FREMANTLE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 31: Kiara Bowers of the Dockers looks to pass the ball under pressure from Alicia Eva of the Giants during the 2021 AFLW Round 01 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the GWS Giants at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on January 31, 2021 in Fremantle, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The 2022 AFLW season is here!

The opening bounce between Richmond and St Kilda is just hours away, with the Round 1 fixture set to ignite the new campaign.

With this in mind, the Zero Hanger team have looked to predict the season ahead, selecting our premiers, AFLW best and fairest winners, leading goalkickers, Rising Stars and more.

Here are our BIG predictions for the 2022 AFLW season.

Danielle Sorati 

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Melbourne
AFLW best and fairest: Kiara Bowers
Leading goalkicker: Darcy Vescio
Rising star: Georgie Prespakis
Headline we’ll see: Port poaches Adelaide star
Top six: Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs

Mitch Keating

Premiers: North Melbourne
Runner-up: Brisbane
AFLW Best and Fairest: Jas Garner
Leading Goalkicker: Dakota Davidson
Rising Star: Georgie Prespakis
Headline we’ll see: Magpies, Blues miss top six on percentage
Top Six: Brisbane, Adelaide, North Melbourne, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne

Ed Carmine

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Collingwood
AFLW Best and Fairest: Ebony Marinoff
Leading Goalkicker: Chloe Molloy
Rising Star: Georgie Prespakis
Headline we’ll see: Brisbane alters identity by becoming the first side to claim back-to-back premierships
Top Six: Brisbane, Collingwood, Adelaide, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Fremantle

Jake Benoiton 

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Collingwood
AFLW Best and Fairest: Madison Prespakis
Leading Goalkicker: Chloe Molloy
Rising Star: Georgie Prespakis
Headline we’ll see: Lions go undefeated in crowning season
Top Six: Brisbane, Collingwood, Adelaide, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle

Cameron Grimes

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner Up: Melbourne
AFLW BnF: Brianna Davey
Leading Goalkicker: Darcy Vescio
Rising Star: Sophie Molan
Headline: Red and Blue’s Blue with Blues: Tensions rise in Harris’ first match against old side
Top Six: Brisbane, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Carlton, Adelaide, Collingwood

Sam Harvey 

Premiers: Brisbane
Runner-up: Collingwood
AFLW B&F: Kiara Bowers (FR)
Leading Goalkicker: Dakota Davidson (BL)
Rising Star: Charlie Rowbottom (GC)
Headline: Bowers becomes the first in AFLW history to win back-to-back league B&Fs
Top Six: Brisbane, Collingwood, Adelaide, Melbourne, North Melbourne, GWS