Emma Mackie will captain the side with Tamara Luke also announced as vice-captain at this evening’s season launch.

Mackie, a former elite cyclist who represented Australia in the 2009 World Championships, played AFLW with the Western Bulldogs and won the best and fairest in the 2017 VFLW season.

Steph Carroll and VFL stalwart Lou Wotton who heads into her 14th season in the VFLW round out the leadership group as deputy vice-captains.

Mackie is thrilled to have the support of her teammates who voted her in as captain and is looking forward to the season getting underway.

“To be a part of Hawthorn’s inaugural VFLW team is a huge honour and to be named as captain of the side is extra special,” said Mackie.

“We have a really talented list of women who are all eager to pull on the brown and gold and I can’t wait to see what we can produce in 2018 under the direction of our coach Paddy Hill.”

The Hawks VFLW side will kick off their 2018 campaign this Sunday 6 May at 1:00pm, against Essendon at Windy Hill.