AT the conclusion of Round 2 in the AFL Women’s season, clear ladder leaders have emerged. North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Fremantle have all jumped clear to eight points, showing Conference A to be the stronger of the two conferences.

Round 2 of the AFL Women’s season was highlighted by many individual performances. Elise O’Dea, Ellie Blackburn – whose five rebounds and work in the defensive half allowed us to slot the midfield dynamo onto half-back – and Dana Hooker all polled 10 coaches’ votes for their dominant midfield displays, while Adelaide’s Stevie-Lee Thompson became the third Crow behind Erin Phillips and Sarah Perkins to kick four goals in a match.

North Melbourne’s commanding performance over GWS GIANTS on Friday night saw the Kangaroos rewarded with three players in the 24-player AFL Women’s Draft Central Team of the Week, as did other winners, Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs in an even team performance across the board.

The GIANTS and Collingwood had just the one nominee each, while other losers Carlton and Geelong had two, and Brisbane’s defeat still yielded three nominees in our Team of the Week.

Players who earned back-to-back Team of the Week nominations were Adelaide’s Erin Phillips, Brisbane’s Jess Wuetschner and Ally Anderson, Collingwood’s Ash Brazill, Fremantle’s Dana Hooker and Kiara Bowers, Geelong’s Meg McDonald, GWS GIANTS’ Cora Staunton, Melbourne’s Elise O’Dea and Karen Paxman, North Melbourne’s Jess Duffin and Emma King, and Western Bulldogs’ Ellie Blackburn. Among the first timers in our Team of the Week were Rising Star nominees, Madison Prespakis and Sabreena Duffy, as well as Geelong midfielder, Olivia Purcell.