IN what will be a groundbreaking round of football, the brand new Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW) will see just three sides from the 2017 season take the field, while so many others have changed sides. Northern Territory (NT) Thunder and Hawthorn are two teams with strong line-ups in round one, while the least experienced side in Southern Saints will be hoping to match it with Carlton in both teams’ first games in the league to kick off the first round of action.

SOUTHERN SAINTS v. CARLTON
Round 1 – Saturday, May 5, 11.15am
Skybus Stadium, Frankston

In the opening game of the round, the Southern Saints have a real challenge on their hands, fronting up against a Carlton side which has plenty of AFLW talent. The Saints are the least experienced team in terms of AFLW games, but they will be hoping it adds an element of unpredictability to their line-up. The Saints have the home ground advantage in Frankson, and the likes of former Collingwood youngster Georgia Walker, and ex-Sandringham Dragons talents in Georgia Ricardo and Isabel Quintal will be able to get their season off on the right foot. It will not be easy however, with the opposition posting a strong line-up including marquee forward Darcy Vescio who has crossed from Diamond Creek, and Sarah Hosking who makes the move from Seaford. Other Carlton players to watch include Gabriella Pound, Maddison Gay and Tilly Lucas-Rodd. Named as an emergency, ex-Seaford player Katelyn Cox is one to watch in the coming weeks.

Southern Saints

B: 11. T. Annear, 45. S. Binder, 26. A. Ryan
HB: 29. M. Macdonald, 17. L. Olsen, 31. G. Walker
C: 38. S. Karlson, 2. A. Brown, 19. A. Silver
HF: 27. K. Macqueen, 15. T. Bohanna, 24. K. Ripari
F: 21. D. Lawrence, 23. J. Rolland, 13. C. Munn
R: 28. R. Watt, 8. A. Drennan, 32. S. Johnson
Int: 36. S. Bolding, 34. S. Casey, 12. J. Hull, 40. M. Maitland
Emg: 9. S. Long, 7. M. Supple, 16. K. Thompson, 6. J. Vissenjoux
23P: 22. D. Smith

Carlton

B: 23. B. Kennedy, 50. J. Borg, 4. M. Keryk
HB: 35. S. Li, 34. A. Chuot, 90. B. Walker
C: 56. C. Williams , 10. S. Hosking, 8. M. Gay
HF: 45. R. King, 36. C. Moody, 17. T. Lucas-Rodd
F: 20. C. Bromage, 42. C. Hardeman, 3. D. Vescio
R: 16. B. Moody, 82. N. Burns, 6. G. Pound
Int: 40. K. Harvey, 32. N. Plane, 66. T. Plowman, 63. O. Vesely
Emg: 27. K. Cox, 41. K. Cunico, 33. G. Green, 38. L. McCarthy
23P: 37. B. Schultz

DAREBIN v. NT THUNDER
Round 1 – Saturday, May 5, 12pm
Preston City Oval, Preston

Reigning premiers Darebin Falcons kick off their season at their new home of Preston City Oval against new side Northern Territory Thunder on Saturday. With the Thunder likely to be a premiership favourite, the Falcons will need all their experience at state level to counter the AFLW experience of their opposition. Darebin has picked up Melbourne youngster Maddy Guerin, who will be familiar with the ground having come through the ranks as a Northern Knight, while all eyes will be on full-forward recruit Hannah Mouncey. The tall forward was dominant in Canberra last season and was a hot topic of conversation over the summer, but now she will be hoping her football can do the talking in this game. She will likely be opposed to Adelaide Crows defender Sarah Allan, one of 22 players in the NT Thunder outfit yet to play a VFLW game. But Adelaide co-captain Chelsea Randall, young guns Ebony Jones and Jessica Allan, GWS vice captain, Emma Swanson, and Adelaide stars, Rhiannon Metcalfe and Jasmyn Hewett, the NT Thunder outfit is star-studded. With no Jessica Dal Pos, Karen Paxman or Elise O’Dea this week, and Daisy Pearce taking a 12-month sabbatical, the Falcons will be looking to their less experienced players to do the damage.

