But Fox Footy’s Sarah Olle has pored over the footage and statistics to nominate her best 30 players in the competition heading into the 2022 season.

1. Brianna Davey

Collingwood, 26, midfield, 175cm, 34 games

The joint league best-and-fairest winner from 2021 and reigning MVP, Davey is the complete player and leader. With the benefit of a full pre-season, the midfielder shone for the Magpies, who just fell short of a maiden grand final berth. The skipper of the All-Australian team, Davey also had an impact on the scoreboard, kicking six majors for the season. We are so lucky the one-time Matildas goalkeeper made the permanent switch to the AFL women’s league.

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2. Kiara Bowers

Fremantle, 30, midfield, 164cm, 25 games

Along with Davey, the standout star from the 2021 season. So much so the umpires couldn’t split the pair when it came to the league best-and-fairest. Affectionately known as “Turbo”, Bowers is a workhorse who is consistently at the coalface. The 30-year-old was the No.1 ranked player for clearances and tackles in 2021. Put simply, you don’t want to get in Bowers’ way.

3. Ellie Blackburn

Western Bulldogs, 26, mid-forward, 169cm, 37 games

The Bulldogs skipper has that rare ability to change the fortunes of a game through one play. Last year’s Round 4 match against Melbourne – in which Blackburn coolly slotted a goal on the run in the early stages of the final term to help secure the 13-point win — is firmly crystallised in my mind. Strong, dynamic and a natural footballer.

4. Madison Prespakis

Carlton, 21, midfield, 164cm, 24 games

The 2020 league best-and-fairest had another memorable season for the Blues, averaging around 21 disposals per game. Prespakis is a pure footballer. The tough, competitive ball magnet can change the fortunes of a game – whether by touch or inspiration. The Blues midfielder has already achieved so much in her short career and it’s only just getting started.

5. Chloe Molloy

Collingwood, 23, midfield/forward, 171cm, 25 games

A natural footballer whose goal nous is near peerless in the AFLW, Molloy is still only in the infancy of her career. Second only to Carlton’s Darcy Vescio for majors in 2021, Molloy is a bums-on-seats kind of player. After being sidelined in 2019 because of a Lisfranc injury, Molloy has bounced back in emphatic fashion. While she’s at her best up forward, the 23-year-old is also exceptional in defence.

6. Ebony Marinoff

Adelaide, 24, midfield, 169cm, 41 games

There’s not much Marinoff hasn’t achieved and she’s still only 24. The inaugural AFLW Rising Star has twice won premierships with Adelaide and is one of the most consistent ball-winners in the competition. Impressively, the Crows midfielder enjoyed a stellar year following a tumultuous pre-season in which she was suspended for three matches for her front-on tackle on GWS player Brid Stack – a ban that was ultimately overturned.

7. Georgia Patrikios

St Kilda, 20, midfield, 169cm, 15 games

An outstanding midfielder who glides across the field, Patrikios is a dual club best-and-fairest winner at just 20. Her first All-Australian honours in 2021 capped off a stunning season for Patrikios, who’s yet to commit to playing this year because of her hesitation to have the Covid vaccine. It would be a shame should she miss.

8. Alyce Parker

Greater Western Sydney, 21, midfield, 165cm, 23 games

Whether she’s at the bottom of a pack or at the feet of ruck Erin McKinnon, Parker is never lacking in effort or poise. The only Giant to win dual All-Australian honours and twice take home the Gabrielle Trainor Medal, Parker is one of the AFLW’s most consistent performers.

9. Monique Conti

Richmond, 22, midfield, 165cm, 29 games

When you watch Conti closely it sometimes appears as though she is dancing. The Tigers midfielder plays with grace and calm head that belies her 22 years. She will be a driving force as Richmond looks to work its way up the ladder.

10. Erin Phillips

Adelaide, 36, midfield/forward, 173cm, 35 games

The superlatives are endless for Phillips, who is now a household name around the country. At 36, you’d forgive the former WNBA champion for slowing down, but it doesn’t really seem to be in her DNA. The dual league best-and-fairest is the AFLW’s most decorated player. Phillips has twice been named best on ground in winning grand finals, including 2019, when she tore her ACL.

11. Karen Paxman

Melbourne, 33, midfield, 170cm, 39 games

The 33-year-old’s mullet garnered plenty of attention last season, but it was her footy that did all the talking. Whether playing in the guts or across half-back, the five-time All-Australian is a picture of consistency. Paxman’s decision making sets her apart. Seldom does she waste a possession.

