It’s been a while since I’ve done a top 50 list – I certainly didn’t neglect it by design. Things happen in life and whilst I was in the works of preparing last year’s top 50 AFLW players, things seemed to continually fling themselves in my path and it prevented me from getting it done last April, which is usually when I plan to have them complete.
With just over 24 hours to go until we see St Kilda and Richmond kick the 2022 AFLW season off in Frankston, I’m going to have a crack at naming a ‘pre-season’ edition of the top 50 players of the AFLW.
Because I didn’t officially publish my top 50 players at the end of the 2021 season last year, I’ve tried to model this edition of the top 50 from last year, as you will see below each player is their previous ranking.
There are a few new entrants in this year; eight of them if we are to be specific. Lauren Bella (50 last year), Nicola Stevens (47), Kaitlyn Ashmore (46), Kirsty Lamb (42), Jenna Bruton (41), Harriet Cordner (32), Kate Hore (29) and Georgia Patrikios (25) all made the 50 last year but didn’t make the pre-season cut.
Out of the eight new entrants, only one of them is a player in her first year. I’ve tried hard to not put too many of them in, but I reckon if they can get clear run at it, then players such as Charlie Thomas, Charlie Rowbottom, Annie Lee may be hard to overlook as well.
I’m not going to spoil who I’ve put here at number one, that’s on you to scroll down each number, hopefully have a grievance or two that your favourite player didn’t make it along the way. I think I remember why I enjoyed doing top 50s now.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s my top 50 ahead of the 2022 AFLW season and here’s hoping to a season that doesn’t get wiped out because of surging Covid cases.
50. Stevie-Lee Thompson (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking:N/A
Stats That Matter:11 games in 2021, 12.2 disposals per game, 269.6 metres gained per game (top 20 in competition), 4.9 contested possessions per game, 2.5 tackles per game, 4.3 intercept possessions per game (top 30), 2.4 score involvements per game, 2.5 inside 50s per game (top 30), 1.6 rebound 50s per game, 2 goals, 6 behinds
49. Georgie Prespakis (Geelong)
2021 Post-Season Ranking:N/A
Stats That Matter:5 games in VFLW in 2021 – 17.2 disposals per game, 10.2 tackles per game, 5.1 clearances per game, 2.6 inside 50s per game, 1 goal.
48. Lauren Ahrens (Gold Coast)
2021 Post-Season Ranking:34
Stats That Matter:9 games in 2021, 16.7 disposals per game, 321.1 metres gained per game (top 20 in competition), 6 contested possessions per game, 4.8 marks per game (7th), 0.7 contested marks per game, 7.2 intercept possessions per game (9th), 3 rebound 50s per game (15th)
47. Shelley Scott (Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 40
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 11.9 disposals per game, 6.1 contested possessions per game, 2.9 marks per game (top 30 in competition), 0.8 contested marks per game (top 20), 3.6 tackles per game, 3.4 score involvements per game (13th), 2.2 inside 50s per game, 10 goals, 10 behinds
46. Steph Cain (Fremantle)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 45
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 12.5 disposals per game, 285.8 metres gained per game (top 20 in competition), 4.9 contested possessions per game, 3.6 marks per game (15th), 3.2 tackles per game, 4.5 intercept possessions per game, 2.2 score involvements per game, 2.9 inside 50s per game (top 20), 1 goal, 5 behinds
45. Eden Zanker (Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 13.5 disposals per game, 228.1 metres gained per game (top 30 in competition), 6.8 contested possessions per game, 2.1 clearances per game, 3 marks per game (top 30), 2.8 tackles per game, 2.8 score involvements per game (top 30), 2.5 inside 50s per game (top 30), 2 goals, 8 behinds
44. Rebecca Beeson (GWS)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 43
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 21.7 disposals per game (15th in competition), 11.8 contested possessions per game (11th), 5.3 clearances per game (6th), 2.2 marks per game, 4.6 tackles per game, 2.2 score involvements per game, 2.4 rebound 50s per game (top 30) 1 goal, 1 behind
43. Mikayla Bowen (West Coast)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 49
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 16.6 disposals per game, 224.5 metres gained per game, 5.3 contested possessions per game, 3.9 marks per game (top 20 in competition), 2.9 tackles per game, 4 intercept possessions per game, 2.4 score involvements per game, 5 goals, 1 behind
42. Meg McDonald (Geelong)
2021 Post-Season Ranking:48
Stats That Matter:9 games in 2021, 14.6 disposals per game, 200.9 metres gained per game, 6.8 contested possessions per game, 3.1 marks per game, 0.8 contested marks per game, 8.3 intercept possessions per game (2nd in competition), 3 rebound 50s per game (13th)
