Why this AFLW season is biggest yet for West Aussie clubs
It makes this season — the competition's 10th anniversary — the biggest ever for Western Australia's AFLW clubs.
The captain of every club met in Melbourne on Tuesday for the league's annual media day. Fremantle skipper Ange Stannett was pictured with the premiership cup that her side is genuinely expected to compete for this season.
West Coast's Charlie Thomas — who was named co-captain this year alongside fellow star Bella Lewis — was at the event for the first time.
For the Eagles, who are yet to play finals for the first time, holding up the cup feels a while away. But anything is possible with trailblazing coach Daisy Pearce.
West Coast will play on the season's opening night next Thursday in a prime-time match at Leederville Oval.
'It's super exciting, Thursday night footy will be really good,' Thomas said.
'To play Gold Coast, especially at home, is super special. We're really looking forward to that. To play at bigger grounds is really exciting too.' Back Row (L-R) Kate Hore of the Demons, Katie Brennan of the Tigers, Stephanie Cain of the Bombers, Chloe Molloy of the Swans, Charlotte Thomas of the Eagles, Sarah Allan of the Crows, Ruby Schleicher of the Magpies, Meghan McDonald of the Cats, Justine Mules-Robinson of the Power, Front Row (L-R) Rebecca Beeson of the Giants, Abbie McKay of the Blues, Deanna Berry of the Bulldogs, Angelique Stannett of the Dockers, Jasmine Garner of the Kangaroos, Breanna Koenen of the Lions, Emily Bates of the Hawks, Hannah Priest of the Saints and Lucy Single of the Suns pose during the 2025 AFLW Captains Day. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images
Thomas was at her first captain's day and said she was in awe of AFLW greats such as North Melbourne's Jasmine Garner, Richmond's Katie Brennan and new Collingwood skipper Ruby Schleicher.
'It was pretty surreal, surrounded by some of the league's best players,' she said.
The Dockers kick off their season against Port Adelaide on Sunday, August 17. The returns of Stannett — who missed her entire first year as captain with an anterior cruciate ligament injury — and Kiara Bowers after pregnancy have been a massive boost to Fremantle a year after they returned to the finals.
'I'm very excited, 12 months is a pretty long time,' Stannett said.
'It's the moment that you think about during the entire rehab process. It's what pushes you through.'
Stannett returns to a team already stacked with stars such as All-Australian ruck Mim Strom, Hayley Miller, Aisling McCarthy and Gabby Newton.
But despite that, opposition skippers snubbed the Dockers in their finals predictions. A whopping 10 captains picked North Melbourne to go back-to-back, while six tipped last year's runners-up Brisbane.
One of the 18 captains picked the Dockers to win the McClelland Trophy for the best performing club across the men's and women's competitions.
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