CARLTON's AFLW Senior Assistant Coach Shannon McFerran is aware Richmond will bring an element of the unknown ahead of Friday’s Round 1 clash.

However, she remains confident in the Game Changers’ pre-season preparations.

Speaking to Carlton Media ahead of the 2020 AFLW season opener, McFerran shared her belief in the hard work put in by the group since they returned to Ikon Park in November. 

Looking to build on the momentum of 2019, the main focuses for the group was improving their movement around the ground and building on their ability to expose the opposition while improving on last year's conversion rate in front of goal. 

“We know that we’ve done the hard yards in pre-season to really set ourselves up for this season,” McFerran told Carlton Media.

"Come Friday it should be really exciting for the girls: it may be a little nerve-wracking, but I think once that bounce goes and the crowd gets behind us, we will be in front on the scoreboard.”

The past two years have seen McFerran balance her roles as VFLW Senior Coach and AFLW Assistant Coach: however, this year, she is putting her sole focus on the towards the AFLW program and working more closely alongside Daniel Harford. 

The two have been able to form a strong relationship, balancing each other's differing coaching styles and continuing to build better chemistry with the playing group. 

“I love his softness in his approach but you know when there’s work to be done, it’s done,” she said of Harford.

"He’s got a great relationship with all the players and staff and I think that was reflective in our game last year.

"He creates a great environment to be able to perform in.”

As VFLW Senior Coach last season, McFerran was able to closely watch as a number of Carlton AFLW players developed their games to put themselves in a good position for the upcoming season.

At the top of her list to watch were the familiar faces of Nat Plane and Breann Moody, who McFerran believes will be just two of the many Blues who will take their game to another level in 2020. 

“Nat stepped up as co-captain using her time in the side to develop her versatility, switching between forward and back,” she said.

“Nat Plane is such a hard worker and she’s just blossomed in that role.

"She’s the type of player that can take on any role and really execute. She’s been fantastic."

McFerran also highlighted Breann Moody as a player to watch in 2020.

Working as part of Carlton's dynamic ruck duo alongside the Alison Downie, the 2018 joint best-and-fairest winner will start the season full of confidence after a strong VFLW campaign. 

“Bree Moody was really able to work on her craft in the ruck and work on her fitness," she said.

"I think we will see some real quality performances from Bree.”