A MASSIVE day of action on Saturday for Round 2 of the AFL Women’s with all eyes on Casey Fields where Melbourne plays host to St Kilda in the afternoon. Both sides were ultra impressive in their Round 1 wins over Western Bulldogs and Adelaide, and will gain a significant advantage with a victory here.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Casey Fields
Time: 3:05pm local

TEAMS

Melbourne:

St Kilda:

CHANGES

Both teams have not been forced into any changes, with instead Melbourne able to bring back in Sinead Goldrick as well as Georgia Gall in exchange for young duo Alyssia Pisano and Lily Johnson. St Kilda has opted for one change with ex-Giant Nicola Barr able to make her club debut after missing Round 1 due to a foot injury, replacing Natalie Plane.

MISSING IN ACTION

Melbourne is still minus defenders Gabby Colvin and Tahlia Gillard are tipped to be a month and two months away respectively still recovering from MCL injuries. Denby Taylor (foot) and Grace Beasley (ACL) have extended times on the sidelines as well, while Kate Hore had managed minutes by playing forward last week but will work back into midfield from this weekend.

St Kilda is not too far away from regaining some key midfield experience with Charlotte Simpson (back), Olivia Vesely (hip) and Hannah Stuart (hamstring) all potentially available in the next week or two. Recruit Alana Gee should be around the mark late in the season, with Nicola Xenos (foot) still likely out for over a month.

WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON

Melbourne is a side that will take risks with fast ball movement and run end-to-end to put pressure on the opposition. The Saints weathered an incredible 50 inside 50s against the Crows last week, and their defence held up superbly. The big question is whether they might be able to do it again, with Melbourne’s ball users arguably more clinical than Adelaide’s, and though it is unlikely the Dees will get as many entries, will more likely use the ball more effectively.

In Round 1, Melbourne had a 54.1 per cent effectiveness scoring from inside 50s, though albeit the Saints are a step up from the developing Bulldogs so will be a little tougher in that regard. Both sides showed they can take control around the clearances, with St Kilda’s on-ball grup looking the best it ever has which excited coach Nick Dal Santo.

Melbourne did look patchy and perhaps are a little undersized without Gillard and Colvin against a St Kilda attack that has Jesse Wardlaw, Ella Friend and second gamer Zoe Besanko, which means Saraid Taylor will be asked to do a massive job again, while Sarah Lampard and Maeve Chaplin try to hold together the young defence.

Through the middle, Olivia Purcell and Tyla Hanks going head-to-head with Georgia Patrikios and Tyanna Smith will be huge, and like always, the team that wins it out of the source will go a long way to victory. All eyes will be on whether Hore spends more time in midfield or remains in attack to be a focal point, though in the Casey Fields breeze, chaos footy will likely occur inside 50 so her speed and that of Alyssa Bannan and Georgia Gall is key.

PREDICTION

Melbourne have the experience and the homeground advantage so you have to lean the way of the Dees. However in saying that, the Saints looked a different beast last week, albeit on the back foot at times. They will need to weather another storm here, and while you won’t win too many games conceding 50 inside 50s, it is unlikely they will concede that many in back-to-back weeks.

Melbourne by four points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Collingwood has handed recent injury replacement player Lily-Rose Williamson a debut in the huge clash against fellow battler GWS, also recalling speedster Sarah Rowe. They do lose fellow Irishwoman Kellyann Hogan who injured her shoulder in Round 1, while second-year player Georgia Clark was omitted. A rare game where the Pies are tipped to be favourites given the Giants have lost star onballer Alyce Parker for the season, with Taylah Levy making her club debut as Parker’s replacement.

Up north, Gold Coast has regained some crucial experience in the form of ruck Lauren Bella and midfielder Claudia Whitfort. The duo replace omitted pair Tayla Gregory and Taya Oliver for the Suns first home game of the season, against Sydney. The Swans have brought in Amelia Martin to add further grunt around the stoppages, replacing club leading goalkicker Rebecca Privitelli who was a surprise omission.

Fremantle returns home to face a hungry Brisbane Lions outfit tomorrow afternoon with the only confirmed change being Philipa Seth replacing the concussed Tunisha Kikoak. The Dockers are looking to go 2-0 to start the year, while the Lions are recovering from a surprise loss at home to the Hawks, with the sole change being Neasa Dooley replacing second-year player Evie Long.

At night, Hawthorn hosts Carlton under lights at Frankston in a battle of two Round 1 winners from 7:15pm. The Hawks have lost Jasmine Fleming to a knee injury with Ainslie Kemp also out injured. Former Eastern Ranges defender Grace Baba dons the brown and gold for the first time, while Mackenzie Eardley gets her chance. The Blues have just replaced Meg Robertson (omitted) with Amelia Velardo.