Darebin

B: 27. S. Hogan, 10. G. Lawson-Tavan, 48. L. Jacobs
HB: 1. E. Honybun, 49. R. Hibbert, 11. K. Tyndall
C: 32. G. Colvin, 9. M. Eastman, 15. A. Lister
HF: 20. M. Guerin, 14. M. McDonald, 29. S. Normington – Dickens
F: 22. G. Hammond, 43. H. Mouncey, 17. S. Simpson
R: 34. S. Egan, 26. T. Olcorn, 36. C. Byrne
Int: 37. J. Bertoni, 44. S. Fairchild, 31. E. Gardner, 28. A. Morrow
Emg: 5. K. McNiece, 41. A. O’Connor, 24. B. Patterson, 21. K. Roe
23P: 35. L. Skipper

NT Thunder

B: 10. S. Barnett, 37. S. Allan, 44. M. Johnston
HB: 33. D. Cox, 35. T. Thorn, 13. L. Roberts
C: 2. E. Jones, 26. C. Randall, 40. D. Varnhagen
HF: 29. M. Rajcic, 30. R. Metcalfe, 17. E. Swanson
F: 16. S. Armitstead, 20. J. Hewett, 11. J. Hickey
R: 25. J. Allan, 5. M. Roberts, 3. A. Foley
Int: 1. L. Adam, 12. J. Anderson, 18. T. Holtze, 7. L. O’Shea
Emg: 6. L. Motlop
23P: 39. J. Baird

COLLINGWOOD v. WILLIAMSTOWN
Round 1 – Saturday, May 5, 2.30pm
Warrawee Park, Oakleigh

In a game likely to attract a crowd, two new sides battle it out in a traditional Saturday afternoon game at Warrawee Park. Collingwood takes on Williamstown at Oakleigh, with the Magpies and Chargers holding close alignment in the competition. But it will be a match that pits some familiar faces against each other, with two of Collingwood’s most in-form players of the 2018 AFLW season in Jasmine Garner and Jess Duffin on the opposition side. Along with the pair, Williamstown has also recruited Western Bulldogs midfield Jenna Bruton, who has crossed the West Gate Bridge after playing in Box Hill last season. Along with Garner, other former St Kilda Sharks players in Georgia Harris and Rachel Achampong will provide much needed support and team chemistry in key position players. For the Magpies, Sarah D’Arcy, Sarah Dargan, Emma Grant and Jamiee Lambert are just a handful of AFLW names everyone has become familiar with, while West Australian youngster Ruby Schleicher and Gippsland Power talent Holly Whitford also had glimpses throughout the AFLW season.

Collingwood

B: 49. S. Alexander, 73. G. Biedenweg-Webster, 50. G. Buchan
HB: 22. S. Casey, 4. S. D’Arcy, 46. S. Dargan
C: 56. P. Davey, 47. J. Edwards, 75. E. Fowler
HF: 55. L. French, 5. E. Grant, 54. H. Grubb
F: 52. N. Hales, 11. E. Hynes, 81. B. Jones
R: 93. V. Laloifi, 13. J. Lambert, 61. A. Malander
Int: 99. S. Marsh, 63. P. Nash, 18. R. Schleicher, 28. H. Whitford
Emg: 48. A. Bild , 53. R. Grant, 57. G. Knox, 77. C. Leighton
23P: 65. E. Browning

Williamstown

B: 19. E. Meade, 32. B. Stevens, 34. J. Reid
HB: 1. R. Dardengo, 24. A. Saxton, 3. S. Murphy-Burke
C: 4. E. Paterno, 17. S. Chapman, 44. I. Porter
HF: 16. A. Cameron, 12. G. Harris, 5. A. Walsh
F: 21. S. Dixon, 25. J. Garner, 22. M. Lowe
R: 9. R. Achampong, 35. J. Bruton, 2. J. Duffin
Int: 10. B. Hateley, 26. J. Heard, 30. A. Melnikas, 8. C. Portelli
Emg: 14. C. Balshaw, 28. J. Kile, 20. S. Seabrook, 13. N. Wallace
23P: 29. K. Koropeckyj

