IN an early look at the upcoming AFL Women’s 2021-22 season, Draft Central checks out each of the 14 clubs over the next three weeks ahead of preseason commencing. Next up is Collingwood, a team that kept rising up to within a kick of a grand final, competitive all the way to the end.

LAST SEASON:

Position: 3rd
Wins: 7
Losses: 2
Draws: 0
Points For: 362 (7th)
Points Against: 190 (1st)

After getting a taste of finals in 2020, Collingwood’s rise from 2019 wooden spooners continued into 2021 with seven wins from a possible nine games and a third placed finish. The Magpies might have been lower scorers than other sides (ranked seventh overall), but their defence was better than anyone else in the league, led by the likes of Stacey Livingstone and Ruby Schleicher, who conceded a measly 21.1 points per game throughout the season. Under second year coach Steve Symonds the Magpies came agonisingly close to toppling eventual premiers Brisbane a week before – after a sterling come-from-behind win over North Melbourne in the elimination final – in what was another spirited effort indicative of their season.

OFF-SEASON:

Ins: Sabrina Frederick (Richmond), Alison Downie (Carlton), Eliza James (Oakleigh Chargers), Eloise Chaston (Eastern Ranges), Imogen Barnett (Collingwood VFLW)
Outs: Maddie Shevlin (Richmond), Abbey Green, Sharni Norder (retired), Kristy Stratton (delisted)
Inactive: Jordan Membrey

After such a wonderful season, the Magpies did not need to go to the off-season to fetch too many needs, but were required to replace some height with both Abbey Green and Sharni Norder retiring. It meant the Magpies lost two of their key position players, which saw the black and white stripes facilitate a deal that sent Maddie Shevlin to Richmond in exchange for Sabrina Frederick. When veteran Blue Alison Downie was left without a contract, the Magpies snapped up the Carlton ruck to add immediate firepower to the area. Collingwood then headed to the draft with three consecutive picks in the Victorian pool, picking up a couple of players who had already played for the Magpies in the VFLW in Eliza James and Imogen Barnett – the latter of whom won the competition’s leading goalkicker – as well as Eastern Ranges and Hawthorn VFLW forward Elose Chaston, adding plenty of dimensions inside 50 to increase the scoring potency of the club.

2021-22 TEAM LIST:

Sophie Alexander
Jordyn Allen
Imogen Barnett
Brittany Bonnici
Ash Brazill
Tarni Brown
Lauren Butler
Mikala Cann
Sophie Casey
Eloise Chaston
Steph Chiocci
Brianna Davey
Alison Downie
Erica Fowler
Sabrina Frederick
Eliza James
Jaimee Lambert
Joanna Lin
Stacey Livingstone
Chloe Molloy
Abbi Moloney
Aliesha Newman
Ebony O’Dea
Alana Porter
Imogen Purcell
Sarah Rowe
Ruby Schleicher
Aishling Sheridan
Bella Smith
Amelia Velardo

KEY QUESTIONS:

• Can Sabrina Frederick get back to her best and be the additional key forward the Magpies need to go all the way?
• Will the stringent defence be able to repeat its stranglehold on the competition in 2021?
• Going all the way in the VFLW has gained extra experience for the younger AFLW members, what impact will that have on the 2021-22 season?

PREDICTION:

Collingwood was the highest-finishing Victorian team last season and with the changes to the squad lists, there are no reasons why they cannot get there again. Their defence is untouched, they have replaced the talls lost to retirement, and then filled their one perceived area of improvement inside 50 with scorers, and have a well-balanced team list that could be a contender. The Magpies have always provided a challenge over the past two seasons, and with continual players stepping up when required and playing their role each week, the team is capable of a big future, and expect the Magpies to be thereabouts again in 2021-22.

Picture credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos