Start your backline with Zippy Fish. The Sydney teenager averaged 100.1 GameDay Squad points last season, tops every defender in the game, and kicked one of Australia's opening goals against Ireland on the weekend. Nineteen years old, defender-listed, already scoring like a midfielder. That is your first pick, and because Fish is under-22 eligible, the same card works in the Under 22s comp too.
New to the game? Quick rules refresher: your AFLW squad runs 7 defenders, 6 midfielders, 2 rucks and 7 forwards, and that count includes your bench. Bench players score full points, exactly like everyone else, so all seven defender picks matter. There are no captains and no doubling up: every point comes from a player actually earning it.
The names we like
All averages are from last season on GameDay Squad scoring.
- Zippy Fish (Sydney). 100.1 average at 19. The target defender, simple as that.
- Tarni White (Collingwood). 96.1 average, steady ball-winner, no fuss.
- Serene Watson (St Kilda). 92.6 average and improving each season.
- Maddison Gay (Essendon). Averaged 98.0 last season, but that was from only two games, so treat it as a strong hint rather than proof.
The Lucas-Rodd situation, explained
Tilly Lucas-Rodd averaged 99.6 last season, second only to Fish among defenders. Here is what you need to know: they changed clubs in the off-season, and their new club has been playing them forward in the practice matches, a straight swap out of the backline. On GameDay Squad positions are fixed for the whole season, so Lucas-Rodd keeps DEF status while playing a forward's role. That can still work, but forwards generally see less of the ball than rebounding defenders. We would rather see a round of the new role before spending a premium card there.
The role watch
Zoe Wakfer (West Coast) is the intriguing one. Last season's average was just 31.5, but in the Eagles' practice match they racked up 22 disposals, 8 marks and 15 intercept possessions playing as the backline general. If that role is real, Wakfer is the value defender of the year. If it is not, the old average tells the story. Watch Round 1 before you commit a card.
Card talk, briefly
Rarity is your budget. A Bronze card costs $500k of cap and scores the player's raw points; Silver through Legend cost more but multiply the score (up to 1.5x). For a first season, a simple plan works: put your better cards on proven scorers like Fish, and fill the rest of the line with Bronze until the roles settle. You can swap freely between rounds, so nothing you do in Round 1 is permanent.
The season opens Sunday 9 August with St Kilda v Carlton at Marvel Stadium, and the rest of Round 1 follows across 13 to 16 August. Plenty of time to get your backline sorted.