Herald Sun AFLW reporter Lauren Wood picks her All-Australian team at the halfway mark of the season

What do a former Australian netballer, a pride of Lions and a ‘seriously scary’ star who could dominate AFLW for the next decade have in common? They all feature in Lauren Wood’s mid-year AFLW All-Australian team.

AFLW – 01/03/2020 – Adelaide Crows v Carlton at Richmond Oval. Anne Hatchard and Kate Loynes Picture SARAH REED

In the words of esteemed prophet Bon Jovi himself, woah-oh, we’re halfway there.

And a former Australian netballer, a Daisy and a pride of Lions are the ones who have impressed in the first four rounds.

At the halfway mark of the AFL Women’s season, a returning mother of twins leads the pack as a contender for this year’s All-Australian captain.

Daisy Pearce has been reinvented in her return to AFLW following the birth of Sylvie and Roy just over 12 months ago, moving from the midfield to halfback.

And it’s been a masterstroke.

Feeding the ball through midfielder Karen Paxman — another who could be well in the mix for league best and fairest honours — and on to Shelley Scott, who is fourth in the competition for score involvements, has become a thing of beauty.

Daisy Pearce has dominated her return to AFLW. Picture: Getty Images

And as for Magpie Jaimee Lambert, her numbers speak for themselves. She’s gone from being the best player no one was talking about to dominating the coaches’ votes and becoming a serious headache for opposition teams.

Madison Prespakis is another, who could well go from rising star to league champion within 12 months.

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She’s seriously scary.

At this stage of the season, and yes, we’re only four games in, it’s hard to see any Tigers in the frame.

Monique Conti — an All-Australian player already — is the one if she can continue the form she showed in Bendigo on the weekend. It’s worth remembering she only came back to football from her WNBL duties with the Melbourne Boomers quite late in the pre-season.

But skipper Katie Brennan’s maiden All-Australian berth might be on hold just for now.

The story of this season so far is arguably the turnaround of Collingwood ruck Sharni Layton.

Lauren Wood picks her All-Australian team at the halfway mark of the AFLW season.

Kiara Bowers has been a standout for Fremantle.

She, as she put it, “worked my arse off” over the off-season and is reaping the benefits, leading the game for hit-outs and her work around the ground has gone to a new level.

Expect the Lions — undefeated but with a draw with Gold Coast on their tally — to be out in force come the W Awards.

Kate Lutkins has been stoic, yet again, in defence, alongside master interceptor Catherin Svarc, while Jesse Wardlaw leads the competition for goals. It’s hard to overlook that.

Over west, Kiara Bowers just continues to live up to her nickname of “Turbo”, leading the competition for tackles by a whopping 30 from her nearest competitor, averaging almost 15 per game.

Tayla Harris sits in the All-Australian team based on the first month of football, according to AFLW reporter Lauren Wood. Picture: AAP

I fear that if I was leave her out, there might well be one coming my way!

But of course in these situations, there are some that fit into the “unlucky to miss” category.

There’s Bowers’ teammate in Gemma Houghton, who leads the competition for score involvements, and Giant Rebecca Privitelli, whose return to AFLW has been nothing short of brilliant.

Sun Jamie Stanton is another, as is Carlton co-skipper Kerryn Harrington.

But isn’t it great to have such fierce competition for spots. Expansion of the competition has seen a couple of teams battle, but some serious players step up.

Don’t envy the selectors of this one in five weeks’ time.

Adelaide ball magnet Anne Hatchard in full flight against Carlton. Picture: Sarah Reed.

THE TEAM

B Kate Lutkins (Bris) Libby Birch (Melb)

HB Catherine Svarc (Bris) Daisy Pearce (Melb) (C) Ash Brazill (Coll)

C Anne Hatchard (Adel) Kiara Bowers (Frem) Karen Paxman (Melb)

HF Kalinda Howarth (GC) Shelley Scott (Melb) Tayla Harris (Carl)

F Jasmine Garner (NM) Jesse Wardlaw (Bris)

FOLL Sharni Layton (Coll) Madison Prespakis (Carl) Jaimee Lambert (Coll)

I/C Sophie Conway (Bris), Emily Bates (Bris), Ebony Marinoff (Adel), Emma Kearney (NM), Ash Riddell (NM)