THE TAC Cup Girls teams have not mucked around in round one of the 2018 competition, stacking their sides with experienced players, exciting debutants, and hot draft prospects.

GEELONG FALCONS v. SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS

Round 1 – Saturday, March 3, 11am
Deakin University – Geelong

All three of Geelong’s 2017 TAC Cup Team of the Year members in Lucy McEvoy, Denby Taylor and Olivia Purcell will pull on the Falcons’ jumper to face off against the Dragons. McEvoy was named as a defender in last year’s Team of the Year, but in round one, she will start in the forward line, in what could be a permanent positional change in 2018.

Geelong’s opponents in Sandringham will have a host of famous football relations in its round one side. Fifteen year-old Alice Burke is the daughter of former St Kilda player, Nathan Burke. Burke will debut in the Dragons’ backline, and will be looking to stop the likes of Lucy McEvoy in Geelong’s forward line. Teammate, Abbie McKay will also join Burke in the backline. McKay is the daughter of former Carlton player and current Head of Football at the club, Andrew McKay.

Geelong Falcons

B: 15. J. Devarakonda, 36. A. Chapman, 24. K. Gleeson
HB: 32. M. Sheppard, 21. K. Haustorfer , 27. D. Taylor
C: 18. N.  Morrison, 11. L.  Lesosky-Hay, 35. S.  Walmsley
HF: 10. S. Atkins, 42. S. DeGiacomi, 26. M. Skinner
F: 6. P. Sheppard, 23. L. McEvoy, 4. B. Thompson
R: 33. Z. Inei, 7. O. Purcell, 39. T. Love
Int: 44. C. Elsworth, 19. I. Long, 20. D. Smith, 2. E. Vella
Emg: 37. S. Dinneen, 34. S. Hungerford, 29. S. Milsome

Sandringham Dragons

B: 21. A. Burke, 17. C. Bowen, 3. J. Owen
HB: 15. A. McKay, 2. S. Rothfield, 13. D. Walker
C: 9. E.  Brown, 8. N.  Amiet, 45. S.  Hartwig
HF: 37. N. Borg, 25. T. Grasso, 1. I. Stutt
F: 57. L. Amelung, 11. H. Bate, 55. M. Wilson
R: 18. A. Dalley, 7. E. McNamara, 5. W. Laing
Int: 43. B. Arnold, 53. G. Bridges, 35. M. Denahy Maloney, 47. E. Harkin, 65. P. Hobday, 63. G. Strangio, 67. J. Tait, 49. T. Tysoe

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DANDENONG STINGRAYS v. NORTHERN KNIGHTS

Round 1 – Saturday, March 3, 11am
Holm Park Recreation Reserve, Beaconsfield

On Saturday, Northern Knights captain, Madeline Brancatisano will lead her side out against the Stingrays. Brancatisano will play in a stacked midfield that contains fellow leaders, Britney Gutknecht, Maggie Antypas, and Gabby Newton, which will be a dangerous prospect for their opponents.

Dandenong is welcoming a positional change for 2017 Team of the Year member, Jordyn Allen. Allen played in defence throughout last year, but will suit up in the midfield in round one, in order to challenge the exciting Northern Knights leadership group in the middle of the ground.

Dandenong Stingrays

B: 5. E. Allen-Burns, 51. Z. Hill, 19. B. Borchard
HB: 3. C. Jones, 35. L. Cripps, 29. B. Struylaart
C: 4. J.  Guy-Toogood, 15. J.  Allen, 1. S.  Heath
HF: 18. S. Bayne, 31. B. Vernon, 28. T. Smith
F: 46. J. George, 44. S. Ryan, 55. H. Thomas
R: 39. N. Taylor, 26. I. Shannon, 12. M. McDonald
Int: 40. R. Clancy – Dillon, 45. M. Graham, 10. A. Jordan, 41. S. Repellin
Emg: 42. A. O’Sullivan, 30. P. Swayn

Northern Knights

B: 32. A. Snow, 26. E. Clayton, 13. M. Suzuki
HB: 10. P. Chisholm, 18. S. Sansonetti, 27. P. Kearney
C: 1. M.  Antypas, 5. M.  Brancatisano, 2. M.  Jarvis
HF: 12. O. Dikranis, 6. A. Bannan, 16. T. Manson
F: 14. J. Fitzgerald, 3. N. Morris-Dalton, 24. A. Pronesti
R: 4. N. O’Connor, 22. B. Gutknecht, 23. G. Newton
Int: 7. A. Bennett, 9. M. Chaplin, 17. C. Fitzgerald, 25. T. Mills
Emg: 8. G. Ceravolo, 35. M. Rodezno, 34. M. Uwland, 11. A. Williams

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EASTERN RANGES v. GREATER WESTERN VICTORIA REBELS

Round 1 – Saturday, March 3, 12:45pm
Holm Park Recreation Reserve, Beaconsfield

The Greater Western Victoria Rebels are fielding a full-strength team for round one, stacking up the midfield with its captain, and two AFLW Academy members. Lauren Butler, Rene Caris and Sophie Van De Heuvel will really challenge the Eastern Ranges midfield with their impressive skills and leadership traits. In the backline, look out for Tara Jasper, who comes from an athletics and netball background. It is the 19 year-old’s last year in the program, so she would be looking to go out with a bang.