41. Sophie Conway (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking:33
Stats That Matter:11 games in 2021, 12 disposals per game, 265.1 metres gained per game (top 20 in competition), 2.9 marks per game (top 30), 2.7 tackles per game, 4.1 intercept possessions per game, 2.4 rebound 50s per game (top 20), 1 goal, 3 behinds
40. Bella Lewis (West Coast)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 13.1 disposals per game, 205.4 metres gained per game, 6.2 contested possessions per game, 2.9 clearances per game (top 30 in competition), 4.8 tackles per game (top 30), 1.6 score involvements per game, 0 goals, 2 behinds
39. Emma King (North Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 31
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 6.8 disposals per game, 2.2 marks per game, 1.2 contested marks per game, 3 score involvements per game, 19.4 hitouts per game (1st in competition), 1 inside 50 per game, 6 goals, 4 behinds
38. Hayley Miller (Fremantle)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 13.4 disposals per game, 217.3 metres gained per game, 9.2 contested possessions per game (top 20 in competition), 3.5 clearances per game (top 20), 5.5 tackles per game (10th), 2.3 score involvements per game, 2.5 inside 50s per game, 1 goal, 5 behinds
37. Emily Bates (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 15.9 disposals per game, 205.5 metres gained per game, 7.9 contested possessions per game (top 30 in competition), 2.6 clearances per game (top 30), 2.4 marks per game, 3.9 tackles per game, 2 score involvements per game, 2.8 inside 50s per game (14th) 1 goal, 1 behind
36. Kerryn Harrington (Carlton)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 44
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 14.7 disposals per game, 257.2 metres gained per game, 5 contested possessions per game, 2.8 marks per game, 2.9 tackles per game, 7.2 intercept possessions per game (8th in the competition), 3.6 rebound 50s per game (5th), 1 goal, 0 behinds
35. Dakota Davidson (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 21
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 7.5 disposals per game, 3.8 contested possessions per game, 2.9 marks per game, 1.2 contested marks per game (4th in the competition), 2.5 tackles per game, 2.8 score involvements per game (top 30), 1.5 inside 50s per game, 16 goals, 5 behinds
34. Dana Hooker (West Coast)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 1 game in 2021, 19 disposals, 393 metres gained, 10 contested possessions, 3 clearances, 9 intercept possessions, 2 score involvements, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
33. Jaimee Lambert (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 35
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 19.5 disposals per game (9th in competition), 236.7 metres gained per game (top 30), 9.7 contested possessions per game (10th), 3.7 clearances per game (9th), 4.4 tackles per game (top 20), 3.8 score involvements per game (7th), 2.4 inside 50s per game (top 30), 4 goals, 3 behinds
32. Chelsea Randall (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: N/A
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 12.3 disposals per game, 206.1 metres gained per game, 7 contested possessions per game (4th in the club), 2.8 marks per game, 0.7 contested marks per game (3rd in club), 3.6 intercept possessions per game, 3.2 score involvements per game, 2.3 inside 50s per game 6 goals, 2 behinds
31. Janelle Cuthbertson (Fremantle)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 36
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 8.8 disposals per game, 5.1 contested possessions per game, 2.7 marks per game, 0.9 contested marks per game, 6.8 intercept possessions per game (6th in competition), 2.8 rebound 50s per game (11th in competition)
30. Breanna Koenen (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 37
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 11.7 disposals per game, 200.4 metres gained per game, 2.7 marks per game, 0.8 contested marks per game (2nd in club), 5.7 intercept possessions per game (13th in competition), 2.1 rebound 50s per game (Top 20 in competition)
29. Ellie McKenzie (Richmond)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 39
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 15.6 disposals per game, 219.7 metres gained per game, 8.6 contested possessions per game (top 30 in the competition), 2.4 clearances per game, 3 marks per game, 2.6 score involvements per game, 2 inside 50s per game 4 goals, 4 behinds
28. Tyla Hanks (Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 27
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 2021 Rising Star winner, 18.7 disposals per game (13th in competition), 230.6 metres gained per game (top 30), 9.5 contested possessions per game (12th), 3.4 clearances per game (13th), 4.7 tackles per game (14th), 3 score involvements per game (top 30), 2.5 inside 50s per game (top 30), 2 goals, 5 behinds
