North Melbourne are the overwhelming favourites to break through for a maiden AFLW premiership, according to a survey of the league’s club captains.
The Kangaroos were tipped by eight of the 14 skippers to make this year’s grand final in just their second season in the competition in a survey released on Tuesday as part of the AFLW season launch.
Melbourne received the next highest tally with three votes, with reigning premiers Adelaide receiving two and newcomers Richmond one.
“We’ve been really open as a club that we want to win a premiership and we feel like we’ve got the team to do it,” North captain Emma Kearney told AAP.
“Now it’s just about backing up those words with our actions.
“We’ve done the work, like everyone, but we feel like we’re a bit more settled in our second year and have built that cohesive game plan which will hopefully help us (get there) this season.”
Kearney, the 2018 AFLW best-and-fairest medal winner, was favoured by her peers to take the award again.
She received three votes, ahead of Anne Hatchard (Adelaide), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Daisy Pearce (Melbourne) and Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), who all garnered two votes.
Western Bulldogs forward Brooke Lochland (three votes) is tipped to win the goal-kicking award this season, while four skippers tipped recent No.1 draft pick Georgia Patrikios of St Kilda to win the rising star award.
The 2020 AFLW season gets under way on Friday night when Richmond host Carlton at Ikon Park.