ESSENDON, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney’s list-building allowances for expansion ahead of the 2023 AFL Women’s season have been decided.

In an announcement from the AFL yesterday, the four newest AFL Women’s sides will enter the competition at the end of the 2022 season, and have a number of allowances. These include:

• Up to 14 current AFLW players in a special expansion signing period
• Open-age signings (previous AFLW Draft nominees not currently on an AFLW list)
• Under-18 talent from the respective club’s Next-Generation Academy region
• Two picks inside the first eight selections in the AFLW Draft

So what does that mean, and what should each club focus on?

Essendon:

The Bombers had a strong VFLW side last season and would be very proactive in bringing up players from their state-league program. Led by skipper Georgia Nanscawen, they had a number of draftable talent including Eloise Ashley-Cooper and Courtney Ugle, and interestingly enough, ex-Dog Danielle Marshall has made the move to Windy Hill. Their NAB League affiliate is the Calder Cannons Girls for Under 18s talent, with Abbey McDonald the Cannons’ sole prospect in the Vic Metro Girls’ hub for 2022.

Hawthorn:

Like the Bombers, the Hawks have built up a strong VFLW program led by coach Bec Goddard. They have established a Hawks Academy too, which featured not only aligned players, but those from across the south east region. Hawthorn’s top talent in the VFLW last year included the likes of Catherine Brown, Jenna Richardson and Tamara Luke, with plenty of Eastern Ranges girls rolling through the brown and gold last season. The Hawks have ties to both the Ranges and Gippsland Power, with Mia Busch (Eastern), Yasmin Duursma and Lily-Rose Williamson (both Gippsland).

Port Adelaide:

The Power head into the AFLW with plenty of possibilities. Not only is the SANFL Women’s far too strong of a league for one club (which has helped Adelaide’s success), but Port will be able to pick the eyes out of the best mature-age and Under 18s talent. Whilst they have not had a senior women’s side, they are linked to Norwood, South Adelaide, West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens. The first three all made finals in the SANFLW last season. Of those teams, West Adelaide’s Keeley Kustermann is the one to watch, whilst Norwood duo Lana Schwerdt and Sachi Syme, and Eagles’ Astrid Gooley have all played senior football.

Sydney:

The Swans brought in an Academy last season, with captain Jessica Doyle heading to the GIANTS a year prior to Sydney coming in. Whilst she and no doubt a number of GIANTS will be targeted by the Swans for mature-age talent such as Rebecca Beeson, the Swans will look to promote their Academy and they do have and AFLW Academy member in Dakota Mason. She will the the one to watch this season as the Swans look to continue the good form they showed against Geelong Falcons in the NAB League last season. One name to keep an eye on is Asha Turner-Funk who produced a couple of good performances in the Under 17s last year.

What happens from here?

The AFL will announce specific rules in regards to exact numbers of pre-listing NGA prospects, and how many players can be signed from each individual club without needing a trade. Though still more than six months off happening, the four expansion sides will already be planning for the 2023 season. The draft order for the first eight selections will also be randomised, with the four teams then having selections at the end of each round in the draft.