Sydney Swans begin their AFLW campaign with a spirited win over Richmond thanks to starring performances from Chloe Molloy and debutant Zippy Fish.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old Swans star had four goals in her return game from an ACL against Richmond at North Sydney Oval<\/a> on Friday night<\/a>.<\/p>\n Joining her in the spotlight was 18-year-old teammate Zippy Fish, who finished with 26 disposals, equalling the most disposals on debut with former league best and fairest Bri Davey.<\/p>\n Fish, taken with pick five in last year’s draft, was among a slew of first-year players who exploded onto the scene in round one of the 10th season.<\/p>\n Lucia Painter had three goals for West Coast, while fellow first gamers Ash Centra (Collingwood), Grace Belloni (Essendon), Zoe Besanko (St Kilda), Holly Ridewood (Essendon), India Rasheed (Adelaide), Havana Harris (Gold Coast) and Poppy Scholz (Carlton) all kicked majors in their respective games.<\/p>\n Lucia Painter of the Eagles had three goals on debut. (Getty: Daniel Carson\/AFL Photos)<\/p>\n Women’s football pioneer Chyloe Kurdas said the AFLW community all agreed last year’s was a jumbo draft crop.<\/p>\n “It’s no different to the Chris Judd draft crew [known as the superdraft] that we saw all those years ago. Everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, that was a bumper draft.’ I think we have the same here,” Kurdas told ABC Sport.<\/p>\n “It’s a very good group of players but I think it’s an indication that the deeper investment that has been put into the pathways is working.<\/p>\n Number two draft pick Havana Harris was one of the best on ground for Gold Coast in her debut game. (Getty: Daniel Carson\/AFL Photos)<\/p>\n “The players are really well prepared. They’ve just slotted in really comfortably [and] haven’t missed a beat.<\/p>\n “If you look at any of the kids that played on the weekend, especially the top-five picks, in any other draft [they] could’ve gone number one. So it’s a wonderful group of players. We’re very lucky.”<\/p>\n In one of the biggest developments for AFLW talent, players now entering the system have not had interrupted pathways like the inaugural players, who had to stop playing between the ages of 12 and 18.<\/p>\n Similar to how Harley Reid, Nick Daicos and Will and Levi Ashcroft slotted straight into their respective teams, Kurdas said the high draft picks in the women’s game were easing into senior football a lot easier than previous drafts.<\/p>\n “The under-18 system understands what’s required at senior level and I think there’s greater synergy, or more specific preparation now, for those players, too,” Kurdas said.<\/p>\n “The other thing is these players have had a lifetime growing up watching AFLW. So, they’ve got a really good understanding of the standard that’s required of them as they’ve grown up with the competition being present.<\/p>\n “Whereas your Darcy Vescios [Carlton inaugural player] never had a benchmark to aspire to because there wasn’t a competition before them.”<\/p>\n Veteran commentator Kelli Underwood said on the broadcast for the Sydney Richmond clash that she felt for the Rising Star selection committee, which had its work cut out for it.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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