Club: Collingwood
Coach: Steve Symonds
Captain: Steph Chiocci and Brianna Davey
2021 best and fairest: Brianna Davey
2021 in a nutshell: The Magpies rose and rose up the ladder in 2021, with a series of puzzle pieces falling into place. Ruby Schleicher had a breakout season off half-back, while Stacey Livingstone held the fort at full-back. AFLW equal best and fairest Brianna Davey was unstoppable out of the middle and worked well with Britt Bonnici and Jaimee Lambert. The Pies piled on six straight wins before running into Brisbane, and missed out on top spot with a final-round loss to Adelaide. They overran North Melbourne in the qualifying final before a heartbreaking four-point loss to the Lions in the prelim.
Full squad: Sophie Alexander, Jordyn Allen, Imogen Barnett, Brittany Bonnici, Ash Brazill, Tarni Brown, Lauren Butler, Mikala Cann, Sophie Casey, Eloise Chaston, Steph Chiocci, Brianna Davey, Alison Downie, Erica Fowler, Sabrina Frederick, Eliza James, Jaimee Lambert, Joanna Lin, Stacey Livingstone, Chloe Molloy, Abbi Moloney, Aliesha Newman, Ebony O'Dea, Alana Porter, Imogen Purcell, Sarah Rowe, Ruby Schleicher, Aishling Sheridan, Bella Smith, Amelia Velardo
Recruits: Alison Downie (delisted free agent, Carlton), Sabrina Frederick (Richmond)
Draftees: Imogen Barnett, Eloise Chaston, Eliza James
Inactive: Jordan Membrey (ACL)
Out: Maddie Shevlin (Richmond), Abbey Green, Sharni Norder (retired), Kristy Stratton (delisted)
2022 FIXTURE Every match, every round
2022 opponents: Carlton (A), St Kilda (H), Geelong (A), Fremantle (H), Brisbane (A), West Coast (H), North Melbourne (A), Western Bulldogs (H), Adelaide (A), Gold Coast (H)
Circle it: Collingwood suffered two tight defeats – one a preliminary final – at the hands of Brisbane in 2021, and the two powerhouses are fast forming a fierce rivalry. They meet in Maroochydore in round five.
Player to watch: Former basketballer Amelia Velardo had only played three games of football before she was drafted in 2020, but now has virtually a full VFLW season under her belt. Tough, athletic and versatile, she can play at either end of the ground.
Best NAB AFLW Rising Star chance: Eloise Chaston
2022 prediction: Collingwood is a genuine premiership threat in 2022. A very even line-up and a midfield that is difficult to shut down, most sides will be wary of the Pies next season. Chloe Molloy is a genuine match-winner in attack, but there are a few question marks over just who lines up with her, given the acquisition of both Sabrina Frederick and VFLW leading goalkicker Imogen Barnett, along with current key forward Sophie Alexander. Alison Downie will slot into the ruck after the retirement of Sharni Norder. The Pies are good at owning the footy and controlling the play, but showed last season they can be rattled by physical sides like Brisbane and Adelaide.
