The teams and players to watch this ALFW finals series

This finals series will be the biggest in AFLW history and is bound to be the most fun. I cannot predict what is going to happen, but below is an overview of each team’s chances of winning the premiership as well as the players you should look out for throughout the campaign.

Brisbane Lions

The Lions have been the dominant team all season, and I can’t see that stopping anytime soon. They have the single easiest run through the finals based on the bracket, and if they’re successful in making the grand final, they’ll likely host it at Metricon or the Gabba. They have by far the most rounded team and are the favourites to win it all. Three of the last five premierships have been won by the minor premiers and three of the last five premierships have been won at home. The odds are in Brisbane’s favour – but odds won’t mean anything if they don’t perform against the Tigers first and foremost.

The players to be on the lookout for over the course of the series include Emily Bates, Jade Ellenger, Dakota Davidson, Greta Bodey, Cathy and Ruby Svarc and Jesse Wardlaw. These are Brisbane’s playmakers and matchwinners, though that tag could be expanded to the entire roster.

Melbourne Demons

The Demons were unlucky not to finish in top spot, and as such they will now face a much harder run to the cup. They must beat reigning premiers Adelaide in the first game, and if they lose that, they will most likely end up on the same side of the bracket as the Lions and be forced to play them in Queensland. Melbourne have looked a much better side than the Crows throughout the entire length of the season, even beating them in Round 1, but anything can happen in the finals. The Dees will need to not overlook their opponents just because they have a second chance.

Melbourne’s key players are Olivia Purcell, Karen Paxman, Tayla Harris, Libby Birch, Kate Hore, Alyssa Bannan and Daisy Pearce. These are Melbourne’s core players, and almost all of them are required to have a good game in order to beat the Crows – and a good game is definitely what’s needed if they’re going to beat Brisbane at some point.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Adelaide Crows

The Crows are a formidable side with a tendency to throw away leads or become complacent. We saw this in the very last round when they almost let an incredibly inferior St Kilda team beat them. Fortunately they’re stacked with talent and experience in finals games, so they should be able to create an explosive contest against the Dees. As with Melbourne, losing this game is effectively a death sentence, so a win is imperative.

Adelaide’s key players include Ebony Marinoff, Jess Waterhouse (if selected), Hannah Munyard, Ash Woodland and Anne Hatchard. The Crows have always been a more cohesive unit that works well as a big team and doesn’t rely on individuals, but these individuals are the most exciting to watch and should be able to secure a victory if given the opportunity.

Richmond Tigers

Of all the top-four teams, the Tigers are the least deserving of their place, but that doesn’t mean they are incapable of making a deep finals run. They’re stacked with talent and appear to have amazing chemistry. They are a step below the rest of the top four and may even struggle to beat teams outside the top four, but you have to remember that they beat the Lions earlier in the season. They clearly have the recipe to beat whoever they need to beat; they just need to go out and execute.

Keep an eye on Grace Egan, Ellie McKenzie, Katie Brennan, Monique Conti, Sarah and Jess Hosking, Courtney Wakefield and Eilish Sheerin. These players are the backbone of the entire team, and nothing really happens unless several of them touch the ball. That said, they do have a great supporting cast around them and incredible coaching. If they do manage to beat the Lions, they will have a serious chance to be the premiers.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Geelong Cats

The Cats are my pick to be the upset team of the season. They have struggled against top-four sides this season but have proven that they can beat them. They play a different style of football that is incredibly fun to watch if you like defence. This team can make serious waves in the finals, and any game they play in is bound to be a close, intense match. I cannot wait to watch them.

Watch for Amy McDonald, Julia Crockett-Grills, Nina Morrison, Meghan McDonald and Georgie Prespakis. It’s through this talent that all the players around them rise up and perform. Everyone works hard for one another, which is what makes them such a formidable side. The Cats will be tough for any team to beat.

Collingwood Magpies

The Pies are the team that is the hardest to have faith in. They may have finished sixth on the ladder, but their easy schedule is what propelled them to such lofty heights. If they’re going to beat the Bulldogs and go any further than one win, they are going to need to have a more clear-cut identity and move the ball with more purpose. They have way too many surge kicks that end up hurting them on the scoreboard.

Their key players include Sabrina Frederick, Chloe Molloy, Ash Brazill, Steph Chiocci, Ruby Schleicher and Joanna Lin. I don’t recall a time when all of these players had good games in the same match, so if they can all get up for these big games, then maybe they have a chance.

Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have improved immensely throughout the course of the season, and it felt like it all came to a head in their final game against the Blues. They weren’t an unstoppable force or a finals favourite by any stretch of the imagination, but they proved they are capable of playing a consistent four quarters and not backing down from a fight.

Their one key player is Ellie Blackburn. Last week against the Blues she had one of the best single-person performances I have ever seen. When she plays like that, there are not many teams that can beat the Bullies. It would be almost impossible for her to be that good again this week though, right?

North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos

The Kangas have had by far the toughest schedule, perhaps equal only with Melbourne, and they’ve managed to scrape into the top eight anyway. They have played all seven of the other top-eight sides and fared pretty admirably against all of them. There really isn’t a reason they can’t run the table and make it all the way to the grand final from eighth on the ladder. What a miracle run that would be.

Keep an eye out for Sophie Abbatangelo, Ash Riddell, Taylah Gatt, Emma Kearney, Tahlia Randall, Jasmine Garner and Emma King. This team is loaded with unbelievable talent which, if put together, can likely beat anybody they need to. Their first challenge is the Cats, and the games will only get harder from there, but I think the confidence they would gain by besting Geelong in Geelong would make them a near unstoppable team.