THE INCLUSION of Geelong and North Melbourne in the NAB AFL Women's competition next year provides an opportunity to look at the different ways clubs can build a list from scratch.

The two sides have seemingly taken polar opposite approaches when signing players. 

North Melbourne has built the majority of its list around players from other AFLW teams, while Geelong has, on the whole, backed its own VFL Women's players to take the step up to the top level.

The two sides can continue to sign open-aged players who did not play AFLW in 2018 until they reach a list of 23. 

Geelong

Geelong has had the benefit of fielding a team in the VFLW competition since 2017, meaning it could start moulding the side it wanted to take into its first AFLW season ahead of time. 

Paul Hood has been the coach throughout and will lead the team in the AFLW competition next season, providing continuity for the program. 

Hood has been at Geelong since 2015, coaching the VFL side and working in player development, so is very familiar with the club's inner workings. His experience and knowledge will help him integrate a new side into the club.

The Cats have a number of girls from TAC Cup side Geelong Falcons feeding into their VFLW team this year once their under-18 commitments (TAC Cup and NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships) are finished.

Although these players will go into the general draft pool in October (meaning Geelong does not have exclusive access to them), coaches have had the opportunity to work closely with those they may wish to draft. 

The Cats have generally gone for tried and tested talent from their own backyard when constructing their AFLW side.

Recruited directly from their VFLW squad are full-back Rebecca Goring (captain), inside midfielder Renee Garing, speedy forward Danielle Orr (sister of North Melbourne's Shaun Higgins), midfielder Cassie Blakeway, versatile forward/midfielder Jordan Ivey (who's recovering from a knee reconstruction) and key forward Kate Darby. 

Of that group, only Darby and Ivey have played at AFLW level before. They each played two games for Carlton in 2017, with Ivey only signed by the Blues halfway through the season as an injury-replacement player.

Most of their signings from other AFLW teams are also locals. Former Demon Richelle Cranston may hail from Ballarat, but has called Geelong home for at least five years now. Anna Teague (also from Melbourne) captained Geelong in the South East Australian Basketball League, while Erin Hoare (Melbourne) and Maddie Boyd (Greater Western Sydney), have returned home.

And one of the outliers, Melissa Hickey, may be from Mildura but her family ties to the Cats are strong, with her grandfather's cousin Reg a club icon. Hickey was previously Demons vice-captain. 

Melbourne midfielder Lily Mithen may be the one that got away. 

Having grown up in Geelong and now enjoying living and studying in Melbourne, she turned down a contract offer from Geelong to remain with the Dees. Returning to her home town may be on the cards in the future.

Western Bulldogs premiership ruck Aasta O'Connor will provide support for the relatively inexperienced Hoare and can also play at either end of the ground. 

With the addition of Giants pair Phoebe McWilliams and Boyd, Geelong is building an attack made up of strong-bodied, leading forwards.

The VFLW Cats like to run and carry the ball through the midfield, before hitting up leading forwards.

They are undefeated with a percentage of 188 after six games, with the second-highest points for total in the competition.

Geelong has a nice balance of attack and defence, with AFLW recruit Teague holding VFLW leading goalkicker Hannah Mouncey goalless in the Cats' latest clash, against the Darebin Falcons last weekend. 

If Geelong's AFLW side plays anything like its VFLW side, it will probably most closely resemble Melbourne – happy to run the ball through the middle by hand before hitting up targets such as McWilliams, Boyd and Darby.

As of mid-June, the Cats had a much smaller list than the Kangaroos and have a very healthy hand going into October's draft, including five picks inside the top 20. 

Forwards
Maddie Boyd
Kate Darby
Phoebe McWilliams
Danielle Orr 

Midfielders
Cassie Blakeway
Richelle Cranston
Renee Garing
Jordan Ivey 

Defenders
Rebecca Goring
Melissa Hickey
Anna Teague 

Rucks
Erin Hoare
Aasta O'Connor 

Draft picks
1, 2, 7, 14, 20, 24, 35, 46, 56, 61, 66, 70, 73, 76, 78