As we approach the business end of the 2022 AFLW season, we can afford to reflect on the brilliance of the powerhouse teams in the league while also assessing their realistic chances of premiership success.

This season has tested even the most diehard and attentive fans yet what continues to be on show is just how wonderful and committed every player in the AFLW has been, ensuring the footy continues as too does the hunt for gold at the end of the rainbow.

We’re at a stage where games are being played at any time of the week, attributed to any round seen fit – this week alone, we’ve had a Round 7 clash on Monday, a Round 3 match on Tuesday, naturally followed by a Round 5 contest on Wednesday. 

However, what's remained consistent is the form of the top teams and the professionalism in which these clubs have handled each curveball that's been thrown their way.  

With that in mind, it’s important to check on the 5 clubs that are best positioned to win the flag and assess just how strong their point of difference really is when the going gets tough.

Adelaide 

6 wins, 1 loss, 230.2%

The Crows are the best team in the competition, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Bulldogs by a solitary point in the game of the season, in which they came back from 15 points down to just fall short.

In fact, Adelaide has beaten Brisbane, the Kangaroos and Melbourne this season, all in impressive fashion.

Adelaide clearly has the best defensive record with a supportive, no-frills group proving to be extremely effective, while Sarah Allen has enjoyed a stellar season-to-date.

Possessing 2 of the league’s 4 best ball-winners, Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard, the Crows have one of the league’s great duos through the middle, and Ash Woodland’s 14.2 in attack has given them an excellent target to aim for.

What separates the Crows from most other contenders is the fact that, much like the Demons in the AFL, there are no holes around the ground and the team plays with a level of professionalism that simply isn’t seen across the league.

The ability to use Erin Phillips as a complementary piece while integrating young, strong contributors like Teah Charlton and Eloise Jones is typical of a team at the top of their game and a strong indicator of dynastical success, which we’ve seen since the competition’s inception.

Perhaps their biggest strength of all is knowing how to win – that experience calms the nerves and can prove to be advantageous in tense moments.

Punters- The Crows are hunting a 3rd premiership from 5 years of AFLW competition. At TopSport they are priced as $3.25 favourites to collect yet another crown. 

Fremantle 

6 wins, 1 loss, 211.2%

Any reservations about the sustainability of the offensive power the Dockers showcased early in the season are long gone now we are more than halfway through the season.

Only inaccuracy (41.56 for the season) has held this team back from owning a greater percentage and it’s the efficient ball movement that really has an impact for the group.

Fremantle are ranked 8^th in the competition for disposals but have a kick-to-handball ratio of 2.22:1 and have 2 of the top 8 players in AFLW for metres gained, Hayley Miller and Kiara Bowers.

Certainly, it’s this long-ball approach, mixed with the ferocious pressure applied, that is the Dockers’ biggest strength.

Bowers is averaging 12.4 tackles a game, over 4 clear of the next best player, while Gabby O’Sullivan’s breakout season has her averaging 7.7 tackles in each contest, finishing with at least 5 in every game.

Add in Miller’s 6.6 and Dana East’s 6 tackles per game and you’re facing a midfield group that won’t offer any opportunities of a reprieve if you’re opposing them.

Mixed with the return of home fixtures, it’s hard to imagine a full-strength Dockers team slowing down.

Punters- At TopSport the Dockers are paying $4 to become the first Fremantle team to ever win an AFL/AFLW premiership. 

Kangaroos 

6 wins, 1 loss, 168.4%

We recently discussed North Melbourne's premiership bonafides at Stats Insider. What's followed in the subsequent fortnight has been a domination of Richmond while impressively sweeping aside Collingwood in similarly destructive, first-half fashion.

The depth of the midfield was covered in depth, but Jasmine Garner’s performance in Rounds 6 and 7 warrant highlighting having turned her season up multiple notches – 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 438 metres gained, 5 tackles and a goal against the Tigers was followed by 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 6 marks and 3 goals against Collingwood.

