WITH less than four days until the first round of action, the two Victorian sides for the upcoming AFL Women’s National Championships have been released. Reigning titleholders Vic Metro will look to go back-to-back, naming a 34-strong squad for the carnival – including train-ons – while Vic Country has named 29 players.

Among those are the National Academy members including the injured Jade McLay (shoulder). Some other top AFLW Draft prospects include the likes of Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers), Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons), Tayla McMillan and Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) for Metro, and Country AFLW Academy pair Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) and Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power).

There are two new coaches at the respective helms with Jarrad Donders (Eastern Ranges) taking over the Vic Metro duties from Oakleigh Chargers’ Ty Vickery, while GWV Rebels’ Sally Riley has replaced Mel Hickey (maternity leave) for Vic Country. Each of the Coates Talent League Girls head coaches will form the coaching panel as per past years.

Both sides kick off their campaigns on Sunday with Vic Country coming up against the Allies at Trevor Barker Oval, before Vic Metro begin down the road at RSEA Park against South Australia in a rematch of last year’s pseudo grand final.

In a first, each of the six state sides will face four opponents – instead of three – over the next two months, with Vic Country also taking on Queensland and South Australia, while Vic Metro meets Western Australia and the Allies. The two Victorian sides also face off on July 20.

Rookie Me Central will profile all of the top-age prospects over the next two days in the lead-up to the first round of action.

VICTORIA COUNTRY

VICTORIA METRO