WESTERN BULLDOGS v. RICHMOND
Round 1 – Saturday, May 5, 4pm
VU Whitten Oval, Footscray

The reigning AFLW premier and a future AFLW side clash in an evening game in Footscray, with the Western Bulldogs not unleashing much of their AFLW talent across the ground, while the Tigers bring in a vastly unknown side to the competition. Hayley Wildes has crossed from Cranbourne to continue her work with her AFLW club, but the exciting talents of Brooke Lochland, Ellie Blackburn, Katie Brennan and Deanna Berry among others are not in the side for a multitude of reasons. Experienced VFLW campaigners Jessica Francke and Kylie Nicolaci will continue their work at the VU Western Spurs and hope to get the Bulldogs off to a winning start. For the Tigers, they must have an omen about jumper numbers under 50, with players represented between 51 and 89. Of those named in the side, Jess Gardner and Jenna Colwell will use their partnership at the St Kilda Sharks to help gel the side, while Jessica Kennedy has crossed from Bendigo Thunder.

Western Bulldogs

B: 9. T. Dinuccio, 14. E. Gamble, 5. R. Martinuzzo
HB: 15. R. Ashley, 42. N. Paul, 12. J. Francke
C: 25. R. Gastin, 27. K. Nicolaci, 34. E. Mackay
HF: 39. K. Clarke, 30. A. Tessari, 6. K. McLeod
F: 38. C. O’Brien, 46. T. Moss, 17. H. Wildes
R: 45. E. McLaughlin, 10. S. Jolly, 31. A. Gunn
Int: 37. L. Murphy, 48. A. Rooth, 41. A. Scott, 47. N. McMahon
Emg: 24. K. Rennie
23P: 43. A. Goldring

Richmond

B: 84. L. Bieniara, 77. J. Hocking, 69. E. Burry
HB: 73. L. Davie, 63. J. Graham, 70. E. Findlay
C: 60. K. Dempsey, 76. E. Ross, 58. C. Musico
HF: 53. K. Dixon, 64. E. Gunn, 56. E. Hogan
F: 86. N. Clarke, 81. E. George, 80. J. Louttit
R: 68. A. Edmonds, 61. J. Colwell, 52. J. Kennedy
Int: 83. J. Gardner, 62. T. Muller, 78. V. Tonin , 59. A. Woodward
Emg: 82. G. Bibby, 85. N. Clarke, 74. G. Fisher, 79. L. Tesoriero
23P: 75. B. Lynch

GEELONG CATS v. MELBOURNE UNI
Round 1 – Sunday, May 6, 12.30pm
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Kicking off the Sunday games, Geelong hosts Melbourne University at GMHBA Stadium after a promising pre-season. On the Cats list is some AFLW talent led by Richelle Cranston, the exciting midfielder/forward from Melbourne, and Mia-Rae Clifford who has crossed from the St Kilda Sharks to don the blue and white hoops. Kate Darby booted six goals in a pre-season match to announce herself as a key target up forward, while Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels Female Talent Manager Krista Woodroffe has made the 22, lining up for the Cats a day after guiding her TAC Cup club in their round eight match against Gippsland Power. Melbourne University have recruited well from Diamond Creek, picking up Sophie Abbatangelo and Ashleigh Riddle, both players who came into draft consideration last year. Throw in ex-Bendigo Pioneers pocket rocket Aisling Tupper and casually slotting the AFLW Best and Fairest winner Emma Kearney onto the bench, and Melbourne University have plenty of firepower through the midfield.

