UNLIKE most years, the 2024 AFLW season kicks off with two clashes on opposite sides of the country. Both are intriguing matches, and both will answer plenty of questions about what may lie ahead for the sides involved.

7:15pm local time
North Sydney Oval

SIDES

Sydney

FB: G.Davies, Tarrant
HB: Mitchell, Heads, McEvoy
C: Ham, Kennedy, Collier
HF: Lochland, Privitelli, Hamilton
FF: Beruldsen, Hurley
FOL: Morphett, Gardiner, Molloy
IC: Hillier, Grunden, Bullas, Vale, Szigeti
EMG: Hausegger, Smith, Whelan

Collingwood

FB: Atkinson, Livingstone
HB: Lee, Schleicher, Allen
C: White, Cann, Rowe
HF: James, Sansonetti, Campbell
FF: Fowler, Porter
FOL: Frederick, Bonnici, Remmos
IC: Brazzale, Cronin, Evans, Barnett, Blair
EMG: Morris, Karlson, Schutte

NEW FACES

The Swans have three new faces in their side tonight. Giselle Davies and Kiara Hillier have both come down from Queensland and will be looking to make an impact in defence, while draftee Sarah Grunden will be looking to make an impact alongside some big name in Sydney’s forward line.

Meanwhile for Collingwood, there are four new faces.

Muireann Atkinson will be looking to translate her Gaelic football skills to Australian Rules, while draftee Lucy Cronin will be looking to make a mark off defence.

Carly Remmos will be looking to make the most of her second chance at AFLW off the back of a stellar VFLW season former Blue Annie Lee will also be looking to impress her new team mates.

LAST TIME THESE SIDES MET

These two sides last met in Round 9 of last season, and that afternoon it was the Swans who emerged victorious to the run of 19 points.

In a topsy turvy clash, the Swans ultimately kicked away in the last term to secure the win.

Chloe Molloy was a big influence on the scoreboard that day for the Swans, while it was one of Laura Gardiner’s 30+ disposal games. Meanwhile for Collingwood Mikala Cann saw plenty of the ball while it was Sabrina Frederick who led the way on the scoreboard for the black and white.

KEY MATCH UP

A key stat tonight will be the centre clearances, and whoever wins that will get a massive boost.

Two players that will be crucial to their teams winning that battle will be Chloe Molloy and Brittany Bonnici. They are former team mates who know each other’s games inside out, and are both determined midfield bulls who will stop at nothing to see success for their team.

7:15pm local time (9:15pm AEST)
Mineral Resources Park

SIDES

West Coast

FB: Z.Wakfer, Schilling
HB: Thomas, Rentsch, B Smith
C: Goranova, Lewis, Britton
HF: Bakker, Gibson, Western
FF: Roberts, Franklin
FOL: L.Wakfer, Hosking, Drennan
IC: Gooch, Bushby, Cleaver, Simmons, Lyons
EMG: Webb, Harken, Lakay

Richmond

FB: Seymour, Miller
HB: Lynch, McClelland, Graham
C: Shevlin, Dallaway, Dempsey
HF: Ryan, Brennan, Jones
FF: Greiser, Yassir
FOL: Kelly, Egan, Conti
IC: Woods, Reid, Eastman, Hicks, McKenzie
EMG: Wicksteed, Brown, Peck

NEW FACES

West Coast have a whopping seven new faces tonight. Jess Hosking and Alison Drennan will be making their club debuts, and will be joined by injury replacement duo Sanne Bakker and Tess Lyons. Draftees Jessica Rentsch and Georgie Cleaver will also be making their debuts, as will cross coder rookie Verity Simmons.

Meanwhile for Richmond there are only three first time Tigers in tonight’s side. Charley Ryan finally gets her chance at AFLW level after not being able to play last year because of an ACL injury, and she will be joined by former Giants pair Ally Dallaway and Jodie Hicks.

LAST TIME THESE SIDES MET

These sides did not actually meet last season, and have not met since Round 7 back in Season 7.

That even the Tigers emerged victorious by 19 points after kicking away in the final term.

Grace Egan was the only multiple goal kicker on the ground that night, while Emma Swanson was a defensive pressure machine.

KEY MATCH UP

Beth Lynch has a big role to play tonight. Without Eilish Sheerin in the side, she is likely to be the one that has to generate that run off half back that Sheerin normally would.

Not only that, but she will have to watch the likes of Ella Roberts and make sure she is not able to get space and get dangerous in West Coast’s forward line.