A player who would be nervous for Saturday’s match is Mikala Cann, who will start on ball in her first game for the Eastern Ranges. Cann comes from an athletics background, and the club is hoping to utilise her running power to burst through the corridor. She will be joined by AFLW Academy player, Emerson Woods, who will play on the wing for her first appearance in the TAC Cup Girls competition this year.

Eastern Ranges

B: 18. A. Allsopp, 44. H. Tucker, 17. M. Kendall
HB: 37. G. Macpherson, 43. A. Tognazzini, 48. L. Szigeti
C: 41. J.  Richardson, 16. E.  Horne, 3. E.  Woods
HF: 26. T. Brown, 40. T. Merrett, 19. I. Ball
F: 9. P. Buruma, 42. M. Taverna, 47. J. Provan
R: 46. S. Kendall, 21. M. Cann, 6. G. De Angelis
Int: 22. C. Chamberlain, 8. C. Delbridge, 39. O. Meagher
Emg: 10. N. Cormack , 35. B. Cubitt, 50. S. Zappia

Greater Western Victoria Rebels

B: 34. S. Glover, 14. L. Sykes, 23. S. Molan
HB: 15. T. Jasper, 27. N. Dojiok, 19. K. McAloon
C: 2. R.  Saulitis, 44. E.  Bibby, 10. H.  Simpson
HF: 25. G. Clarke, 28. I. Simmons, 8. E. Wood
F: 41. K. Harris, 45. A. Humphries, 13. C. Leonard
R: 35. R. Caris, 18. S. Van De Heuvel, 16. L. Butler
Emg: 6. N. Butler, 26. G. Pidgeon, 17. A. Astbury , 21. D. Henson, 7. A. McAuliffe, 33. I. Robson

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BENDIGO PIONEERS v. WESTERN JETS

Round 1 – Saturday, March 3, 1pm
Epsom Huntly Reserve, Bendigo

At Epsom Huntly Reserve, Sophie Kerridge will get to suit up for the Pioneers. The 19 year-old is the sister of Carlton player, Sam Kerridge, and has been touted as a player to watch this year. In the forward line, the Pioneers’ hot draft prospect, Jordyn Joliffe will be hoping to pick up where she left off last year in Bendigo colours, which could cause havoc for the Jets’ defenders.

The Western Jets have selected cousins, Payton Ozols and Savannah Forbes in their round one side. The girls come from a netball background, but enjoyed a great year for the VU Western Spurs in the Essendon District Football League. Forbes was awarded as the joint best and fairest in the Youth Girls competition, along with Spurs and now Jets teammate, Elisabeth Georgostathis, who will play across half back.

Bendigo Pioneers

B: 25. T. Stewart, 32. S. Reilly, 5. E. Turnbull
HB: 24. E. Gretgrix, 20. K. Douglass, 21. H. Spencer
C: 11. J.  Finning, 28. M.  Williamson, 3. C.  Isaac
HF: 30. B. Heiden, 4. J. Jolliffe, 23. G. Murrell
F: 27. B. Hards, 17. G. Sladden, 1. M. Tupper
R: 9. D. Kelly-Guthrie, 19. K. Jacques, 2. M. Baldwin
Int: 12. T. Coad, 13. S. Kerridge , 26. L. Newton, 14. O. Taverna, 22. M. Ward

Western Jets

B: 2. C. Gashi, 31. K. Rebuffo, 25. T. Kolevski
HB: 8. E. Gardner, 30. I. Pritchard, 16. E. Georgostathis
C: 22. A.  Chivell, 10. M.  Cooper, 6. L.  Wright
HF: 3. A. Lowe, 14. I. Grant, 4. L. Spargo
F: 7. L. Eustace, 39. C. Saxon-Jones, 40. S. Whiting
R: 43. C. Greiser, 19. O. Forsythe, 27. P. Ozols
Int: 26. L. Basto, 29. E. Cassar, 5. M. Daw, 21. M. Fenech, 41. S. Forbes, 1. M. Gregory, 12. K. O’Keefe

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GIPPSLAND POWER v. OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

Round 1 – Sunday, March 4, 11.30am
Moe Recreation Reserve, Moe

The Power will be hoping to get its 2018 campaign off to a great start, and have included AFLW Academy member, Tyla Hanks in the midfield. Hanks is a top draft prospect for Gippsland, and will be hoping to follow the footsteps of former teammates, Darcy Guttridge and Holly Whitford, who have earned spots on Collingwood’s AFLW list.

