The AFLW season is a month away and as we gear up towards it, it’s time to have a look at a few players worth keeping an eye on in 2022.
Whether they’re players ready for a breakout season, returning from injury or at a new team, here is a handful of players of interest.
It’s a tough list to narrow down given the surging improvement across the board around the competition.
Some players also considered for the list included Brisbane midfielder Cathy Svarc, who is elevating quickly as a star midfielder, Fremantle’s Gemma Houghton without fellow forward Sabreena Duffy and GWS midfielder Chloe Dalton, who returns from a year off at the Olympics.
Nina Morrison (Geelong)
Nina Morrison will be a star in the AFLW competition, it’s just a matter of time. Hopefully, that happens in 2022 after two seasons completely derailed by torn ACLs.
The midfielder was the first pick in the 2018 AFLW Draft, viewed at the time on par with Carlton star Maddy Prespakis. That comparison has held true in the glimpses we have seen of Morrison and hopefully we get to see it on full display this season.
On top of that, Geelong desperately needs the injection of class in the midfield, particularly given Olivia Purcell’s defection to Melbourne. The Cats very nearly went winless in 2021, overhauled their list and coaching staff, and are essentially starting from scratch.
They are a very intriguing team in 2022 given the turnover and Morrison isn’t the only Cat on this list because of it.
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Tayla Harris (Melbourne)
After multiple seasons establishing herself as one of the competition’s best forwards, Tayla Harris, by her own standards, had a poor 2021.
The 24-year-old kicked four goals in nine games and was arguably Carlton’s fourth most important forward.
She has now moved on to Melbourne for a fresh start, but also fills a glaring key forward need for the Demons and, at her best, could be the final piece of the puzzle for them.
If Harris returns to her All-Australian best, she could be the focal point Melbourne lacked in 2021. Daisy Pearce played the role well before her injury and changed the dynamic of the Demons forward of centre.
Harris may be a high-profile player for a number of reasons, but her on-field performance will be crucial to her new side’s 2022 hopes.
Olivia Vesely (St Kilda)
St Kilda’s midfield has suddenly lost its star combo with Tyanna Smith (torn ACL) and Georgia Patrikios (learning more about the vaccine) unavailable for the season.
Without them, someone will need to stand up and the top mantle may fall to Olivia Vesely, who starred in 2020 before a serious calf injury saw her miss 2021.
At full fitness, Vesely has the talent to go to another level in 2021 with greater responsibility, though the likes of Nat Exon and Tarni White, as well as draftees Ella Friend and Ash Richards, will also take on larger loads.
Sorting the midfield mess will be key for new Saints coach Nick Dal Santo.
Georgie Prespakis (Geelong)
Every year we see draftees have an immediate impact on the league, with 2021 the only season where the Rising Star winner has not also made the All-Australian team.
Georgie Prespakis comes into AFLW as a ready-made midfielder who will hope to have as big an early impact as her sister Maddy, who has dominated so far in her career at Carlton.
Despite the loss of Purcell, the return of Morrison coupled with the introduction of Prespakis and the rising Amy McDonald will give the Cats an interesting midfield dynamic over the next few years.
The real question is just how good the likes of Prespakis and Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast) can be in their first seasons.
Katie Brennan (Richmond)
Fifth time was certainly the charm for Richmond captain Katie Brennan, who finally had a clean run at it without being crippled by injuries.
Whether it was at the Western Bulldogs or at Punt Road, the star forward has shown glimpses in patches, but has had poor luck on the injury front.
Playing all nine games, Brennan showed why she has always been rated among the most talented players in AFLW, making the All-Australian side and kicking 14 goals.
The Tigers are on the rise after a strong 2021 and if Brennan maintains what we saw last season, it will go a long way towards their first finals run.
Lucy McEvoy (Carlton)
A fractured cheekbone on the eve of the 2021 season put a hiccup in what Carlton fans hoped would be a breakout season for Lucy McEvoy.
After starting her career mostly inside 50, the hope was McEvoy would begin to transition into a full-time midfielder but it didn’t quite happen for the prodigious talent last season.
The second pick in the 2019 National Draft now enters her third season and given Carlton has now lost both Hosking sisters, Katie Loynes and Chloe Dalton, they need to find midfield depth alongside Maddy Prespakis, Grace Egan and Abbie McKay.
McEvoy seems like the next piece of the puzzle and has the potential to be one of the breakout players of 2022.
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