The AFLW season is less than a week away, with the fourth year set to be the biggest so far.
Four new teams, a longer season, reshuffled conferences and a total of six teams making finals opens up all sorts of possibilities.
Here’s some player predictions for the upcoming season.
Season best and fairest winner: Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
With Erin Phillips likely to miss the start of the season, the door is open for someone else to step up and take the crown.
Bowers finished fourth in the award in 2019, in what was her first season at AFLW level following a torn ACL.
The Freo midfielder averaged 17 disposals and a staggering 11 tackles per game, stepping straight in as one of the stars of the competition.
With perennial vote getter Dana Hooker now at West Coast coupled with a fixture that gives Fremantle four home games in the first five weeks, Bowers could pick up votes fast.
Phillips could easily win the award despite missing a couple of games, but Bowers is one of many gun midfielders across the competition who will give her a run for her money.
Watch for North Melbourne’s Emma Kearney, Richmond’s Monique Conti and Melbourne’s Karen Paxman to also poll well.
Leading goal kicker: Emma King (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne looked unstoppable with Emma King playing out of the goal square in 2019, but given she is also one of the game’s best rucks, her time was split between the positions.
However, the Roos have brought in a talented young ruck in Abbey Green and also have Kate Gillespie-Jones who can rotate through there, which may free up King to be used inside 50 more often.
Her height and strength makes the former All-Australian tough to guard and following her nine-goal season last year, expect King to be one of the most prolific goal kickers in 2020.
Carlton’s Tayla Harris, Fremantle’s Gemma Houghton and Adelaide’s Stevie-Lee Thompson are also players in contention.
Rising Star winner: Lucy McEvoy (Carlton)
McEvoy will step straight into a huge role with the Blues, playing through the midfield and forward line. Carlton took her with the second pick in the draft, hoping she could help replace Brianna Davey’s output.
She showed flashes in their practice match of why she was one of the highest rated junior players, winning clearances and taking a huge contested mark in the goal square.
Expect McEvoy to be a key part of Carlton’s midfield rotations and have a big impact early.
Most improved player: Sharni Layton (Collingwood)
Sharni Layton was still learning the sport 12 months ago and looked out of place on the field, but a year of hard work has her poised for a big year.
She steadily improved across the VFLW season playing in the ruck, building great chemistry with what is a loaded Pies midfield.
Layton dominated Collingwood’s practice match against the Demons, using her strength to control the hit outs and either clear the congestion or work it down to advantage.
This season will be full of players young and old taking the next step, but Layton going from cross-code athlete learning the sport to a consistently performing ruck will be the biggest leap.
Comeback player of the season: Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)
It’s easy to forget Molloy finished second in the league’s best and fairest award in just her first year in the competition.
The Collingwood star came out of the under 18s as one of the most exciting forwards in the game, leading the VFLW’s goal kicking, and went on to make the AFLW All-Australian team as a defender.
After missing the 2019 season with a foot injury, Molloy will predominantly feature in the Magpies’ midfield unit in 2020 alongside Brianna Davey, Jaimee Lambert, Steph Chiocci and Brittany Bonnici.
Don’t be surprised if she is ranked among the game’s best players come the end of the season.