For the Chargers, daughter of AFL umpire, Scott McLaren, Hannah, will start on-ball. McLaren has joined Oakleigh as a defender, but will be looking to put pressure on the likes of Tyla Hanks in the Gippsland midfield. However, we will not be seeing cricketer, Isabella Gietzmann in the round one hit-out, but she is sure to appear later on in the season for the Chargers.

Gippsland Power

B: 2. S. Beaton, 45. L. Van Berkel, 17. S. Trewin
HB: 65. J. Redmond, 57. J. Ferguson, 27. N. Webber
C: 1. E.  Jones, 28. T.  Hanks, 30. A.  Rippon
HF: 13. H. Andrews, 8. C. Abrahams, 31. L. Berry
F: 47. E. Cornish , 50. M. Van Berkel, 12. M. Fitzsimon
R: 58. A. Dunn, 10. T. Dower, 6. E. Haeusler
Int: 32. C. Bird, 29. C. Bray, 7. L. Raymond , 49. M. Shaw
Emg: 48. C. Prestidge, 9. T. Whitehead, 60. E. Williams

Oakleigh Chargers

B: 13. T. Morton, 45. T. Cowan, 5. A. van Oosterwijck
HB: 19. E. Harley, 39. T. Nichols, 26. A. Micallef
C: 2. M.  Hill, 14. H.  McLaren, 30. G.  Lagioia
HF: 33. G. Byrne, 68. A. Dyer, 3. J. D’Amato
F: 29. M. Bertuna, 21. C. Moon, 17. N. Xenos
R: 11. B. Winbanks, 16. A. Porter, 41. K. Lynch
Int: 43. E. Hastie, 50. C. Nancarrow, 32. C. O’Malley
Emg: 9. E. Jackson, 15. A. Ling, 69. L. Mayne, 28. G. Wyett

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MURRAY BUSHRANGERS v. CALDER CANNONS

Round 1 – Sunday, March 4, 1pm
JC Lowe Oval, Yarrawonga

Consistent stars, Grace Egan and Rebecca Webster headline Murray Bushrangers’ round one side. Egan will be looking to hold down the fort in defence, while AFLW Academy member, Webster will be hopeful of a day out in the midfield. But perhaps the biggest story comes from the forward line, where under-16 national basketballer, Olivia Barber will battle it out at full forward.

The Calder Cannons has stacked its midfield ahead of its blockbuster clash on Sunday, weary of the Bushrangers’ fire-power in that area of the ground. Hot draft prospect and Calder captain, Madison Prespakis will lead from the front in the middle of the ground. She will be joined by fellow Vic Metro representative, Georgia Patrikios, who are a dangerous duo in the midfield.

Murray Bushrangers

B: 14. A. Duguid, 10. G. Kelly, 32. N. Watts
HB: 16. E. Ashley-Cooper, 42. G. Egan, 26. E. Nicholson
C: 11. A.  Chessor, 17. R.  Webster, 3. P.  Crelley
HF: 19. M. Brown, 5. C. Hargreaves, 1. J. Harvey
F: 37. S. Damon, 45. O. Barber, 8. O. Hall
R: 43. T. Verhoeven, 22. T. Smith, 4. C. Knight
Int: 6. K. Adams, 44. M. Eze, 36. C. Mckimmie, 33. M. Trethowan
Emg: 39. H. Doohan, 25. E. Freeman, 31. S. Locke, 34. E. McPherson

Calder Cannons

B: 24. K. Delia, 48. C. Brown, 32. T. Fry
HB: 29. S. Elias, 46. G. Elarmaly, 9. M. Warburton
C: 1. H.  Cooke, 23. G.  Dicker, 21. G.  Patrikios
HF: 34. Z. Hardiman, 17. E. Cornish, 22. M. Muller
F: 10. M. Hemburrow, 16. C. Hodgson, 2. F. Theodore
R: 18. C. Rendelmann, 3. M. Prespakis, 11. A. Barba
Int: 49. T. Crook, 25. A. Magri, 8. E. Vale, 27. E. Woodley
Emg: 30. S. Cameron, 37. F. Holloway, 35. I. Young