THERE may only be a month of the VFLW season left, but the intrigue and excitement still has not let up.

This is one match where the ladder positions and recent history do not match.

The Bulldogs have been the better side this season overall, but have not beaten the Cats in their last four attempts. Geelong also has arguably more to play for this morning as they are getting dangerously close to no longer being in finals contention.

Gabbi Featherston and Caitlin Reid are among Geelong’s inclusions this week, but Johanna Sunderland is out of the line up, while the Bulldogs gain back Eleanor Bishop and Imogen Milford but lose Eleanor Cornish and Cassidy Mailer.

This could also be a potentially interesting match.

Casey is only half a game outside finals right now, and after an inconsistent past month would love nothing more than to register a second win in a row. Carlton on the other hand is in a similar situation to Geelong in the sense that they are on a losing run and are teetering on the edge of no longer being in finals contention.

Octavia Di Donato and Danika Di Santo are both back in for the Blues this week, but they come in at the expense of the likes of Mel Staunton and Paige Duffy. Casey has only made the one change, bringing in Indiana Makai for the injured Joanna Lin.

A top four clash that has plenty of history and is sure to have plenty of spice to go along with it. Last time these sides met it was last year’s elimination final, and as the higher ranked side in 2024 the Hawks will certainly be hoping history does not repeat itself.

Both sides have brought in some potentially very influential players. Christina Bernardi, Danielle Marshall and Sarah Perkins are all among Essendon’s ins, while the Hawks have included Eastern Ranges pair Georgie Brisbane and Stasia Stevenson.

This clash on paper looks very different now to what it did only a matter of weeks ago.

The Falcons are on a very hot streak at the moment, but face an increase in opponent difficulty this week as they take on the Roos, but will take confidence from the fact they beat the top of the ladder Hawks only a fortnight ago. The Roos meanwhile are on a pretty solid run of their own at the moment, but will need to be wary of Darebin’s defensive pressure if they wish to emerge victorious.

North Melbourne has made a number of changes, including bringing in Jennifer Guy and Brooke Slaney, while captain Stephanie Simpson is the only inclusion for the Falcons this week.

There will be a lot of hunger from both sides in this match.

Collingwood is trying to break a two-match losing streak and stay in touch with the top six, while the Saints are remarkably still not officially out of finals contention but one more loss will see that flame extinguish.

Collingwood has made a number of changes at both ends of the age spectrum, bringing in the likes of young Oakleigh Charger Alessia Dunn and the not so young former Melbourne Victory goal keeper Melissa Maizels.

The Saints on the flipside will warmly welcome back Georgia Ricardo, but do lose Ahlee Penry.

These two sides have already met once this year, but history may completely flip this time around. Back in April the Borough were the ones to emerge victorious, but since then the Seagulls have been the ones in far better form.

Port Melbourne has made four changes, including bringing back Meg Buchanan and Kate Adams, while the Seagulls are the only side this week to not make any changes.