The AFLW seasons short nature means a good start is imperative. The first four weeks could make or break a season with their only being 10 games before finals.
While the length of the season itself is a discussion for another time, it does provide intensity to every game. There are no games teams can realistically afford to lose.
If you drop a game or two or have a dip in form, your season can be done before you know it.
We have cast our eyes over the first month of fixtures to determine where each club will be sitting after Round 4.
Round 1
St Kilda defย Richmond by 10 points
North Melbourne def Geelong by 15 points
Western Bulldogs def by Melbourne by 5 points
Fremantle def West Coastย 5 points
Carlton def by Collingwood 10 points
Gold Coast def by GWS by 20 points
Adelaide def by Brisbane by 5 points
Round 2
Richmond def by Melbourne by 15 points
Collingwood def St Kilda by 15 points
Brisbane def Carlton by 15 points
Geelong def by Western Bulldogs by 10 points
West Coast def Gold Coast by 10 points
Adelaide def North Melbourne by 10 points
Round 3
Geelong def by Collingwood 15 points
Melbourne def St Kilda by 10 points
Richmond def by Fremantle by 10 points
Gold Coast def by Brisbane by 20 points
North Melbourne def GWS by 5 points
Western Bulldogs def Carlton by 5 points
West Coast def by Adelaide by 10 points
Round 4
Gold Coast def by Richmond by 5 points
Adelaide def Melbourne by 10 points
St Kilda def West Coast by 5 points
Brisbane def Geelong by 15 points
Carlton def North Melbourne by 10 points
Collingwood def Fremantle by 10 points
GWS def Western Bulldogs by 5 points
The predicted results from the above fixtures would see Brisbane and Collingwood sit stop of the ladder unbeaten before their clash in Round 5. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Geelong and Gold Coast would both be winless.
Carlton suffers from a difficult fixture early on and could face a similar start to the Cats and Suns should they not be able to sneak at least one win in the opening month.
Melbourne, Fremantle, GWS, Richmond, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs all would be square at the ledger after the first four games of the 2022 season.
It would mean that the battle for finals could see six teams battling for three spots in the final six weeks of the season.
Predicted Ladder
- Brisbane 4-0 (+55)
- Collingwood 4-0 (+50)
- Adelaide 3-1 (+25)
- Melbourne 2-2 (+10)
- GWS 2-2 (+20)
- Fremantle 2-2 (+10)
- Western Bulldogs 2-2 (+5)
- North Melbourne 2-2 (0)
- Richmond 2-2 (-10)
- St Kilda 1-3 (-5)
- Carlton 1-3 (-20)
- West Coast 1-3 (+5)
- Geelong 0-4 (-55)
- Gold Coast 0-4 (-55)