THE 2022 AFL Women’s season is almost upon us, so it is time to take a look at each of the competing teams and see where they sit as we head into another season. Today we will take a look at Richmond, who finished 10th in 2021.

After Richmond went winless in their inaugural season, 2021 was certainly a huge improvement.

First things first, they finally got a win on the board. It took them one and a half seasons, but in Round 5 this year, they finally got their first win on the board when they beat Geelong. They ultimately finished with three wins for the season, finishing 10th and the best amongst the most recent expansion sides.

Richmond will certainly be looking to improve even further in 2022 and make a further climb up the ladder. They had quite a large list turnover at the end of the 2021 season.

Sabrina Frederick left for Collingwood, while Emily Harley, Luka Lesosky-Hay, Akec Makur Chuot, Cleo Saxon-Jones, Holly Whitford, Alice Edmonds, Phoebe Monahan and Alana Woodward were all delisted. Makur Chuot was re-listed, but that is still seven others that were delisted. That is 23 per cent of the list.

Despite the turnover, among the recruits they have brought in was a star Blue and plenty of young talent.

They traded in Carlton’s Jess Hosking to join her sister, St Kilda’s Poppy Kelly and Collingwood’s Maddie Shevlin. Hosking in particular is a great get, an experienced AFLW player who rejoins up with sister Sarah to vastly improve that midfield.

Alongside re-listing Makur Chuot, Richmond picked up Ingrid Houtsma, Meagan Kiely, Stella Reid and Emelia Yassir in the draft.

Of those names, Reid is the one to watch out for heading into 2022. She was one of the top prospects of the draft pool this year, and she can play all over the ground. Kiely is also one to watch out for, but for a different reason. She comes from the North Melbourne VFLW side, where she was captain and will provide a mature head to the Tigers.

Then in a late change on December 30, Iilish Ross was placed on the inactive list, replaced by ex-Roo Beth Lynch. She joins brother Tom as the first Richmond brother-sister list combination.

Where Richmond is currently at, it feels like they are maybe one or two seasons off their maiden finals appearance. They do have a number of top-end talents led by two-time best and fairest winner Monique Conti alongside a strong midfield of the Hosking sisters, Sarah Dargan and Ellie McKenzie. Sarah D’Arcy and Katie Brennan are two strong-marking targets that can do a lot of damage, whilst Christina Bernardi has an eye for goals.

They certainly have a mixed bag in the opening half of the season. They have St Kilda, Melbourne, Fremantle, Gold Coast and then the Western Bulldogs. The St Kilda and Gold Coast games are very winnable, the Bulldogs game is 50/50 while the Melbourne and Fremantle games will be a challenge.

If they find themselves with at least two, maybe even three wins by the halfway point of the season, that will set them up well for a good second half of the season, which includes matches against the likes of Geelong and West Coast.

2022 squad:

• Christina Bernardi
• Maddy Brancatisano
• Katie Brennan
• Hannah Burchell
• Monique Conti
• Harriet Cordner
• Sarah D’Arcy
• Sarah Dargan
• Kate Dempsey
• Jess Hosking
• Sarah Hosking
• Ingrid Houtsma
• Kodi Jacques
• Poppy Kelly
• Meagan Kiely
• Tessa Lavey
• Beth Lynch
• Akec Makur Chuot
• Laura McClelland
• Ellie McKenzie
• Hannah McLaren
• Rebecca Miller
• Sophie Molan
• Stella Reid
• Sarah Sansonetti
• Gabby Seymour
• Maddie Shevlin
• Tayla Stahl
• Courtney Wakefield
• Emelia Yassir