TRADITIONAL rivals – at least in the men’s game – Carlton and Collingwood go head-to-head to open season 10 in the AFL Women’s, just as they did on the inaugural night way back in 2017. The Blues and Pies will be hungry to get their seasons off on the right note after less-than-ideal 2024 campaigns, while West Coast and Gold Coast clash on the other side of the country.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Thursday, August 14
Venue: Ikon Park
Time: 7:15pm local

TEAMS

Carlton:

B: D.Vescio 3 – C.Fitzgerald 36
HB: M.Hendrie 49 – P.Scholz 7 – H.Cordner 21
C: Y.Duursma 11 – K.Sherar 25 – D.Finn 17
HF: E.Fitzpatrick 19 – M.Guerin 18 – S.McKay 5
F: T.Bohanna 42- M.Austin 22
R: J.Good 12 – M.Hill 10 – A.McKay 5
INT: M.Robertson 15 – K.Skepper 4 – L.Goss 20 – L.Keck 23 – B.Harrington 16 

EMG: L.Field 33 – A.Velardo 1 – A.Reidy 13

Collingwood:

B: L.Cronin 27 – L.Butler 23
HB: T.White 29 – M.Atkinson 10 – A.Schutte 21
C: A.Runnalls 36 – A.Centra 16 – G.Campbell 13
HF: K.Howarth 35 – C.Remmos 30 – V.Patterson 26
F:  S.Frederick 1 – M.Cann 25
R: I.Barnett 4 – R.Schleicher 18 – B.Bonnici 8
INT: G.Clark 19 – A.Lee 5 – K.Hogan 24 – M.Hyde 22 – A.Porter 9 

EMG: E.James 2 G.Knight 12 S.Karlson 20

CHANGES

The strength of last year’s AFLW Draft class is on full display with a pair of players from each side making their debuts. Two top 10 draft picks including number on selection Ash Centra, and Carlton’s first pick in Poppy Scholz have both been named in their respective sides, while two father-daughters will also make their debuts.

Carlton’s Sophie McKay (daughter of Andrew) and Collingwood’s Violet Patterson (daughter of Stephen) will both don the colours their fathers did, with McKay following in the footsteps of older sister Abbie. It is somewhat fitting that Abbie is captaining her first game on the same night Sophie is making her debut.

Other fresh faces include former Gold Coast skipper Tara Bohanna for the Blues, while ex-Docker Airlie Runnalls has switched to the black and white this season. Though she was on the list last year, former Sun Kalinda Howarth finally makes her Magpie debut having fought back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Irishwoman Kellyann Hogan is the other Pies’ debutant.

MISSING IN ACTION

Collingwood is without its former skipper Brianna Davey who is recovering from an ankle injury, while three other best 21 players in Sarah Rowe (shoulder), Nell Morris-Dalton (back) and Jordyn Allen (calf) are also at least a handful of weeks away up to a month on the sidelines.

Carlton on the other hand has a relatively good bill of health, missing just Gabriella Pound (shin) and Brooke Vickers (wrist) from its full squad.

WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON

Collingwood’s strength even when it has struggled has been its strength so for Carlton, it is key to try and get first hands to the ball and win that battle. On paper it is an evenly poised on-ball battle, especially with the Magpies minus Davey. It means the work of Ruby Schleicher and Brittany Bonnici is all the more important with Carlton’s core featuring skipper McKay, as well as Mimi Hill and reigning best and fairest winner Keeley Sherar.

What Carlton doesn’t have is a Centra who despite only playing her first game, will immediately make a difference to the Magpies’ lineup. Arguably the best kick to come out of the junior pathways, Centra is the player you get the ball in the hands of to deliver forward. Clubs will undoubtedly look to quell her influence as the season goes on such is her impact on games.

The Blues have the far superior ruck combination with Jess Good and Breann Harrington taking on Imogen Barnett and Sabrina Frederick, both of whom are really tall forwards stepping up when required. To Frederick’s credit, she had a ridiculous season last year and will be looking to continue that here.

The other way in which Carlton can exploit Collingwood is with its tall forwards. The addition of Bohanna up forward will be important in relieving young gun Mia Austin, while the resting ruck of Good or Harrington can stretch Collingwood’s undersized defence in the absence of Allen, and without Stacey Livingstone anymore.

It will be up to first-season wonder Lucy Cronin and 50-gamer Lauren Butler to battle up a size in that regard, though it looks like Georgia Clark might be trialled down there, and Annie Lee is an option too.

Collingwood’s advantage might come in its outside speed, having recruited both Runnalls and Patterson to fill that exact need. The Blues have speed there as well, but the natural two-way running of both players, along with Georgia Campbell will ensure there is always forward pressure around.

PREDICTION

It is unlikely either of these teams is going to be pushing for finals unless something drastically changes from last season, but both will head into the match believing they can win. Carlton generally has had the wood over the Magpies, and run out at Princes Park which always gives the Navy Blues a boost. In saying that, the additions for the Magpies – especially Centra – cannot be understated as they fill a direct hole that caused the Pies to sink to the wooden spoon. Collingwood by 2 points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Two other sides who battled last season go head-to-head out west with West Coast hosting Gold Coast at Mineral Resources Park. The move was made from Sullivan Logistics Stadium due to the ground condition, and both teams have brought in some quality young talents. The Suns unveil number two pick Havana Harris along with fellow Suns Academy members Nyalli Milne and Mia Salisbury, while injury replacement players Ellie Veerhuis and Tayla Gregory both make their debuts.

It came as no surprise to see West Coast unveil its top draft selection from last year in Lou Painter who has been named up forward, while Kayla Dalgleish is also in with ruck recruit Elizabeth McGrath. West Coast has a very top-heavy side with Sarah Lakay, Lauren Wakfer and Georgie Cleaver also capable of rucking, though are ultra-athletic as well. Given what Daisy Pearce‘s side showed early last season, the second-year coach should walk away happy, with West Coast getting up thanks to homeground advantage.