AT least 28 TAC Cup Girls will take part in the groundbreaking new season of the Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW), with the competition kicking off this weekend. While the TAC Cup Girls still have at least two matches of under 18s to play, they have been training with their respective VFLW clubs as some of the more experienced players get to test themselves against senior bodies, including a number of AFLW opponents.

Among the top TAC Cup Girls players to take part in the competition are Calder Cannons captain Madison Prespakis and fellow star AFLW Academy member Rebecca Webster who will join Western Jets leading goal kicker Caitlin Greiser at Melbourne University. Eastern Ranges’ quartet Georgia Macpherson, Emerson Woods, Sarah Kendall and Mikala Cann will swap their blue for brown after they signed on with Hawthorn’s VFLW side.

Gippsland Power dynamo Tyla Hanks will rove to her AFLW Academy and Vic Country ruck in GWV Rebels’ Rene Caris at Carlton, while Dandenong Stingrays captain Jordyn Allen will team up with forward Brooke Struylaart at Casey Demons. They might face Stingrays teammate Shelley Heath at some point, with the speedster joining Southern Saints along with talented Sandringham Dragons pair, Jemma Owen and Eleanor Brown.

Northern Knights duo Marnie Jarvis and Alex Pronesti join the reigning premiers Darebin Falcons, as does Eastern Ranges defender Lauren Szigeti. Essendon has opted for height out of the TAC Cup Girls, picking up Oakleigh Chargers’ ruck Bridie Winbanks, as well as Calder Cannons ruck Carla Rendelmann. The latter’s Cannons teammate Molly Warburton will also don the red and black in the 2018 VFLW season.

Murray Bushrangers pair Grace Egan and Sophie Damon will head to Tigerland for the 2018 VFLW season, joining Eastern Ranges’ Jessica Provan at Richmond. Sandringham Dragons pair Alanna Dalley and Nicola Amiet will front up for Melbourne Uni, while Oakleigh Chargers players have been divided up with Isabella Gietzmann (Carlton) and Hannah McLaren (Collingwood) set to face off as bitter rivals on the field after being teammates this season. While not named on the VFLW lists that came out yesterday, GWV Rebels’ defender Georgia Clarke confirmed she will join her Rebels Female Talent Manager Krista Woodroffe at the Cats after the conclusion of the TAC Cup Girls season.

Geelong Falcons’ Sophie Walmsley will be aligned with the Western Bulldogs, as will GWV Rebels captain Lauren Butler, and Western Jets pair Lauren Basto and Katarina Rebuffo.

It is worth noting that VFLW sides can make up to 10 changes to their list throughout the 2018 season, meaning more TAC Cup Girls prospects can be added to clubs at different stages. Some players will consider playing VFLW at the conclusion of the National Under 18 Championships.

Updated list of TAC Cup Girls on VFLW lists, as of May 3*:

Carlton: Isabella Gietzmann (Oakleigh Chargers), Rene Caris (GWV Rebels), Tyla Hanks (Gippsland Power)

Casey Demons: Jordyn Allen (Dandenong Stingrays), Brooke Struylaart (Dandenong Stingrays)

Collingwood: Hannah McLaren (Oakleigh Chargers)

Darebin Falcons: Marnie Jarvis (Northern Knights), Lauren Szigeti (Eastern Ranges), Alex Pronesti (Northern Knights)

Essendon: Bridie Winbanks (Oakleigh Chargers), Carla Rendelmann (Calder Cannons), Molly Warburton (Calder Cannons)

Geelong: Georgia Clarke (GWV Rebels)

Hawthorn: Georgia Macpherson (Eastern Ranges), Emerson Woods (Eastern Ranges), Sarah Kendall (Eastern Ranges), Mikala Cann (Eastern Ranges)

Melbourne Uni: Maddison Prespakis (Calder Cannons), Caitlin Greiser (Western Jets), Alanna Dalley (Sandringham Dragons), Nicole Amier (Sandringham Dragons), Rebecca Webster (Murray Bushrangers)

NT Thunder: Nil.

Richmond: Jessica Provan (Eastern Ranges), Grace Egan (Murray Bushrangers), Sophie Damon (Murray Bushrangers)

Southern Saints: Jemma Owen (Sandringham Dragons), Eleanor Brown (Sandringham Dragons), Shelley Heath (Dandenong Stingrays)

Western Bulldogs: Lauren Butler (GWV Rebels), Lauren Basto (Western Jets), Katarina Rebuffo (Western Jets), Sophie Walmsley (Geelong Falcons).

*Note: Some TAC Cup Girls players might be aligned to clubs, but may not be officially on lists yet due to the uncertainly of availability with the National Under 18 Championships and other commitments over the next six months.