Carlton v Collingwood

7.45pm AEDT, Friday, February 2
Ikon Park

THE CORRESPONDING fixture last season saw a "house full" sign at Ikon Park, and expect a similar turn out when Carlton hosts Collingwood on Friday night. 

Although the Pies fell by 35 points in the first NAB AFL Women's competition match last year, coach Wayne Siekman believes the group has evolved and will start the season strongly. 

"We needed to improve in every area, like every club," Siekman said on Thursday.

"You'll see a few things [Friday] night that no one has expected.

"The footy IQ from most of the players has increased … they've all conditioned themselves well and they've all improved their strength.

Collingwood will hand a debut to five players, including highly touted early pick Chloe Molloy, ex-Dog Jaimee Lambert and Australian volleyball player Eliza Hynes.

Forward Moana Hope, coming off a lacklustre first season with the Pies, has been named in the centre, and may play in the midfield in an effort to increase her output. 

Carlton coach Damien Keeping is excited about how the game will develop following the introduction of the last-touch rule and a full pre-season.

A free kick will be paid against the last player to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds.

"It [the rule] will open up the game," Keeping said.

"The players have had another pre-season…they've gotten stronger [and] done more work from a skills perspective.

"We just hope the spectacle grows from where it was last year, [with] more scores and a real excitement [about] how the game looks."

The Blues have named five debutants for the game, with Jess Hosking joining her twin sister Sarah in the navy blue for the first time.

They will also unleash star recruits Tayla Harris (from the Brisbane Lions) and Nicola Stevens (Collingwood), with Stevens, the Pies' best and fairest last year, facing her ex-teammates for the first time.

Giants players celebrate their breakthrough win over the Demons. Picture: AFL Photos

Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney

5.05pm AEDT, Saturday, February 3
Casey Fields

Greater Western Sydney delivered one of the biggest upsets of 2017 when it defeated Melbourne by less than a goal at Blacktown in round five.

The loss proved critical for the Dees, who finished third on percentage to eventual premier Adelaide, costing them a spot in the Grand Final.

Melbourne will be after revenge, bringing in the 2018 season in front of a home crowd at Casey Fields.

Demons coach Mick Stinear singled out captain Daisy Pearce for her development over the off-season.

"Daisy has taken her leadership and football to the next level, which is exactly what we want our players to do – continue to grow and get better," he told melbournefc.com.au.

The acquisitions of Ashleigh Guest (Greater Western Sydney) and Bianca Jakobsson (Carlton), plus internal development, sees the Dees enter the season as the team most likely to make the Grand Final, according to the AFLW captains.

Four of the eight captains predicted the Dees would make the Grand Final this year, ahead of Carlton (three) and the Western Bulldogs (one).

Vice-captain Melissa Hickey will this weekend showcase her talent in the midfield, with the Dees keen to have the ball in the hands of the All Australian defender.

The Giants will be looking to build on their first AFLW season, when they won just once and had a draw.

The inclusion of Maddie Boyd and Pepa Randall (Melbourne), Alicia Eva (Collingwood) and Rebecca Privitelli (Carlton) certainly gives the Giants a different look, and their win over the Brisbane Lions in a practice match was impressive.

Renee Forth, who missed the 2017 season recovering from a ruptured ACL, will make her long-awaited debut against the Demons, and believes the Giants can compete with anyone this season.

"We've got much more balance on the list this year," Forth told AFL.com.au.

"The depth is a lot better and there's a much more even spread across the team, so if we get some injuries, girls won't have to play out of position to cover the losses."

The Crows beat the Lions in last season's inaugural AFLW Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

Adelaide v Brisbane Lions

6.45pm (ACDT), Saturday, February 3
Norwood Oval

In the biggest game of the round, last year's two best teams face each other in a Grand Final rematch.

Adelaide held off a desperate Lions team to secure the first AFLW premiership last year, with both teams looking to contend again in 2018.

Lions coach Craig Starcevich believes the loss has motivated his team during the off-season.

"Getting close last year doesn't guarantee you anything for the year after, but the fact that you're playing the team you had that last game against certainly will drive you," Starcevich said in the lead-up to Saturday night's game.

"We've seen that drive with players across the pre-season. They've trained really hard [to] become physically … [and] technically better."

The Lions will take the youngest list into the 2018 season and will blood four debutants against the Crows, headlined by exciting midfielder Jordan Zanchetta, who missed the first AFLW season recovering from an ACL injury.

Adelaide will look to replicate its stunning premiership season, with superstar Erin Phillips saying the Crows have improved over the break.

"Our list is really strong," she said earlier this week.

"It's harder to stay at the top of the mountain than it is to climb it. You've got to be 100 per cent [and] diligent with everything you do.

"You're going to see a lot of new, young girls coming through and they're exciting to watch."

Despite being limited in her running, and sitting out match simulation during the week, Phillips has been named to face the Lions.

However, in a massive blow for the premiers, All Australian defender Courtney Cramey was unable to get up for this weekend, while forward Abbey Holmes is also sidelined.

Emma Kearney handballs ahead of Ashley Sharp last season. Picture: AFL Photos

Bulldogs v Fremantle

4.35pm AEDT, Sunday, February 4
VU Whitten Oval

Despite both teams heading into the first NAB AFLW season as premiership fancies, neither was able to cash in on the pre-season hype and challenge the best teams.

Bottom-four last season, they'll look to Sunday's game at Whitten Oval as a platform to build into their second campaigns.

Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves believes a new game-style will bring new fortunes in 2018.

"We're hoping to kick the ball a lot more. Last year we over-handballed, probably to the frustration of people, but [we're] going to kick it a lot more [and] try to maintain possession," Groves said at the Dogs' season launch.

"We think we've got the best forward line in the competition, so if we can get it down there pretty quickly, we're going to have some girls who can kick a good score."

The Dogs took a strong hand to the draft in 2017, snaring No. 1 pick Isabel Huntington, Monique Conti (No. 4) and Jenna Bruton (No. 11) with their first three selections. All three will make their debuts on the Sunday. 

Fremantle will be hoping to avenge the 32-point loss the Western Bulldogs handed them in round one last year.

"We're looking forward to testing our structures and we think we can take it right up to them," Dockers vice-captain Amy Lavell told fremantlefc.com.au.

"We feel we should have done better than we did last year and the girls are looking forward to having a good start."

Star defender Alex Williams will play her first game for the Dockers following her move from the Giants. Her inclusion will boost a defence that conceded 43 points a game last season – the second most in the competition.

Watch all NAB AFL Women's matches live on AFL.com.au and via the AFLW Official App.