12. Emma Kearney

North Melbourne, 32, midfield, 167cm, 39 games

The 2018 AFLW best-and-fairest never struggles finding the pill, but she’s not just an accumulator. Kearney is damaging. An All-Australian in every AFLW season, the 32-year-old is the ultimate competitor and leader. A premiership with the Kangaroos would just about complete Kearney’s CV.

13. Anne Hatchard

Adelaide, 23, midfield-defence, 175cm, 37 games

The evolution of Hatchard from fast food fiend to dual All-Australian and club champion is well documented, but it’s a narrative that shouldn’t be undersold. Hatchard’s 35 disposals in Round 1 of the 2020 season is the most of any player in the history of the AFLW.

14. Isabel Huntington

Western Bulldogs, 22, forward, 175cm, 19 games

The former No.1 pick was the No.1 contested mark last season as she switched back to playing predominantly as a forward, kicking 12 goals. Huntington’s aerial strength is matched by her versatility, with the 2020 Rising Star also previously earning All-Australian honours in defence.

15. Jasmine Garner

North Melbourne, 27, midfield-forward, 175cm, 38 games

The former Magpie – who kicked the first ever goal in the AFLW – has become one of the league’s prime movers. A beautiful kick in front of goal, Garner kicked nine majors in 2021, while averaging 20.7 touches a game. The 2020 AFLW MVP and AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year, the 27-year-old is one of the reasons the Kangaroos are consistently around the mark.

16. Kate Lutkins

Brisbane Lions, 33, defence, 180cm, 41 games

There are few accolades bigger and better than winning best-on-ground honours in a winning grand final team. Enter, Kate Lutkins. The three-time All-Australian is like a dam wall in Craig Starcevich’s backline. Reliable, unflappable and near impossible to get past.

17. Katie Brennan

Richmond, 29, forward, 174cm, 26 games

The Tigers skipper returned to her devastating best in 2021, with an All-Australian season that included 14 majors and the third-most contested marks in the competition. A fit and firing Brennan can only be a good thing for the AFLW. Another strong season could see the Tigers pick up from where they left off this year.

18. Chelsea Randall

Adelaide, 30, defence, 173cm, 32 games

Is there anything the Crows captain can’t do? Randall mounts a compelling case for the most versatile player in the AFLW. Her aerial strength is flawless and allows her to play with aplomb in defence or in the forward line. If you look up the word “courageous” in the dictionary, you should find a picture of Randall.

19. Ally Anderson

Brisbane Lions, 27, midfield, 162cm, 41 games

The super consistent midfielder was a driving force in the Lions’ maiden premiership and capped off a spectacular season with her second club best-and-fairest. A foundation player at the Lions, Anderson averaged 18.5 disposals per game in 2021, including 23 in the club’s maiden grand final win.

20. Tyla Hanks

Melbourne, 21, forward, 157cm, 25 games

The 2021 Rising Star, Hanks is a player whose stocks could significantly rise in 2022. At just 157cm, the Melbourne midfielder is diminutive. But what she lacks in size, Hanks sure makes up in skill. With another pre-season under her belt, the 21-year-old could be a key to the Demons claiming that elusive flag under coach Mick Stinear.

21. Brit Bonnici

Collingwood, 24, midfielder, 163cm, 39 games

Easy to spot in her helmet, Bonnici enjoyed her best AFLW season to date in 2021, averaging 23 disposals a game for the Magpies. The 24-year-old is tough and unrelenting. She’s the kind of person and player you’d simply love to line up alongside.

22. Ashleigh Riddell

North Melbourne, 25, midfield, 159cm, 19 games

Averaging just shy of 22 disposals in 2021, Riddell’s ability to burst out of the pack sets her apart from the rest. The 25-year-old – who earned All-Australian honours in 2020 – has a blistering turn of foot that is not just damaging, but lethal.

23. Darcy Vescio

Carlton, 28, forward, 166cm, 39 games

The most prolific goalkicker in the 2021 season, the veteran Blue was outstanding for coach Daniel Harford. Vescio reaped the rewards of a tough pre-season, earning All-Australian honours and taking home Carlton’s best-and-fairest.

24. Gemma Houghton

Fremantle, 28, forward, 179cm, 34 games

Houghton is an excitement machine, who has that “je ne sais quoi” X-factor. She kicked 15 goals in 2021, including five against West Coast in the derby in Round 6. The 27-year-old forward is a difficult match-up, with her aerial prowess and athleticism often a lethal combination.