27. Stacey Livingstone (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 15
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 12.8 disposals per game, 278.4 metres gained per game (12th in competition), 3.5 marks per game (10th), 6.5 intercept possessions per game (4th), 4.7 rebound 50s per game (1st in competition)
26. Katie Brennan (Richmond)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 30
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 13.3 disposals per game, 259.1 metres gained per game, 6.6 contested possessions per game, 3.1 marks per game, 1.4 contested marks per game (3rd in competition), 2.6 tackles per game, 4.8 score involvements per game (5th), 2.1 inside 50s per game14 goals, 7 behinds
25. Cathy Svarc (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 18
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 10.1 disposals per game, 7 contested possessions per game (top 30 in competition), 2.2 clearances per game, 7.3 tackles per game (2nd), 3.3 intercept possessions per game, 2.5 score involvements per game, 2 inside 50s per game, 1 goal, 3 behinds
24. Emma Kearney (North Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 38
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 20.8 disposals per game (11th in competition), 311.2 metres gained per game (11th), 9.4 contested possessions per game (top 20), 3.9 clearances per game (10th), 4.6 tackles per game (top 30), 3.4 score involvements per game (top 20), 3.4 inside 50s per game (9th), 4 goals, 3 behinds
23. Ash Riddell (North Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 23
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 21.8 disposals per game (6th in competition), 331 metres gained per game (6th), 9.8 contested possessions per game (top 20), 4.2 clearances per game (7th), 3.2 marks per game (top 30), 4.5 tackles per game (top 30), 3.2 score involvements per game (top 30), 3.6 inside 50s per game (6th), 3 goals, 5 behinds
22. Gemma Houghton (Fremantle)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 16
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 10.8 disposals per game, 4.9 contested possessions per game, 2.7 marks per game, 0.8 contested marks per game, 2.6 tackles per game, 4.5 score involvements per game (3rd in competition), 15 goals, 8 behinds
21. Ally Anderson (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 24
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 18.5 disposals per game (14th), 240.3 metres gained per game (top 30), 7.5 contested possessions per game (top 30), 2.8 clearances per game (top 30), 2.9 marks per game (top 30), 3.5 tackles per game, 2.8 inside 50s per game (13th), 2 goals, 1 behind
20. Brittany Bonnici (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 11
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 23.3 disposals per game (3rd in competition), 311.5 metres gained per game (4th), 9.4 contested possessions per game (13th), 3 clearances per game, 5.5 marks per game (1st), 3.5 tackles per game, 5 intercept possessions per game, 3.2 inside 50s (8th) per game, 0 goals, 2 behinds
19. Lauren Pearce (Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 19
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 14.4 disposals per game (1st of all rucks), 175.7 (2nd of all rucks), 10.5 contested possessions per game (1st of all rucks/7th in competition), 3.8 clearances per game (1st of all rucks), 14.5 hitouts per game (5th in competition), 2 goals, 1 behind
18. Anne Hatchard (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 26
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 20.5 disposals per game (5th in competition), 306.2 metres gained per game (5th), 10.5 contested possessions per game (6th), 4.3 marks per game (3rd), 4.4 tackles per game (top 20), 5.2 intercept possessions per game, 3.7 inside 50s per game (2nd) 4 goals, 3 behinds
17. Ruby Schleicher (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 14
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 16.1 disposals per game (top 20 in competition), 276.6 metres gained per game (13th), 6.9 contested possessions per game (top 30), 4.2 marks per game (4th), 8.2 intercept possessions per game (1st), 2.7 inside 50s per game (15th), 3.1 rebound 50s per game (4th), 2 goals, 0 behinds
16. Breann Moody (Carlton)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 17
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 11.8 disposals per game (3rd of all rucks), 241.6 metres gained (1st of all rucks), 6 contested possessions per game, 3.1 marks per game, 1.2 contested marks per game, 4.1 intercept possessions per game, 18.9 hitouts per game (4th in competition), 3 inside 50s per game 1 goal, 1 behind
15. Monique Conti (Richmond)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 22
