

Long-term injury list

Clear

SYDNEY

Stars of the side

Sydney Swans fans will be looking forward to the debut of number one Draft pick Montana Ham this season. The Victorian gun caught the attention of football fans, nominating New South Wales as her preferred landing state. 

Former Bulldog Brooke Lochland arrives at the expansion club armed with an All-Australian jumper and premiership from a stellar 2018 campaign.

After stints with GWS and West Coast, Maddy Collier will be looking to make an impact in red and white this season, returning from a fractured fibula that cut last season short.

The other big names include Sarah Dargan and Rebecca Privitelli

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First-year expectations 

After securing big trades and young guns, the side will have finals in its range of outcomes. Should the inevitable injuries not hit too hard, the Swans will be the ones to watch this season. 

Long-term injury list 

Alice Mitchell will miss Sydney’s inaugural season with a knee injury, so Darebin VFLW footballer Genevieve Lawson-Tavan recently answered the call as an injury replacement player.

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HAWTHORN

Stars of the side

Kaitlyn Ashmore has moved over from North Melbourne to give the Hawks an important game-breaker. She was the Kangaroo’s leading goalkicker in 2020, having compiled 49 games of AFLW experience already. 

Joining Ashmore is another star Sarah Perkins, finding a new home during the sign and trade period after stints with Adelaide, Melbourne and Gold Coast. The 29-year-old was labelled the league’s first cult figure and has previously drawn comparisons with Crows men’s tall forward Taylor Walker, also possessing safe hands and a big boot. 

Fans will also be eager to see Akec Makur Chuot in brown and gold, with the 29-year-old having previously spent time at Richmond and Fremantle. The 23-gamer is coming off an impressive campaign last summer. 

Also look out for Jess Duffin, Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Aileen Gilroy

First-year expectations

The list management staff have put together a good mix of experience and young guns. If the side can stay healthy, there’s no doubt the Hawks will be sending a warning to the rest of the competition.

Long-term injury list

None. 

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FULL PLAYING LISTS 

Essendon playing list: Sophie Alexander, Isabella Ayre, Daria Bannister, Alana Barba, Olivia Barton, Jorja Borg, Mia Busch, Stephaine Cain, Amber Clarke, Joanne Doonan, Federica Frew, Ellyse Gamble, Georgia Gee, Danielle Marshall, Alex Morcom, Catherine Phillips, Madison Prespakis, Amelia Radford, Caitlin Sargent, Paige Scott, Renee Tierney, Bonnie Toogood, Sophie Van De Heuvel, Mia Van Dyk, Ashleigh Van Loon, Jacqui Vogt, Stephanie Wales, Lily-Rose Williamson, Jessica Wuetschner, Jordan Zanchetta

Port Adelaide playing list: Alexandra Ballard,  Ella Boag, Amelie Brog, Laquoyia Cockatoo-Motlap, Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap, Jade De Melo, Tessa Dounmanis, Abbey Dowrick, Hannah Dunn, Yasmin Duursma, Hannah Ewings, Angela Foley, Sarah Goodwin, Jade Halfpenny, Cheyenne Hammond, Gemma Houghton, Lily Johnson, Olivia Levicki, Maggie Maclachlan, Elizabeth McGrath, Maria Moloney, Justine Mules, Ebony O’Dea, Brittney Perry, Erin Phillips, Kate Surman, Sachi Syme, Indy Tahau, Julia Teakle, Jacquiline Yorston

Sydney playing list: Jaide Anthony, Kiara Beesley, Montana Beruldsen, Tiarne Cavanagh, Maddy Collier, Sarah Dargan, Molly Eastman, Sarah Ford, Montana Ham, Cynthia Hamilton, Lexi Hamilton, Ella Heads, Sofia Hurley, Zoe Hurrell, Bridie Kennedy, Genevieve Lawson Tavan, Brooke Lochland, Ally Morphett, Aliesha Newman, Rebecca Privitelli, Ruby Sargent-Wilson, Paige Sheppard, Sarah Skinner, Bella Smith, Lisa Steane, Lauren Szigeti, Brenna Tarrant, Eliza Vale, Aimee Whelan, Alana Woodward
Hawthorn playing list: Kaitlyn Ashmore, Janet Baird, Zoe Barbakos, Charlotte Baskaran, Catherine Brown, Dominique Carbone, Tegan Cunningham, Bridget Deed, Jess Duffin, Mackenzie Eardley, Laura Elliott, Emily Everist, Tahlia Fellows, Jasmine Fleming, Aileen Gilroy, Bridie Hipwell, Ainslie Kemp, Sophie Locke, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Tamara Luke, Aine McDonagh, Akec Makur Chuot, Kate McCarthy, Sarah Perkins, Isabel Porter, Jenna Richardson, Eliza Shannon, Tamara Smith, Louise Stephenson, Lucy Wales

Picture of Ashleigh Matosevic
Ashleigh Matosevic
Ashleigh is a born and bred Melbournian who has covered a number of sports since graduating with a sports journalism degree. She has a passion for Aussie rules and basketball, as well as sharing the stories about the sportspeople who captivate us. Her experience includes writing for The Inner Sanctum and Draft Central.

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