OFFICIAL pre-season training for the 2023 AFLW season kicks off today, putting to work all the strategic player movement of recent months.
Melbourne, who retained all but one of its premiership players, only losing captain Daisy Pearce through retirement, will be on the hunt for the first back-to-back AFLW premierships.
Brisbane, meanwhile, will work to avenge its third Grand Final loss, albeit without experienced trio Emily Bates, Jesse Wardlaw and Greta Bodey.
Both Fremantle and Carlton will officially get on the track with new coaches Lisa Webb and Mathew Buck respectively, the former also embarking on a new frontier without former captain Kara Antonio for the first time.
Greater Western Sydney coach Cam Bernasconi will no doubt be focused on tweaking his exciting run-and-gun game style with his young list, while across town Sydney will further integrate its off-season inclusions like Lucy McEvoy, Chloe Molloy, and Laura Gardiner.
St Kilda will be excited to develop its gameplan with new additions Wardlaw, Steph Chiocci and Jaimee Lambert alongside last season’s recruit Grace Kelly, who was unable to hit the park due to repeated injuries.
The new Irish contingent will also gradually filter into training. Swans trio of Paris McCarthy, Jennifer Higgins, and Julie O’Sullivan have already landed, meanwhile established Geelong forward Rachel Kearns‘ return will be delayed, however, as she pursues a Gaelic Football championship with her county Mayo.
Melbourne’s Irish sisters Blaithin and Aimee Mackin won’t hit Australian shores until mid-August either, as they represent their County Armagh in the All-Ireland Championship.
Some players will be a little slower in returning to the track in full. Pepa Randall (GWS) and McKenzie Dowrick (Adelaide) are two who are rehabilitating serious knee injuries incurred last season but have not been listed as inactive for season eight.
Others in the rehab ward include Molloy, who continues her return from back surgery, Carlton duo Phoebe McWilliams and Mia Austin who are looking to return from foot and ankle issues respectively, and new Brisbane recruit Ellie Hampson is working back from knee surgery in the off season.
Some clubs still have some spots to fill, too, with some players moved to the inactive list after the draft. Brisbane has two places available after Sharni Webb and Luka Yoshida-Martin both suffered season-ending injuries, Sydney must replace Maddy Collier and Hayley Bullas who have ACL injuries and North Melbourne will replace the retired Danielle Hardiman.
The eighth AFLW season is slated to kick-off on the first weekend of September.
