The captains of the eight teams in the NAB AFL Women’s competition have given their predictions ahead of this weekend's opening round, with the Dogs, Dockers, Blues and Magpies expected to set the pace on field.
Eight of the nine captains (Adelaide have co-captains) were anonymously polled about their pre-season predictions prior to the season launch in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
The Bulldogs received three votes, with Fremantle and Carlton hot on their heels with two each.
Daisy Pearce's reputation precedes her, and the seven-time VWFL best and fairest is favourite to take out the league's yet-to-be named best and fairest award.
Fremantle captain Kara Donnellan, the Bulldogs' Emma Kearney, and Adelaide co-captain Chelsea Randall were other women to earn a vote.
Votes were split on the competition's leading goalkicker, with notable nominees including Collingwood's Moana Hope, Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan and Brisbane Lions marquee player Tayla Harris.
With many players coming from other sports to take part in the inaugural competition, Adelaide's Erin Phillips is tipped to star.
Phillips, who plays basketball for Dallas in the WNBA (in the United States), has impressed so much internally she has been voted co-captain despite not playing football competitively since 2004.
The AFL will also award the NAB AFL Women's Rising Star to a player under the age of 21, with Fremantle's Ashley Sharp, a versatile half-forward, is favourite among the captains to take out the award.
Which team will win the 2017 NAB AFL Women’s flag?
3 – Western Bulldogs
2 – Fremantle, Carlton
1 – Collingwood
Who will win the NAB AFL Women’s Best and Fairest?
3 – Daisy Pearce (Melbourne)
2 – Kara Donnellan (Fremantle), Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs)
1 – Chelsea Randall (Adelaide Crows)
Who will be the best player coming from another sport?
3 –Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows/basketball)
1 – Ellie Brush (GWS Giants/soccer), Bree Davey (Carlton/soccer), Gemma Houghton (Fremantle/basketball), Cat Phillips (Melbourne/frisbee), Helen Roden (Collingwood/basketball)
Who will top the goalkicking?
2 – Mo Hope (Collingwood)
1 – Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs), Mel Caulfield (Fremantle), Ellyse Gamble (Western Bulldogs), Taylor Harris (Brisbane Lions), Sarah Perkins (Adelaide Crows), Darcy Vescio (Carlton)
Who will win the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star?
2 – Ashley Sharp (Fremantle)
1 – Nicola Barr (GWS Giants), Deanna Berry (Melbourne), Jasmine Garner (Collingwood), Shaleise Law (Brisbane Lions), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide Crows), Hayley Miller (Fremantle)
