THE FIRST round of the VFL Women’s was run and done over the Easter Weekend with some big results and some eye-catching youngsters who will look to put their hands up to AFLW clubs.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

North Melbourne Werribee 9.11 (65) defeated Carlton 2.5 (17)
Sandringham Zebras 8.5 (53) defeated Darebin Falcons 3.3 (21)
Geelong 4.6 (30) defeated by Box Hill Hawks 14.4 (88)
Casey Demons 3.1 (19) defeated by Collingwood 7.5 (47)
Port Melbourne 7.7 (49) defeated Essendon 4.6 (30)
Western Bulldogs 2.6 (18) defeated by Williamstown 4.4 (28)

SUMMARY

Box Hill was the most impressive winner of Round 1, flexing its muscles against last year’s wooden spooners Geelong, though the Cats did show some promising signs for the future. Collingwood and Sandringham both had big wins with new-look squads, as reigning premiers and newly named North Melbourne Werribee came back from a slow start to put Carlton to the sword. In the other results, Port Melbourne and Williamstown both accounted for AFL-aligned clubs in Essendon and Western Bulldogs with 19 and 10-point wins respectively.

2024 AFLW DRAFTEES

Carlton: Lou-Lou Field (13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s)
Essendon: Holly Ridewood (9 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles , 1 clearance, 1 inside 50)
Melbourne: Maggie Mahony (11 disposals, 10 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s) | Amelia Dethridge (6 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s)
Sandringham Zebras (St Kilda): Zoe Besanko (8 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 9 hitouts, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal) | Kyla Forbes (15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50)

AFLW DRAFT WATCH

Collingwood debutant Tahlia Sanger had a day out for Casey Demons to continue her wonderful start to 2025. The Dandenong Stingrays prospect who had an interrupted last couple of years due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury put that behind her with a nice finish to last year, and strong start for the Stingrays in the Coates Talent League. She had a bye in that league over Easter and instead went down the road to Casey Fields where she racked up 23 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, four clearances, seven inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

Fellow over-ager Amelie Gladman joined her in the side with a handy 12-disposals, five-mark, five-tackle and one-goal game for an all-round performance up forward. Charlotte Brewer – funnily enough playing against her father Matt who coached Casey – had 11 touches, two marks, two tackles and three rebound 50s with some of her trademark run-and-gun game. In the same match, Tasmanian Mackenzie Williams had a promising start to her VFLW season with 10 disposals, three marks, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

Geelong midfielder Mel Staunton showed earning the captaincy in her first season at the Cattery will not affect her output, notching up 20 disposals, nine tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s in a heavy loss to the Hawks. Fellow teenage trio Mekah Morrissy, Lucy Marescuk and Lily Jordan all tried hard in a tough game.

Box Hill has a number of draftable prospects who are not long out of their junior campaigns with ex-Ranges Isla Baldwin and Stasia Stevenson among the best for their sides. Baldwin – who crossed from Carlton after finishing equal second in the best and fairest – managed 17 touches, four marks, seven tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s. Stevenson booted two goals from 16 disposals and eight tackles. Ainslie recruit who trained on with the Hawks’ AFLW program last season Olivia Fogarty also kicked a couple of goals from 10 disposals and four inside 50s.

Former soccer player who was very close to earning an AFLW spot at different points over the last two years in Megan Mifsud had a strong first-up performance for Essendon in a loss to Port Melbourne. She racked up a game-high seven clearances to go with 17 disposals to show she could be an immediate on-ball replacement. Tasmanian Lucy Thompson (10 disposals, two marks and three inside 50s) was another who worked hard.

Fresh off a 40-disposal and four-goal game with GWV Rebels, over-ager Isabella Davies donned the red, white and blue for the Western Bulldogs in a defeat to Williamstown. She had 15 disposals, three clearances and two inside 50s, while laying six tackles. Seagulls recruit Jemima Wrigley (15 disposals, three tackles, two inside 50s and xix rebound 50s) continues to go to new levels alongside Emily Eaves (18 disposals, five tackles, seven inside 50s and three clearances). Stephanie Asciak was enormous for the Dogs with a game-high seven clearances from 14 disposals and seven tackles.

ROUND 2 FIXTURE

Friday, April 25:

North Melbourne vs. Williamstown @ Arden Street, 10:35am

Saturday, April 26:

Western Bulldogs vs. Darebin Falcons @ Whitten Oval, 10:05am
Essendon vs. Collingwood @ Windy Hill, 11:05am
Geelong vs. Carlton @ Deakin University, 12:05pm
Sandringham Zebreas vs. Casey Demons @ RSEA Park, 2:05pm

Sunday, April 27:

Box Hill Hawks vs. Port Melbourne @ Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, 2:35pm