WITH the 2020 AFLW season set to commence tomorrow night, we take a look at three potential leading goal kickers, MVPs, premiership favourites and Rising Stars contenders, as well as give our predictions for the season ahead.

Leading goal kickers:

Collingwood – Jaimee Lambert

The talented forward caused many headaches last year with her deceptive speed, strong goal sense and determination. Lambert is a ball magnet in the forward 50 thanks to her sticky hands and skill to get goal side and shoot truly. She is a real excitement machine able to have an impact both in the air and at ground level. Lambert took out the VFLW leading goal kicker in 2019 proving just how dangerous she can be when given time and space to do what she does best and will be looking to bring home the AFLW leading goal kicker title in 2020.

Richmond – Katie Brennan

The key forward will want to make a lasting impact in her new colours and lead from the front with her scoring prowess. The Richmond captain is renowned for her strong leading patterns and strength on the take to reel the ball in despite oncoming pressure. She is relatively accurate in front of goal and has a good turn of speed to attack the goal sticks when need be. Brennan is hard to stop when she is on song able to hit the scoreboard multiple times with her strong marking a key aspect of her game.

Adelaide – Stevie-Lee Thompson

After a stellar 2019 the Crows star will be hoping to back up her performance and make it back-to-back leading goal kicker honours. She is a real livewire at ground level for Adelaide with her smooth pick-ups and electric speed, pair that with her accuracy and Thompson is a dangerous prospect for opposing teams. She is a dynamic mover across the field able to lead up at the footy and take a big grab consistently showcasing her impressive skillset in front of goals.

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MVP:

North Melbourne – Emma Kearney

The 2018 MVP will be hoping to back up her stellar past couple of seasons once again in 2020 and guide her side to their inaugural grand final. Kearney can win the ball in any situation able to read the play and constantly get involved. She is a real ball magnet across the field using her on-field leadership to direct traffic and set up both offensively and defensively. She oozes class and composure able to think her way through congestion.

West Coast – Dana Hooker

The former Dockers midfielder made the switch to West Coast and will be hoping to have an immediate impact with her ball winning abilities. She works tirelessly across the field to win the ball at the coalface while her cleanliness with ball in hand puts her in good stead to take out the award. Hooker backs herself in a contest using her footy smarts to out think her opponents while her on-field leadership is another key facet of her game play.

Adelaide – Ebony Marinoff

Marinoff is a physical beast consistently putting her body on the line to win the ball and impose herself on the contest. She is a real leader on the field and will have to stand up in the absence of Phillips and Randall. The Crows star has been a consistent performer unfazed by the physical battle often extracting the ball out of congestion and delivering to teammates in space. She can turn a game on its head able to hit the scoreboard while also get back and do the defensive things well.

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Rising Star:

Carlton – Lucy McEvoy:

The former Geelong Falcons captain led from the front throughout her time in the NAB League using her on-field leadership and bullish go-get it attitude to extract the ball time and time again. McEvoy is one of a kind able to slot into any vacant spot on the footy field and fulfil the role to the utmost level thanks to her high level of skill and class with ball in hand. She is a smart player able to think her way through pressure and hit a teammate lace out making her a class above many other. It will be a challenge to play against some of the bigger bodies in the AFLW but if her time in the VFLW is anything to go by it won’t really phase the talented midfielder.

St Kilda – Georgia Patrikios:

Much like McEvoy, Patrikios oozes composure and class able to manoeuvre her way out of traffic and deliver well-weighted handballs to teammates. She works hard to win the ball at the coalface unfazed by the physical nature of the game instead, embracing the contest and nine times out 10 winning it. She is a smooth mover across the field and uses her vision to full effect able to dish off a pass lace out to someone in space. The former Calder Cannons captain is no stranger to the big stage and stands up under pressure making her an exciting prospect for the Saints in 2020.

Brisbane – Lily Postlethwaite

The young Queensland product has skill and class to boot able to weave her way in and out of traffic with ease. The 18-year-old captained Queensland in the AFLW Under 18 Championships and will be looking to bring that natural born leadership to the contest for the Lions. Postlethwaite will offer great versatility to Brisbane with her impressive vision, clean hands and high footy IQ a couple of her main tricks.

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Premiership contenders:

Adelaide:

The two-time premiers will be looking to add to their premiership tally in 2020 having tasted success last year. Unfortunately, the Crows have been struck down with a host of injuries with Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall both suffering ACL injuries. But they should not be forgotten about, given their ability to turn games on their head within seconds. Expect the likes of Ebony Marinoff, Courtney Gum and Courtney Cramey to do the damage across the field for the Crows while the likes of youngster Montana McKinnon is another one to keep an eye out.

Carlton:

It would be hard to discount the Blues after making it all the way to the grand final last year and although they lost the likes of Bri Davey over the off-season they have gained another potential rising star in McEvoy. Darcy Vescio and Tayla Harris have proven to be a dynamic duo in the forward 50 with the two able to cause havoc credit to their strong goal sense while through the midfield Maddy Prespakis has been a revelation thanks to her ball winning ability.

North Melbourne:

After a strong showing in the opening half of the 2019 season the Kangaroos fell away when it counted but will be looking to make amends in 2020 and go one better. North definitely, have the star power to take the competition by storm and really announce themselves on the rest of the competition with the likes of Emma Kearney and Emma King at the helm. Throw in the likes of Kaitlyn Ashmore and Jasmine Garner and the Roos will be a hard team to beat throughout the season.

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OUR PREDICTIONS:

Michael Alvaro – 2019 Draft Central AFLW Tipping winner
Premier: Adelaide
Runner-up: North Melbourne
Big Improver: Collingwood
MVP: Ebony Marinoff
Leading Goalkicker: Tayla Harris
Rising Star: Gabrielle Newton

Taylah Melki
Premier: North Melbourne
Runner-up: Carlton
Big Improver: Collingwood
MVP: Bri Davey
Leading Goalkicker: Katie Brennan
Rising Star: Georgia Patrikios

Sophie Taylor
Premier: Richmond
Runner-up: Melbourne
Big Improver: Western Bulldogs
MVP: Emma Kearney
Leading Goalkicker: Stevie-Lee Thompson
Rising Star: Lucy McEvoy

Peter Williams
Premier: North Melbourne
Runner-up: Carlton
Big Improver: Western Bulldogs
MVP: Ellie Blackburn
Leading Goalkicker: Emma King
Rising Star: Millie Brown