AFTER a controversial, discussion-provoking debut, the AFLW top 30 is back to count down to the 2021 NAB AFLW season.
Typically, for this year, things are a little different.
The top 30 will be based on form shown in the 2020 season. As such, the unilateral decision has been made to have a three-2020-games requirement, seeing as there were six rounds of the season and one week of finals.
You can do the maths to work out who is ineligible!
Suffice to say, North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner will NOT be sitting at No.29 this year, but that's the only clue you're getting as to the order of the top 30.
Scroll down for the second batch of the countdown, from 25-21.
30. GEORGIA PATRIKIOS (St Kilda)
The silky midfielder had an impressive debut season, showing great poise in contested situations and neat skills off both feet.
Finishing equal-first in the Saints' best and fairest and equal-third in the NAB AFLW Rising Star, Patrikios averaged 15.7 disposals, 4.0 clearances and 295.5 metres gained a match.
Patrikios held her own against midfielders 10 to 15 years older, made the All-Australian squad and was considered a crucial focus for opposition teams in attempting to nullify St Kilda.
29. CHLOE MOLLOY (Collingwood)
The multi-talented utility was integral to Collingwood's rise up the ladder in 2020, playing in the midfield and spending stints up forward.
Molloy didn't make the All-Australian squad and finished eighth in the Pies' best and fairest, but had match-winning turns in games, including a three-goal haul against the Western Bulldogs and 17 touches against Carlton.
She averaged 13.3 disposals, 4.6 marks and 3.9 intercept possessions in 2020, using her footy smarts to position herself where she would have the greatest impact.
28. KALINDA HOWARTH (Gold Coast)
Affectionately known as 'Kindy', the sparky forward from the Suns had a breakout season after struggling with personal issues during her time at the Lions in 2018.
Named All-Australian, Howarth booted nine goals from her six matches, including a bag of three against Brisbane and four against West Coast. She also found a fair bit of the footy, averaging 10.1 disposals.
Her agility at ground level, strength overhead and composure in front of goal makes her a dangerous proposition for opposition defenders.
27. CAITLIN GREISER (St Kilda)
Winning the AFLW leading goalkicker award in your debut season (albeit a shortened affair) is no mean feat, but that is exactly what Greiser achieved in 2020.
The powerful forward finished equal-first in St Kilda's best and fairest and was named All- Australian after her 10-goal season, which included a haul of three against Richmond.
Greiser has one of the longest set shots in the competition and despite the former soccer player's relative inexperience, is a smart operator who knows how to protect her space well.
26. SARAH ALLAN (Adelaide)
The linchpin of Adelaide's defence, Allan went from strength to strength in 2020.
The composed key back was named All-Australian for the first time and finished fifth in the Crows' best and fairest count.
Allan reads the play well and is not afraid to leave her direct opponent to spoil a contest. She is sound overhead and is entrusted to be the player left on the last line of defence.
25. JENNA BRUTON (North Melbourne)
Often slipping under the radar of North Melbourne's star-studded midfield, Bruton had another powerful season in 2020.
Bruton averaged 17.4 disposals at 65.6 per cent efficiency, a strong figure given her role usually entails dealing with the ball in contested situations.
Named in the All-Australian squad and finishing fourth in North Melbourne's best and fairest, Bruton's agility, clean skills and elite pressure – particularly in stoppages – means she is a key cog in the Roos' powerful engine room.
24. LIBBY BIRCH (Melbourne)
Birch took her game to a new level in her first season at Melbourne, after spending three years at the Western Bulldogs.
Locking in a role as a key defender, she was named All-Australian for the first time after a series of powerful performances behind the footy, averaging 6.4 intercept possessions and 3.6 marks.
She has safe hands overhead, is a strong interceptor and makes life highly difficult and frustrating for her direct opponent.
23. KATE HORE (Melbourne)
One of the most dangerous small forwards in the game, Hore was a constant threat in 2020.
An All-Australian, winner of the Coates Hire Goal of the Year and third in the club's best and fairest count, the Dee averaged 12.7 disposals (seven contested possessions), 3.1 score involvements and kicked 4.5.
Hore's combination of speed, agility and smart leading patterns means she's a difficult prospect to corral, and she has the ability to quickly turn a game, as she did against North Melbourne in round one.
22. EMILY BATES (Brisbane)
An ever-dependable midfielder, Bates won a second Brisbane best and fairest in 2020 and was named in the All-Australian squad.
She averaged 19.9 disposals at 69.1 per cent efficiency, 272.7 metres gained and 3.9 clearances a game, leading an inexperienced Lions engine room.
Bates marries her ball-winning ability with clean disposal by both hand and foot, making her an extremely damaging player if left to her own devices.
21. ISABEL HUNTINGTON (Western Bulldogs)
Huntington was the subject of an inspired move from the forward line to centre-half back in 2020, named All-Australian and winning the NAB AFLW Rising Star and the Dogs' best and fairest.
The No.1 pick in 2018 has had a torrid run with knee and leg injuries as a junior and in her first two AFLW seasons, but dominated overhead in 2020.
Huntington averaged 4.8 marks (2.2 contested), 13.0 disposals at 73.8 per cent disposal efficiency and 8.4 intercept possessions.
