What the AFLW ladder could look like after the first month

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 def Richmond by 10 points

North Melbourne def Geelong by 15 points

Western Bulldogs def by Melbourne by 5 points

Fremantle def West Coast 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

Fremantle def GWS by 5 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

1. Brisbane 4-0 (+55)
2. Collingwood 4-0 (+50)
3. Adelaide 3-1 (+25)
4. Melbourne 2-2 (+10)
5. GWS 2-2 (+20)
6. Fremantle 2-2 (+10)
7. Western Bulldogs 2-2 (+5)
8. North Melbourne 2-2 (0)
9. Richmond 2-2 (-10)
10. St Kilda 1-3 (-5)
11. Carlton 1-3 (-20)
12. West Coast 1-3 (+5)
13. Geelong 0-4 (-55)
14. Gold Coast 0-4 (-55)