With Hawthorn’s 2019 VFLW season kicking off this weekend, we preview the upcoming season and look at whether our Hawks can go back-to-back.

What you need to know about VFLW

The VFLW is the premier women’s competition in Victoria and is made up of 13 clubs.

Nine of these clubs are affiliated with AFLW teams and four are stand-alone sides, of which Hawthorn is one.

The season is played over 16 rounds and each team plays against one another once and then play two teams twice. Each team has two bye rounds.

What happened in 2018

The 2018 season was one to remember for our Hawthorn women’s team.

Hawthorn finished the home and away season second on the ladder having only lost the two games.

After beating Collingwood in the first week of finals the girls went straight through to the grand final.

The grand final was played against Geelong at Etihad Stadium and the side held on to win by 11 points and secure the club’s first VFLW premiership.

Read: Trio feature in votes

Player movement

A few Hawthorn players from last year’s premiership team have decided to play at their AFLW clubs this season. Julia Crockett-Grills (Geelong), Emma Mackie (St Kilda), Emerson Woods (Carlton) and Mikala Cann (Collingwood) will play with their AFLW affiliated sides.

Premiership players Tahni Nestor and Kim Ebb have both made their way to Melbourne University.

On the other hand the Hawks welcomed Adelaide and Melbourne AFLW player Talia Radan and welcomed back last year’s best and fairest winner Jayde Van Dyk, GWS’s best and fairest winner Rebecca Beeson, Pepa Randall (GWS), Sarah Perkins (Adelaide) and Phoebe McWilliams (Geelong).

Players to watch

Pip Peschke will be like a new recruit this year having missed last season with an Achilles injury. Rosie Dillon has worked on her fitness over the pre-season and Olivia Flanigan will most likely have more opportunities in the midfield in 2019. Claire Dyett has done everything the coaches have asked of her and Ebony Wroe is one of the new girls who has stood out on the training track.

Message from the coach

“Pre-season has been about challenging ourselves to be better. The girls have embraced that well.

“As always we are hoping to do enough to qualify for the top four and see what happens in September.” – Paddy Hill