Ally Anderson has equalled the record for most disposals in an AFLW match as the Brisbane Lions kick-started their premiership defence with an 18-point win over Melbourne.

After suffering their heaviest ever defeat in round one, the Lions bounced back in strong fashion with a 5.3 (33) to 2.3 (15) victory at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Anderson starred in the engine room with a career-best 42 disposals, matching the mark set by North Melbourne midfielder Ash Riddell in 2022.

The Lions's prolific midfielder tallied 28 kicks and 14 handballs, along with eight clearances and six tackles, in a brilliant display.

"Phenomenal … it was just an incredible day from Ally," Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich said.

"She's getting good support around her but year after year she just gets to work and she's having days regularly now like she did today.

"I keep seeing her physically improve. Someone in their early 30s shouldn't be improving physically, but she just keeps getting better.

"It's a great lesson for everyone really … she amazes us."

Key forward Dakota Davidson (three goals) and defensive rock Bre Koenen also shone as the Lions squared their season record at 1-1.

But it was Anderson who caused most headaches for Melbourne coach Mick Stinear, finishing with 22 contested possessions and 600m gained.

"We felt like we were still generating opportunities and there were things that were more in our control that could've helped us win the game," Stinear said.

"But in the second half those numbers started to escalate, particularly her loose-ball gets, and the clearance numbers were troubling."

Melbourne's defeat compounded a week of upheaval, during which Kate Roffey stepped down as club president following a tumultuous period for the club on and off the field.

Roffey's successor Brad Green was on hand to support the Demons in a 1534-strong crowd, along with men's stars Christian Petracca, Max Gawn and Jake Lever.

The Lions kicked the first three goals of the match, including one to 50-gamer Taylor Smith, as Koenen and Poppy Boltz led a resolute defence.

Melbourne didn't open their account until late in the third quarter, when debutant Alyssia Pisano stepped up to give the home side a fighting chance.

Maeve Chaplin produced big tackles on Brisbane's Ruby Svarc and Sophie Conway in a physical start to the final term as the Dees briefly threatened a comeback.

But Davidson gave the Lions breathing space with her second goal and then put the result beyond doubt when she followed up with a brilliant set shot from the boundary.

Anderson had more than twice as many disposals as every other player on the ground, with Isabel Dawes (19 disposals) and Jade Ellenger (17) also among the Lions' major ball-winners.

Sinead Goldrick (20), Blaithin Mackin (19), Paxy Paxman and Tyla Hanks (both 16) all fought hard for Melbourne.

Brisbane host Collingwood on Friday night in round three, while Melbourne are at home again in a huge clash with last year's runners-up North Melbourne.

Hawks demolish Pies despite skipper's late withdrawal

Hawthorn could mirror the extraordinary rise of their men's team after demolishing Collingwood by 47 points to maintain their unbeaten start to the AFLW season.

Even after captain Emily Bates was a late withdrawal due to a calf injury, the Hawks crushed Collingwood 11.7 (73) to 3.8 (26) at Victoria Park on Saturday.

It was Hawthorn's biggest score and winning margin in their short history, topping the records they set six days earlier during a thumping victory over Carlton.

But the win might have come at a cost after key players Aine McDonagh (arm, head) and Casey Sherriff (leg) left the field in distress in the last quarter.

McDonagh was accidentally collected by Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher in a marking contest and left the field with the assistance of trainers.

Only minutes earlier, Sherriff hobbled from the field clutching her leg.

The pair played key roles in the thumping win, with McDonagh kicking two goals and Sherriff slotting one.

McDonagh's fellow Irishwoman Aileen Gilroy also kicked two goals as Hawthorn broke the game open with 5.1 to 0.2 in the third quarter.

It has been an impressive opening fortnight for the Hawks, who changed coaches during the off-season.

After leading the club for their first two AFLW seasons, Bec Goddard retired from coaching, with the Hawks appointing Daniel Webster after he served as an assistant at perennial powerhouse Brisbane.

The Hawks finished 16th last season after placing 15th in their debut season, but their early form shows they could make a major jump in 2024.

The result came less than 24 hours after Hawthorn's AFL team won an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, despite starting the season 0-5.

Men's coach Sam Mitchell was in the crowd on Saturday to watch the Hawks display their rapid improvement.

Dons get their first of the season as Prespakis stars

Star onballer Maddy Prespakis has overcome a quad injury and a controversial disallowed goal to dominate in Essendon's 16-point upset AFLW win over West Coast.

After losing co-captain Bonnie Toogood last week to a long-term knee injury, the Bombers rebounded superbly on Saturday in Perth and won 6.5 (41) to 3.7 (25) for their first win of the season.

Prespakis was outstanding throughout, racking up 27 disposals in a best-afield game.

Fellow onballer Georgia Nanscawen also was prominent in the win, with 25 possessions and six clearances.

It is the first loss for the Eagles's high-profile coach Daisy Pearce, and her review will focus heavily on their disastrous opening term, when they somehow managed zero inside-50s despite good conditions.

Prespakis had ice on her right quad after the match.

"No injury concern — I carried a bit of a contusion in my quad this week, so a bit of blood on the muscle, (and) it just restricted the movement a little bit," she told Fox Footy.

"I fought through it really well today and there was no way I was missing out (on the win)."

The Bombers started as outsiders after losing Toogood among four changes following last week's loss to Fremantle, while the Eagles were coming off a first-up win.

"We came together as a good group — that's what good teams do," Prespakis said.

"We had some young girls stand up today — it was a good win."

With Prespakis and Nanscawen dominant in the midfield, Essendon swamped West Coast in the first term.

The Bombers had 14 inside-50s to none, outworking the Eagles, with Emily Gough and debutant Chloe Adams putting Essendon on the board.

They should have been three goals up, with a Prespakis shot after the siren also going through.

But the umpires controversially ruled she had run off her line in taking the kick and the goal was disallowed. The replay suggested it was a tough call on the Bombers star.

"I don't reckon I did (go off the line) … I thought it was a goal," Prespakis said post-game.

While Jacqui Vogt soccered through Essendon's third goal early in the second, West Coast were lifting.

A great contest from Ella Roberts set up Isabella Lewis for the home side's first goal at 12 minutes.

Mikayla Western goaled on the run shortly before half-time to keep the Eagles in the game, only two goals down despite the Bombers' strong start.

As Essendon gave away three inside-50s, Amy Franklin kicked a goal from a free and the Eagles trailed by only five points in the third term.

Stephanie Cain snapped a crucial goal against the run of play inside the last minute of the quarter, giving the Bombers a 17-point buffer at the final change.

The Eagles again pressed, but could not capitalise in the goal-less final term.

Forward Roberts starred for West Coast, and defender Beth Schilling helped keep them in the game, racking up seven marks.

Port skipper Cuthbertson done for the year with knee

Port Adelaide are counting the cost of their win over the Western Bulldogs after captain Janelle Cuthbertson was ruled out for the rest of the AFLW season with a serious knee injury.

Cuthbertson landed awkwardly from a marking contest during the third quarter of the Power's 40-point victory at the MCG on Friday night and immediately crumpled to the turf.

She had to be helped from the field, with scans later confirming a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Cuthbertson also sustained a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament.

"It's incredibly tough news to take for Janelle and the whole football club," Port Adelaide women's football boss Shane Grimm said in a statement.

"Janelle is a very resilient person who is always determined to get the most out of herself and her teammates.

"I have no doubt she will approach her rehabilitation with her usual professionalism and dedication, and that she will continue to be a strong leader around our playing group."

AAP