IN a weekly piece throughout the AFL Women’s season, we name the players and teams who will be looking to have a big week in the upcoming round.

From underperforming sides, to players looking to step up or continue their form, Big Week For highlights those who could be ones to watch over the weekend.

Western Bulldogs

After a great start to the season, the Bulldogs have had a bit of a slip up in the past month or so, losing several games.

After a very disappointing performance last week against Melbourne, Nathan Burke and his troops would love nothing more than to come out this week and make a huge statement.

They have the perfect opportunity to do so this week against a St Kilda side that is also struggling for form and consistency at the moment, and with the possibility of finals quickly slipping away, the Bulldogs will not want to be leaving their run too much longer.

Eden Zanker

Now Eden Zanker makes the list this week not because she has had a bad run of form (far from it), but because of the added responsibilities on her shoulders this week.

With Lauren Pearce going down with concussion this week, expect Zanker to play more of a role in the ruck, and potentially spend quite a bit of time in it to free Tayla Harris up to be influential in the forward line.

Now a lot of ruck time is not something new for the 23 year old, but coming up against the ruck with the fifth highest average hit outs in the competition is certainly going to add to the pressure for Zanker.

GWS

Now it has not been the easiest of seasons for GWS, with consistency issues plaguing its season.

It lost to Collingwood last weekend, but has a great opportunity to bounce back this week against Hawthorn, and will be very keen to do so.

There will also be a lot of emotion in the Giants camp this week as they are coming off the anniversary of the death of Jacinda Barclay yesterday, so expect a fired up and emotionally charged Giants side on the weekend.

Mikayla Bowen

Like Zanker, Mikayla Bowen makes the list this week not for anything negative, but she makes the list because of who she has to face this week.

Bowen’s current side Geelong face her old side West Coast this week, and that will serve as some extra motivation for Bowen, who is having a great season and will no doubt be keen to get one up on her old side.

Essendon

Like GWS, consistency has not been kind to Essendon this season, with the team suffering many “honourable losses” as coach Nat Wood likes to put it.

After having another one of those last weekend against Geelong, the Bombers face fellow expansion side Sydney this week. This is the perfect opportunity for the Bombers to make a statement, put in a full four quarter performance and get their season back on the right track.