25. Ellie McKenzie

Richmond, 19, forward-midfield, 176cm, 9 games

The 2020 No.1 draft pick enjoyed a stellar debut season in which her versatility and athleticism stood out. Powerful through the midfield as well as in the forward line, the youngster ended the season with the honours of being the AFL Players Association best first year player, as well as the runner up in Richmond’s best-and-fairest.

26. Ruby Schleicher

Collingwood, 23, defender, 175cm, 29 games

A foundation player for the Magpies, Schleicher came into her own in 2021. A huge pre-season in which she increased her tank was pivotal in Schleicher’s best season to date. The 23-year-old is a likeable larrikin off the field, but is increasingly becoming one of the more wily performers on the park.

27. Jaimee Lambert

Collingwood, 29, midfielder, 160cm, 38 games

Another Magpie midfielder who doesn’t shirk a contest, Lambert is all heart. The 29-year-old is strong through the hips, allowing her to dominate around the contest. Drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their inaugural AFLW pick, Lambert has blossomed since becoming a Magpie, winning two club best-and-fairests.

28. Meg McDonald

Geelong, 30, defence, 177cm, 25 games

The Cats skipper was under duress much of the season, with the Cats finally breaking through in the last round of the season for a win. Despite the pressure, McDonald was largely unflappable. By season’s end, she had racked up the second-most intercept possessions n the league. It’s been a wild ride for the defender, who was delisted by the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2017. A true lesson in persistence.

29. Janelle Cuthbertson

Fremantle, 31, defence, 175cm, 15 games

The All-Australian half-back has one of the most remarkable stories in the AFLW. A former tennis player who only took up the sport four years ago, the 31-year-old still has so much room to grow. A third in the club best-and-fairest – after the revelation she’d played half the season with a broken rib – was particularly impressive.

30. Emma King

North Melbourne, 27, forward-ruck, 187cm, 38 games

The 27-year-old is a particularly difficult match-up because of her potency when rested forward. The Cats found that out the hard way in Round 1 of 2021 when King slotted three majors. The former Magpies marquee player is ultra consistent, with her tap work and aerial dominance making King a standout.

STAR PLAYERS JOIN FOX FOOTY AFLW TEAM

Footy is back early in 2022, with the sixth season of AFLW kicking off in January, and Fox Footy will bring fans all of the action with a new-look commentary team.

Collingwood’s Chloe Molloy, North Melbourne’s Kaitlyn Ashmore, St Kilda co-vice-captain Kate McCarthy, Richmond’s Sarah Hosking, Melbourne’s Libby Birch, and Bulldogs Ellie Blackburn and Isabel Huntington will headline the cluster of current-day stars in the Fox Footy team.

Carlton coach Daniel Harford returns, joining Brisbane’s captain Dayne Zorko in the commentary box which will be boosted by seasoned operators Anthony Hudson, Adam Papalia, Leigh Montagna, Kelli Underwood and Ben Waterworth.

Fox Sports’ Sarah Jones, Kath Loughnan, Tania Armstrong, Chyloe Kurdas, Brihony Dawson, Ben Dixon, Alastair Lynch and Brad Johnson will also add their expertise to the coverage.

The 2022 season will begin when St Kilda and Richmond do battle at SkyBus Stadium in Frankston on Friday, January 5.

Fox Footy (channel 504 on Foxtel and Kayo) will show every match of every round and every final, including the Grand Final live in HD.

LAST YEAR’S TOP 30

30. Caitlin Greiser – St Kilda

29. Daisy Pearce – Melbourne

28. Sharni Layton – Collingwood

27. Gemma Houghton – Fremantle

26 Jamie Stanton – Gold Coast

25. Kate Hore – Melbourne

24. Tayla Harris – Carlton

23. Chloe Molloy – Collingwood

22. Ellie Blackburn – Western Bulldogs

21. Emily Bates – Brisbane

20. Kerryn Harrington – Carlton

19. Olivia Purcell – Geelong

18. Jenna Bruton – North Melbourne

17. Ebony Marinoff – Adelaide

16. Monique Conti – Richmond

15. Ashleigh Riddell – North Melbourne

14. Brianna Davey – Collingwood

13. Anne Hatchard – Adelaide

12. Alyce Parker – Greater Western Sydney

11. Dana Hooker – West Coast

10. Chelsea Randall – Adelaide

9. Isabel Huntington – Western Bulldogs

8. Kate Lutkins – Brisbane

7. Jaimee Lambert – Collingwood

6. Kiara Bowers – Fremantle

5. Karen Paxman – Melbourne

4. Emma Kearney – North Melbourne

3. Madison Prespakis – Carlton

2. Erin Phillips – Adelaide

1. Jasmine Garner – North Melbourne