AS the AFL enters its pre-finals bye and community hits finals head on, the AFLW season gets started this weekend with Cavendish export, Emma Kearney, and Branxholme’s Georgia Clarke set to take to the field once again.

Kearney will suit up once again for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and has been voted in as skipper, with the 33-year-old raring to go for the season.

“I have had a full pre-season, full 14 weeks and so having that extra time with the group certainly helps,” she said.

“The nerves are going ok at the moment but ask me on Sunday morning and they might be there.

“I think we are all just so excited, it has been a big break and we can’t wait to get out there.”

Winding down her coaching for the Kangaroos’ men’s team after the team failed to make finals, the former local can now focus on her own skills but has learnt plenty she can incorporate from the AFL season.

“It has been a little bit challenging at times balancing my coaching side of things and the playing element,” Kearney said.

“I have had a lot of footy in my life in recent weeks, so it will be nice to have sole focus on my football.

“I have had a really positive pre-season, touch wood but it has been pretty injury free and niggle free, I have been able to do majority of sessions (and) probably touched the footy 100 times more than most other girls with my work as a development coach with the men’s team.”

Kearney will once again line up for the Kangaroos in the half-back line, continuing her career in defence after Darren Crocker moved her out of the midfield two seasons ago.

With the blue and white gearing up to chase premiership glory for the first time, Kearney is backing her team to be there when it mattered most.

“We challenged Melbourne who were the eventual premiers (last season), we just couldn’t capitalise in third quarter,” she said.

“We know our best can match the best teams, I feel our brand we are playing is one that will hold up deep into finals.”

 The Kangaroos open their season against the Saints in Tasmania, on Sunday, with Kearney knowing the importance of early season wins.

“We are really confident, we are heading down to Hobart where we love playing, we have a bit of an advantage knowing the ground and we are looking forward to it,” she said.

“St Kilda is a completely different side to what they were last year and need to be wary of them.”

Clarke will be in different colours for the upcoming season, after moving to Essendon as a delisted free agent after 19 games in the hoops.

The 23-year-old will offer some versatility for the Bombers and will no doubt be wanting to make an impact in her first season wearing the red sash.