Yet despite the sheer quality in the centre and the overwhelming number of possessions this playing group collects, the Kangaroos’ greatest strength heading into finals is their ball use, particularly in transition.

North Melbourne has finished with a disposal efficiency of 68% of more in all but two games and have largely been far better than their opposition in using the ball in an advantageous manner.

Ranked 1^st for disposals and 2^nd for marks, the Kangaroos like to control the ball before switching the focus to a damaging, transitional play.

Emma Kearney is North Melbourne’s wildcard in their biggest strength in the backend of the season – if she continues to have 19 disposals a game at 78.9% disposal efficiency with 339.2 metres gained, it’s going to be extremely tough to shut this group down.

Punters- The Roos are yet to make an AFLW Grand Final, but at TopSport are 4th favourites to win it all and are presently paying $5.5.

Melbourne  

6 wins, 1 loss, 165%

The Demons are the epitome of a very good team that doesn’t particularly standout in any area, nor do they need to.

An extremely well-rounded group with even contributions across the ground, it’s the base-level consistency that really makes Melbourne a team that’s hard to toss when talking about Premiership contenders, as their worst is better than almost every other team’s off-day.

Kate Hore feels like such an unsung hero in this team, being a league-leader in score involvements and shots on goal, while her work rate from the half-forward flank is almost untouched.

Tayla Harris is enjoying a return to good form this season as the main target, while Daisy Pearce is enjoying life as a solid contributor in attack.

To prove the evenness in this playing group, the Demons have 10 player that average between 13 and 19 disposals a game with 6 players averaging more than 4 tackles a game.

The intercept work of Libby Birch has been an integral part of the vastly-improved defence of the Demons and cannot go unnoticed, but that’s not what makes or breaks this team.

To have every player committed to playing their best footy in every single game is a buy-in only the best cultures can provide.

Melbourne’s strength is in its evenness and teamwork and that, can often overcome star power.

Punters- The Demons have won 14 of their last 18 games over the last 2 seasons. TopSport are paying $5 for them to convert that dominance into a maiden AFLW premiership. 

Brisbane

 5 wins, 2 losses, 156.7%

The Lions have covered the loss of experience after their 2021 Premiership success well to remain a genuine contender this season.

Fresh off their first loss since Round 1 in an epic contest against the Demons, Brisbane could’ve been positioned a lot better if they had better luck in front of goal, clearly averaging the most scoring shots of any team in the competition.

Emily Bates has had a superb season stepping up into the role of the club’s best player, while Orla O’Dwyer has become one of the better all-round midfielders in the competition, averaging 387.8 metres gained and 5.5 tackles a game.

Certainly, the intercepting game is a key part of Brisbane’s overall structure – Breanna Koenan, Nat Grider and the refreshed Phoebe Monahan are averaging over 6 intercept possessions a game, with the functionality of the defence even more remarkable given the absence of Kate Lutkins.

However if we’re identifying one key strength that really separates the Lions from the others in the race for the 2022 flag, the pressure inside the forward 50 and general offensive teamwork is arguably the best we’ve seen in any AFLW season.

Whether it comes from a small forward, key forward or resting midfielder, the Lions have such an equal share of tackling and score involvements that make it extremely difficult to try and shut down an avenue to goal.

Greta Bodey leads by example, averaging 4.3 tackles per game, mostly inside 50 while leading the team in score involvements while Courtney Hodder, Ruby Svarc and Isabel Dawes are having similar impacts.

The fact Dakota Davidson will be available in finals seemed farfetched early on in the season, but it means with Jesse Wardlaw, the Lions have the air and ground covered in attack better than most.

Forward 50 tackling has been the main feature of many men’s Premierships in recent times and if the Lions can keep it up, it could have the same impact on them.

Punters- At TopSport the Lions are paying $7 to become the competition's first-ever back-to-back premier. 

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