AFLW Round 2 Power Rankings

The AFLW 2019 season is only two weeks in, but that equates to a quarter of the way through and already we have a very good bead on who are the contenders and who are pretenders.

There's a new power rising in the West as Fremantle’s forward line starts to click into gear and two very well known Melbourne clubs (that may or may not rhyme with 'Bollingwood' and 'Barlton') will be pushing it uphill big time for the rest of the season. 

Scroll down to read our entire Round 2 Power Rankings.

1. North Melbourne 

I don’t want to, but I must now concede that the Kangaroos are the team to beat in AFLW 2019. It’s not just their deep midfield, it is their incredibly versatile forward line and rock solid defence. They have no weaknesses, even with gun midfielder, Ash Riddell, going down last week. The Western Bulldogs should give them a solid test this week, but I expect the Kangaroos to match the reigning AFLW Premiers, and kick away a bit in the last quarter on the back of their ruck and forward dominance.

2. Western Bulldogs

If I was going to pick a team inside the top 4-5 that won’t play AFLW Finals this season it would be the Bulldogs. They have Carlton in Round 7, but from now to then they have probably the toughest month of any side starting with the ladder leading Kangaroos in Launceston. Blackburn is a star, Lamb is as solid as a rock and moving Mon Conti into the midfield gives them enough power to never get smashed out of the center.

Katie Brennan is an out and out gun. The best forward in the AFLW, she makes their forward line functional, but it’s down back and in the ruck where the Bulldogs will get burnt this season. They just don’t seem to be able to stop repeat inside 50’s, and conceded plenty of scoring attempts to Adelaide in Round 1, and inside 50’s to Geelong in Round 2 without paying the ultimate price. I hope they surprise me Friday night, they just look a few guns short of seriously challenging for a flag. Next 4 weeks is crucial.

3. Fremantle Dockers

Newsflash: The Dockers are officially contenders. Kiara Bowers makes a critical mass of midfield talent with Donellan and Hooker. Cain and Miller at the second rung are both solid and Kellie Gibson - while she hasn’t been brilliant on the stat sheet - is wreaking havoc with her speed in the forward line alongside Houghton, Antonio, Duffy and Atkins.

Fremantle’s front line is going so well that they can afford to send Antonio back if they are under the pump. Expect them to remain undefeated heading into round four.

4. Brisbane Lions

The loss wasn’t a shock, but the final margin raised a concern that the Lions may have come back to the field, much as we anticipated they might. Brisbane look one prime mover short in the middle. They are really missing Jamie Stanton, and until they find her replacement, their normally rock-solid defence will continue to be tested. Back at home this week the Lions defence should be able to better organize.

Would really like to see the Lions use Sabrina Fredrick-Traub as the starting ruck, with Jesse Wardlaw out of the goal square as the main tall forward target. Defences know where the ball is going when Sabs is up forward. The gameplan needs tinkering, and some out of the box thinking. They have the weapons on the list, just need to get the magnets in the right places. They need two Nat Exons and two Ally Andersons out there, but if Zanchetta and Zielke can both stand up against the Demons the Lions will be back on the winners list.

5. Adelaide Crows

It took them three quarters of footy to put the foot down, but once the pedal hit the metal it was bye, bye Blues. Had Chelsea Randall been there for Adelaide I seriously doubt the Blues would have kicked more than two goals, whereas losing Tayla Harris was not as much of a loss for Carlton.

It was slightly worrying to see Adelaide’s prime midfield movers get tagged so easily, expect every team to do that to some degree for the rest of the season. Despite kicking a beautiful goal, Sarah Perkins looks a few steps behind so far in AFLW3. Will be interesting to see if she can hold her place in a competition that has seen a big focus on an increase of pace. Still contenders, they should put Geelong away well this week.

6. Melbourne FC

There are some serious questions about the Demons, both offensively and down back. There was no better chance to put a big score on the board than last Saturday against a Collingwood side severely lacking in defense. Melbourne managed just 3.8, despite having two quarters where the wind was very much in their favour. Can’t question their on-ball brigade - especially Elise O’Dea who is probably leading the Best and Fairest count after two rounds - but they may be found wanting over the next three weeks, and turn into Round 6 against Carlton drawing dead for the season.

7. GWS Giants

The Giants kicked 2.11 and no team wins often with that kind of inaccuracy. They were dominant for large parts of the game against the competition benchmark, which says they aren’t that far off. They've been gifted the Blues and Magpies back to back next up, so expect them to be 2-2 after Round 4. Their season is well and truly alive. Like the Crows did last week, expect the Blues’ lack of defence will help the Giants arrest their shot for goal accuracy. Big time.

8. Geelong Cats

Losing #1 AFLW Draft pick, Nina Morrison, really, really hurts. They will likely get Cranston and Hickey back this weekend which will help, but the Cats could really have challenged the top sides this season if their star young midfielder hadn’t gone down. Some very close, honourable losses are probably on the cards for Geelong but I just can’t see them kicking a big enough score week after week.

9. Carlton FC

Listening to the commentary you may have felt the Blues were right in this game for a long time, but take a small step back and it is easy to see the final scoreline flattered them (again). Carlton kicked 7.2 which seems a big score against a quality opponent, but no Chelsea Randall for the Crows, and take away the four free kicks inside 30m from goal and the final total looks far less impressive.

Young Van Dyke looks good. 16 disposals and 3 tackles is pretty much bang on what she averaged in 16 games of VFLW last season, and if she can repeat that, the Blues may be able to put Bri Davey on-ball once Tayla Harris returns. They need Davey in the action. Shae Audley is as gutsy as they come but her 20m lollipop kicks kill forward momentum. The Hosking twins have not been the superstars that Carlton had hoped, to date. Young Maddy Prespakis is a gun, and Loynes is solid, but they need Davey in and around the ball much more often. Can see GWS smashing them on Saturday.

10. Collingwood FC

What is there to say about the Magpies, that hasn’t already been said about a Michael Bay movie (sans Bad Boys, obviously)? The Pies had two of their youngsters in Mikala Cann and Kate Lynch step up and play solid games. Ash Brazill had a ripsnorter on the last line of defense, and they STILL lost by 15 points. If Melbourne kick a little straighter, it’s a 20+ margin on a wind-affected day, which should have kept the contest tight. There’s not much positive to say about the Magpies, they are in for a long season which continues with possibly the toughest trip in the AFLW, Saturday in Fremantle.