Geelong Cats

B: 19. E. Ramsay, 44. R. Goring, 16. L. Williams
HB: 25. E. Coventry, 26. R. Pearce, 34. A. McDonald
C: 3. H. Burchell, 12. R. Garing, 7. M. Clifford
HF: 17. H. Mangan, 2. D. Orr, 21. E. Oliver
F: 28. M. Fedele, 8. K. Darby, 32. A. Habib
R: 41. C. Stevens, 30. R. Cranston, 33. H. Trevean
Int: 23. I. Currenti, 13. M. Fogas, 15. M. Janssen, 35. K. Woodroffe
Emg: 22. B. Cheever, 36. E. Dhamarrandji, 10. L. Taylor
23P: 24. M. McMahon

Melbourne Uni

B: 20. L. Belza, 29. K. Klatt, 43. L. Munday
HB: 25. S. De Bortoli, 27. J. Anderson, 3. L. Walsh
C: 45. M. McDonald, 22. D. Edward, 32. I. Milford
HF: 1. S. Abbatangelo, 9. K. Price, 24. S. Wilson
F: 11. P. Cordes, 10. A. Price, 36. L. Watkin
R: 8. C. Fitzpatrick, 7. A. Riddell, 2. H. Ibrahim
Int: 12. M. Cantwell, 5. A. Gittings , 6. E. Keaney, 18. A. Tupper
Emg: 33. C. Adams, 19. L. Ahrens, 44. A. Runnalls, 4. A. Saundry
23P: 35. M. Shone

ESSENDON v. HAWTHORN
Round 1 – Sunday, May 6, 1pm
Windy Hill, Essendon

In the final game of the round, Essendon takes on Hawthorn at the Bombers’ traditional home of Windy Hill. If the traditional rivalry is anything like that of the AFL one, expect there to be fireworks. Much has been talked about Hawthorn’s star-studded line-up, and they have gone out of their way to pick up some experienced players, but Essendon will be hoping to get a win on their home soil. Led by Lisa Williams, the Bombers have some VFLW experience in centre-half back Kirby Hicks and Western Bulldogs stopper Lauren Morecroft who has crossed from Diamond Creek. Hayley Bullas is one to keep an eye on through the midfield, while Kendra Heil – named as an emergency – is a name some Pies fans might be familiar with, after the Canadian signed with the club only to suffer a horrific knee injury and miss the chance at playing in the inaugural AFLW season. Turning to Hawthorn, a spine of Meg Hutchins, Sarah Perkins and Phoebe McWilliams is unbelievable experience for the side, while Emma Mackie will lead the Hawks after a strong season with Box Hill last year. Olivia Flanagan, Melissa Kuys and Lou Wotton are a mix of youth and experience and are others to watch for in this match.

Essendon

B: 14. J. Barker, 16. L. Morecroft, 27. A. Morcom
HB: 26. A. Madden, 7. K. Hicks, 25. R. Neaves
C: 1. J. Trend, 8. H. Bullas, 9. L. Williams
HF: 35. V. Moreau, 6. A. Quigley, 43. D. Ponter
F: 3. M. DeMatteo, 30. S. Nalder, 4. N. Hardy
R: 12. B. Kearney, 32. T. Mackrill, 37. I. Malliaras
Int: 20. J. Anwyl, 40. G. Golds, 21. K. McFadyen, 10. D. Pedersen
Emg: 49. E. Bult, 18. K. Heil, 22. N. MacDonald, 46. C. Ugle
23P: 15. L. Caruso

Hawthorn

B: 21. P. Randall, 22. T. Luke, 31. J. Sibley
HB: 13. E. Nixon, 25. M. Hutchins, 36. J. Van Dyk
C: 14. O. Flanagan, 1. E. Mackie, 9. M. Kuys
HF: 6. J. Crockett-Grills, 28. S. Perkins, 35. C. O’Donnell
F: 33. E. Gilder, 7. P. McWilliams, 12. T. Nestor
R: 19. L. Wotton, 17. S. David, 4. S. Carroll
Int: 24. R. Dillon, 34. A. Dowler, 16. C. Papadopoulos, 15. S. Yule
Emg: 18. J. Foster, 11. D. Haines, 39. S. McNamara, 29. A. Tanner
23P: 26. C. Dyett

BYE – CASEY DEMONS