IT'S BEEN nearly a month since Western Bulldogs Ellie Blackburn and Katie Brennan and their coach Paul Groves held the AFL Women’s premiership cup aloft at a soggy Ikon Park.

The trade and re-signing period will not open until negotiations between the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association over a new AFLW pay deal have been finalised.

In the meantime, here’s a snapshot view of each club’s season, including any post-season news and what each might be looking for when the trade period opens.

Also included is a "dream recruit" scenario for each club. Although these might appear impossible to land, it's fun for fans to imagine what could be.

This is part one of a two-part analysis of the eight inaugural clubs, plus the two new ones – Geelong and North Melbourne – joining the competition next year.

ADELAIDE

Highlight: Defeating the Western Bulldogs by seven points in round three when its season was on the line. A four-goal haul from Erin Phillips in her first game after injury – and a return to the hard-tackling, physical style that helped win the 2017 premiership – was enough to get the Crows over the line.

Lowlight: Injuries to star players Courtney Cramey (hamstring) and Phillips (quad) contributed to Adelaide's slow start to the season. Although they had an impressive late run, the slow start (0-2) meant the Crows couldn't afford to drop a game from round three onwards.

Best and fairest: Chelsea Randall

Most improved: Sarah Allan

Post-season news: Adelaide has parted ways with premiership coach Bec Goddard and is searching for a new senior coach. Andrew Hodges has been the senior assistant coach for the past two years, operating from Darwin – and could come into the frame for the senior job. Phillips has confirmed she will stay at the club next season and will officially re-sign when the signing/trade period opens.

Must hang on to: Chelsea Randall. The co-captain and West Australian can play any position on the ground and is capable of turning a match by herself.

What they need: All-round depth. The absence of Phillips and Cramey early in the season exposed the over-reliance the team has on its stars. They need only look at the Bulldogs, who won the premiership after covering the loss of three quality forwards.

Dream recruit: Kaitlyn Ashmore. The Crows need a bit of speed, and Ashmore's line-breaking run would provide it – if they could prise her away from sunny Queensland, where the Victorian has played the past two seasons.

BRISBANE

Highlight: Brisbane's 40-point thumping of Greater Western Sydney in round seven to put it squarely in Grand Final contention. The Lions have been known more for their defensive pressure, but this match showed how dangerous they could be offensively, with six goals in the first quarter alone underlining their scoring capacity.

Lowlight: A second consecutive six-point Grand Final loss. Despite having played about half of its games in torrential rain, the Lions failed to take advantage of a soggy first half in the Grand Final and were overrun by the Bulldogs.

Best and fairest: Kate Lutkins

Most improved: Kate Lutkins

Post-season news: There hasn't been much out of the Lions camp. A player to watch is Kaitlyn Ashmore, as the Victorian has pre-existing connections with North Melbourne (through its VFLW-aligned side Melbourne University). Geelong could also be an attractive option for the former Ballarat resident.

Must hang on to: Sabrina Frederick-Traub. The key forward is a game-changer for the Lions and hard to match up on. Even when she's not in the best of form, you would prefer to have her on your side rather than have to work out how to stop her.

What they need: Brisbane is one of the most well-rounded teams in the competition, although they would benefit with another key forward. Frederick-Traub is a star but doesn't have much cover if she's injured. Young forward Bella Ayre struggled this season and Kalinda Howarth (167cm) isn't tall enough.

Dream recruit: Alyssa Mifsud. A good foil for Frederick-Traub and can move into the ruck if required to support Tahlia Randall.

CARLTON

Highlight: The improved form of Breann Moody. The young ruck shot through the competition's ruck hierarchy to be named in the All Australian squad and picked up a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination.

Lowlight: Losing captain Brianna Davey to a torn ACL at the end of the round two win over the Giants. Davey was leading the competition best and fairest award after the first two rounds such was her strong form. The Blues failed to win a game after that, suffering a league-record 73-point loss to the Bulldogs.

Best and fairest: Katie Loynes and Breann Moody

Most improved: Breann Moody

Post-season news: The club is in rebuild mode – no coach, no list manager and a captain reportedly being courted by other clubs after a last-place finish. Coach Damien Keeping and the club "parted ways by mutual agreement" at the end of the season, while list manager Graham Burgen quit halfway through the campaign.

Must hang on to: Brianna Davey

What they need: A quality, speedy outside midfielder. It's no use having Darcy Vescio and Tayla Harris headlining a forward line if the ball isn't getting there. Trading Nat Exon to Brisbane last year hurt, and although Katie Loynes had an excellent season, she's an inside midfielder.

Dream recruit: Elise O'Dea. A hard-running, long-kicking midfielder who can also hit the scoreboard. But good luck breaking up the Darebin/Melbourne midfield trio of O'Dea, Daisy Pearce and Karen Paxman.

COLLINGWOOD

Highlight: Defeating Melbourne in Alice Springs in round four to kick-start its season. The Magpies were given little chance considering both teams' form but recorded their highest score (58 points) to stun the Dees by 34 points.

Lowlight: Collingwood had two high-profile games to kick off the year – the season-opener against Carlton and the first football match at Perth's Optus Stadium against Fremantle – and lost both. The losses put the team behind the pack, forcing it to play catch-up for the rest of the season.

Best and fairest: Chloe Molloy

Most improved: Christina Bernardi

Post-season news: Veteran Meg Hutchins won’t be offered a contract next season. Coach Wayne Siekman remains out of contract, while Jasmine Garner and Jess Duffin will play for Williamstown in this year's VFLW season. Bree White has retired.

Must hang on to: Chloe Molloy. Nearly pulled off the competition best and fairest and Rising Star double, and with the ability to play at either end of the ground, is one of the most valuable long-term prospects in the game.

What they need: A classy outside midfielder. They've got some strong bodies around the ball in Amelia Barden and Brittany Bonnici, but sometimes lacked that outside run to connect to their strong forward line.

Dream recruit: Emma Kearney. But that won’t happen, seeing the league best and fairest has already declared she will sign with North Melbourne.

FREMANTLE

Highlight: Emily McGuire's two goals on debut against Melbourne, including kicking the match-winner in the dying minutes. The big win over Collingwood at Optus Stadium, just the Dockers' second in AFLW competition, was also up there.

Lowlight: More injuries. After season one was ruined by injuries, Fremantle had a horror start to 2018. Big recruit Kellie Gibson (hip flexor) and Brianna Green (knee) played one game each, while Kiara Bowers (knee), Kirby Bentley (knee) and Beatrice Devlyn (broken hand) didn't take to the field.

Best and fairest: Ebony Antonio

Most improved: Gabby O'Sullivan

Post-season news: The club will be on the search for a new coach after Michelle Cowan chose not to renew her contract. General manager of football operations Chris Bond is conducting a review into the club’s AFLW operations, including the appointment of a new coach. Best and fairest Ebony Antonio and captain Kara Donnellan confirmed their status as the power couple of the AFLW after the duo got engaged. Leading goalkicker Amy Lavell has retired from AFLW but will continue to play state footy for Subiaco.

Must hang on to: Dana Hooker. Finished equal second in the league best and fairest on the back of several best-on-ground efforts. Can play on any part of the ground and is particularly dangerous up forward.

What they need: A dynamic full-forward. Stacey Barr has been good in patches over the past few years, but rarely looks like breaking a game open. McGuire's a few years away from being able to take control of a match consistently. The loss of Lavell will further weaken Fremantle's scoring power.

Dream recruit: Sabrina Frederick-Traub. Luring the Perth local home would be a massive coup, but after two Grand Final losses the Lions star has unfinished business.