Stats That Matter: 8 games in 2021, 22.3 disposals per game (top 20), 251.7 metres gained per game, 14.3 contested possessions per game (8th), 4.4 clearances per game (15th), 5.3 intercept possessions per game, 2.8 score involvements per game, 3 inside 50s per game 0 goals, 2 behinds
14. Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 20
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 9.1 disposals per game, 3.1 marks per game, 1 contested mark per game (11th in the competition), 4.4 score involvements per game (9th), 16 goals (won the league’s goalkicking award), 4 behinds
13. Sarah Allan (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 10
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 12.5 disposals per game, 6.6 intercept possessions per game (3rd in competition) 227.5 metres gained per game (top 30), 3.4 rebound 50s per game (3rd)
12. Alyce Parker (GWS)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 9
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 23.9 disposals per game (7th in competition), 385.8 metres gained per game (3rd) 14.9 contested possessions per game (1st), 5.6 clearances per game (4th), 5.1 tackles per game (top 30), 3.9 inside 50s per game (7th), 1 goal, 2 behinds
11. Maddy Prespakis (Carlton)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 28
Stats That Matter: 8 games in 2021, 21.1 disposals per game (top 30 in competition), 11.1 contested possessions per game (top 20), 3.8 clearances per game (top 30), 4 score involvements per game (top 30), 4 goals, 4 behinds
10. Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 4
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 22.5 disposals per game (4th in competition), 343.5 metres gained per game (2nd), 8.5 contested possessions per game (top 20), 3.4 clearances per game (14th), 3.3 marks per game (top 20), 3.6 inside 50s per game (3rd) 4.2 score involvements per game (2nd), 4 goals, 6 behinds
9. Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 12
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 23.5 disposals per game (2nd in competition), 387.6 metres gained per game (1st), 11.9 contested possessions per game (2nd), 4.5 clearances per game (5th), 6.7 tackles per game (3rd), 3 score involvements per game (top 20), 4 inside 50s per game (1st), 1 goal, 2 behinds
8. Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 7
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 8.5 disposals per game, 3 score involvements per game (top 30), 16 goals, 6 behinds
7. Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 13
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 19.6 disposals per game (top 30 in competition), 354.2 metres gained per game (9th), 9.4 contested possessions per game (top 30), 3.2 clearances (top 30), 3.9 marks per game (top 20), 5.3 tackles per game (top 20), 4.1 inside 50s per game (4th), 5 goals, 4 behinds
6. Izzy Huntington (Western Bulldogs)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 8
Stats That Matter: 9 games in 2021, 8.8 disposals per game, 2.3 contested marks per game (1st in competition), 4.4 marks per game (8th), 3.4 score involvements per game (top 30), 12 goals, 9 behinds
5. Kate Lutkins (Brisbane)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 6
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 12.4 disposals per game, 214.4 metres gained per game, 4 marks per game, 6.3 intercept possessions per game (5th in competition), 3.5 rebound 50s per game (2nd)
4. Erin Phillips (Adelaide)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 5
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 16.5 disposals per game (top 20 in competition), 9 contested possessions per game (15th), 2.9 clearances per game (top 20), 4.5 marks per game (2nd), 0.9 contested marks per game (9th), 4.8 score involvements per game (1st), 2.9 inside 50s per game, (12th), 14 goals, 9 behinds
3. Kiara Bowers (Fremantle)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 1
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 21.1 disposals per game (10th in competition), 12.4 contested possessions per game (4th) 318.5 metres gained per game (10th), 6.5 clearances per game (1st) 11 tackles per game (1st) 2.9 inside 50s per game (top 20), 2 goals, 4 behinds
2. Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 3
Stats That Matter: 10 games in 2021, 20.6 disposals per game (12th in competition), 11.9 contested possessions per game (5th), 5.5 clearances (3rd), 4.5 marks per game (5th), 5.4 tackles per game (13th), 4.1 score involvements per game (8th) 3.2 inside 50s per game (11th), 9 goals, 6 behinds
1. Brianna Davey (Collingwood)
2021 Post-Season Ranking: 2
Stats That Matter: 11 games in 2021, 23.8 disposals per game (1st in competition), 11.6 contested possessions per game (3rd in competition), 4.8 clearances per game (3rd in competition), 3.4 inside 50s per game (5th in competition), 4 score involvements per game (4th in competition), 6 goals, 6 behinds.
