CAITLIN BASSETT: Top 5 AFLW stars, Ebony Marinoff, Ally Anderson, Ash Riddell, Mim Strom, Charlie Rowbottom

Here are the five game changers leading the charge as the league enters its festival of football, with matches held six nights of every week through September.

Ebony Marinoff - Adelaide

Adelaide’s first pick in the inaugural AFLW draft, Marinoff is one of the game’s most decorated players. She’s a three-time premiership- winner, a six-time All-Australian and the midfielder is the league’s joint games-record holder.

Marinoff has been a major contributor in the Crows’ undefeated start to the season so far, averaging 31 disposals, plus a whopping 19 tackles in her sides win over Fremantle in round two.

She’s been around right from the start, but it appears the Adelaide star has taken another step and is genuinely tearing games apart from the midfield this season. Her running power and ability to get out on the spread is almost unmatched.

Ally Anderson - Brisbane

Another one of the most decorated AFLW players we have ever seen — there isn’t an award Lions midfielder Ally Anderson hasn’t won.

Anderson is already an AFLW best-and-fairest winner — in season seven — a two-time flag-winner and triple club champion.

She shares the games record with Marinoff and at 30 years old is showing no signs of slowing down as her tactical, technical and physical game all keeps developing.

Anderson set a new competition record for disposals with 43 touches against Melbourne in round two.

Ash Riddell - North Melbourne

The North Melbourne star has started season nine with a bang and has the most coaches votes across the league after three rounds.

A three-time All Australian, Riddell was overlooked for the first two drafts before being picked up by North Melbourne and making her debut in 2019. The 28-year-old has is averaging 31 disposals and is finally making her mark.

Her pace and power in the middle make her one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the league and her pinpoint accuracy allows her to connect with her forwards seamlessly.

Mim Strom - Fremantle

Fremantle’s Mim Strom is breaking the mould for rucks. She has already broken the league’s hit-out record in round one against Essendon with an eye-watering 48.

In many ways, she holds the key to the Dockers’ midfield without Kiara Bowers. The 22-year-old has allowed Hayley Miller, Aisling McCarthy and Dana East to compete for clearances better than they did last season.

And her follow-up work around the ground has been impressive. In the first-up win against the Bombers and again against the Power, Strom’s ability to roll behind the ball and take intercept marks is super important.

She’s already leading the race to earn a first All-Australian blazer.

Charlie Rowbottom - Gold Coast

The former No.1 draft pick has started this season in red-hot form, averaging 34 disposals, 9.7 tackles and 8.7 clearances a game in 2024.

At just 21, the powerful midfielder broke the AFLW record for most contested possessions with 26 in her side’s draw with Greater Western Sydney at the weekend.

She notched up a career high 42 touches and 14 clearances earning herself ten coaches votes for the second week in a row moving her up to second in the league.