GWS celebrates its first win of the season against Collingwood last Sunday in Morwell. Photo: AFL MEDIA

Former AFLW number one draft pick Isabel Huntington looks set to finally make a return to competitive action this week in round five.

Huntington, who turned 19 earlier this week, looks likely to pull the boots on for just her third AFLW game after undergoing a knee reconstruction last February, then suffering a further setback in December, spraining the same knee.

But while her inclusion will be vital to a Dogs side shell-shocked by two heavy defeats, Collingwood and Brisbane also have plenty to gain with returning stars.

Round five again sees the top two teams collide, features the return of a four-goal hero, while the opening clash of the round has major implications for both conferences.

Saturday, March 2, 4:45pm: Brisbane vs Geelong, Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex

The signs are better for Brisbane after ending a two-game losing streak in emphatic fashion as the Lions steamrolled the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval last Saturday.

Alexandra Anderson was her prolific self with a game-high 20 touches (15 effective) and five tackles, but six individual goalkickers in the Lions’ tally of seven majors emphasised the balanced team effort that enabled them to register their second win of the season.

And to help further, captain Leah Kaslar is set to return to defence from a leg injury, Brisbane’s sole change this week.

Geelong’s season has followed the same path as its interstate opponents (W-L-L-W) but the Cats have lacked the same real “X factor” that the 2017 and 2018 runners-up have displayed.

The Cats have come out on top in two low-scoring, gritty contests, but have been outgunned in between, and while this may be owing to factors such as the premature loss of top draft pick Nina Morrison to injury, elite individual contributors have been lacking throughout the campaign.

A pair of suspensions will hurt the Cats further this week, but the spirit of Rochelle Cranston (nine tackles with four inside-50s last week) continues to spark life in the engine room.

Tip: Brisbane by 25 points. Last week perhaps represented the start of a real push for a Conference A finals spot, and in easily seeing off the Bulldogs, Brisbane is well placed to gather more momentum.

Saturday, March 2, 7:10pm: Carlton vs Collingwood, IKON Park

The Blues were undone by their own accuracy around the big sticks away to Geelong last week, including a howler from Tayla Harris, who hit the post strolling into the goalsquare unopposed in the third term.

Maddy Prespakis made another big impression with her team-high 19 disposals, with four inside-50s, and defender Kerryn Harrington was kept busy at the other end registering seven rebound-50s to go with her mostly effective 18 touches.

Darcy Vescio and debutant Abbie McKay will need to improve on quiet performances, however.

To paraphrase the combat sports adage, someone’s 0 had to go in Morwell last week and unfortunately for the Pies, it was GWS which chalked up its first premiership points in a tight contest.

The Pies’ spirits were lifted, though, by the performance of Sarah Dargan, whose 16 touches (12 effective) as well as four tackles and an important goal earned her an AFLW Rising Star nomination.

Ash Brazill is included again after recovering from concussion, and her performance in defence might shut the wayward Carlton forward line out.

Tip: Collingwood by 12 points. Carlton’s incredibly shaky efforts around the goals are nothing new and this could be the Pies’ best and last chance to kick-start their campaign.

Sunday, March 3, 2:05pm: GWS vs Melbourne, Blacktown International Sportspark

Greater Western Sydney is finally off the mark in season 2019, and the midfield trio of Rebecca Beeson, Alicia Eva and Courtney Gum were crucial in establishing control in the centre in the win over Collingwood.

Combining for almost one-third of the Giants’ total disposals and inside 50s, the three Giants were instrumental in running the show as their side got their first victory in the Latrobe Valley.

The core of the group will be further bolstered ahead of Sunday with ruck Erin McKinnon, averaging 29 hit-outs per game and leading the league despite missing last week’s win, named in an extended line-up.

Melbourne went down in a thriller to the undefeated Kangaroos at Casey Fields last Sunday, and its usual stars had no trouble getting in on the action as the Demons ran the victors as close as any side has done this year.

Karen Paxman fought tirelessly and amassed 25 disposals, supplemented by the likes of Katie Hore (18 touches, 11 contested possessions) and fellow rover Lily Mithen (22 touches, five marks, four tackles) and all will be relied upon to combat the Giants’ midfield power.

Brooke Patterson should be Melbourne’s only inclusion this week in replacing Ashleigh Woodland.

Tip: Melbourne by 17 points. The Demons’ scoring average stands up and on their trip to Sydney this week, can be expected to outgun the Giants inside 50.

Sunday, March 3, 4:05pm: North Melbourne vs Adelaide, Avalon Airport Oval

North Melbourne was pushed to the limit by Melbourne in Cranbourne last Sunday, but escaped with its unbeaten record intact. The Roos will in for perhaps an even sterner challenge in Werribee, though, as the second-placed Crows come to town.

Emma King was a standout in the ruck for North as it withstood the Demons, not only with her 18 hit-outs but chipping in with three vital goals up forward.

Jamie Stanton continued her push towards the top of AFLW’s possession charts by racking up 21 more, Emma Kearney was pinpoint with her 15 disposals, but the talls are the story at Arden Street this week, with round three Rising Star nominee Courteney Munn named for her second game after a calf complaint.

Adelaide not only overtook Fremantle on the table with a 42-point smashing of the Dockers last Saturday night, but also became the highest-scoring side in the league.

The fab four of Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard, Erin Phillips and skipper Chelsea Randall topped Adelaide’s disposal charts, the former sitting atop the competition, while Phillips got in on the goals-scoring fun with two of her own.

Stevie-Lee Thompson receives more assistance in the key forward department this week with Chloe Scheer returning from suspension.

Tip: Adelaide by 7 points. It’s nigh on impossible to tip against the Roos, but Adelaide’s red-hot last three weeks place them as more likely to knock off North than any other current side.

Sunday, March 3, 6:05pm: Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs, Fremantle Oval

With the winner of the Brisbane-Geelong clash joining Fremantle on 12 points, the Dockers will be desperate to kick on and retain a place in Conference A top two following a humbling result at the hands of Adelaide last week.

Dana Hooker and Kiara Bowers were among the most prolific ball-getters for Freo, but both registered below 50 per cent effectiveness on those touches in a forgettable night as the Dockers crashed to earth hard in their first defeat of the year.

Alicia Janz is likely to be named in the final team for Sunday to complement Parris Laurie in the ruck after a PCL disruption.

The Bulldogs are also looking to rebound immediately but from not one, but two massive bumps in the road to defend their crown.

Now with the second-worst percentage in the league, the Dogs produced a shocking display of inefficiency against Brisbane, especially by foot, highlighted by top ball-winner Monique Conti’s woeful 42 per cent effectiveness from her 19 touches, of which 15 were kicks.

However, the returns of Isabel Huntington and 2018 AFLW leading goalkicker Brooke Lochland may provide the turning tide needed to resurrect their top four hopes.

Tip: Fremantle by 14 points. Neither side were competitive in their most recent outings, but the Dogs’ returning stars will need more time to gain match sharpness.

This article originally appeared at HATCH@MacleayCollege