FOUR teams go into round three undefeated, and will be hoping to keep their undefeated streaks alive. Meanwhile at RAMS Arena, two winless teams in Calder Cannons and Western Jets will go head-to-head to register their first win of the season. Each week, we will preview all the upcoming action in the round of TAC Cup Girls football, giving you a comprehensive insight into the compelling competition that we have on our hands this year.

GWV REBELS V. BENDIGO PIONEERS

Round 3- Saturday, March 24, 10.30am

MARS Stadium, Ballarat

The Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Bendigo Pioneers have an amazing opportunity to play at a prestigious stadium on the weekend. The Rebels will be searching for their first win of the season, after coming up against two premiership contenders in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, the Pioneers got off to a winning start in round one, and will be hoping to bounce back after last week’s loss.

Sophie Kerridge has kicked four goals so far for the Pioneers this season, and will look to continue her great form deep in the forward line. However, she will have to come across the likes of GWV AFLW Academy member, Georgia Clarke who will start at half-back to combat Kerridge and teammate, Kate Douglass.

Expect a great captain’s battle in the middle between GWV’s Lauren Butler and Bendigo’s Megan Williamson. Both players had solid outings last week and are sure to put on a cracking contest in the depths of the contest. Nyakoat Dojiok showed some impressive signs last week, and will join Butler in the middle of the ground to challenge the Rebels, who will be missing AFLW Academy member Sophie Van De Heuvel this week.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS V. GIPPSLAND POWER

Round 3- Saturday, March 24, 2.45pm

RAMS Arena- Craigieburn

The two teams will have to travel further down the highway this week, after their hit-out at Swinburne Centre was moved to RAMS Arena. This is not likely to faze either team, who both enjoyed round two victories.

Murray has been unstoppable so far and we are only two rounds into the competition. Rebecca Webster has been a dominant force in the midfield, while Eloise Ashley-Cooper and Olivia Barber have been holding down the fort at either end of the ground.

Webster may have her work cut out for her this week, as she is set to come up against Gippsland star, Tyla Hanks. Hanks has not put a foot wrong for the Power so far, and played a pivotal role in getting her side over the line for the first time in the TAC Cup Competition.

GEELONG FALCONS V. DANDENONG STINGRAYS

Round 3- Sunday, March 25, 11am

Deakin University Oval, Geelong

The Geelong Falcons are one of the undefeated teams in the league so far and will return back home to take on a formidable Stingrays outfit. Dandenong on the other hand fell short to hard-hitting side, Eastern Ranges in round two. But captain, Jordyn Allen has been as consistent as ever, and is likely to continue her great form in Stingrays colours.

However she will have to come across tackling machine, Olivia Purcell in the Geelong midfield, who has been a hard player to combat in the first two rounds. Expect a great battle between Sandringham half-back, Lucinda Cripps and Geelong half-forward, Sachi DeGiacomi.

DeGiacomi is running a muck in the forward line, and is the joint leading goal-kicker, along with Northern Knights’ Alyssa Bannan. Tarryn Love will also play inside 50 for the Falcons, and will be one that applies plenty of forward pressure to trouble the Dandenong defence.

WESTERN JETS V. CALDER CANNONS

Round 3- Sunday, March 25, 11am

RAMS Arena, Craigieburn

The Cannons would not have expected to find themselves undefeated after two rounds. The Jets have come up against some formidable opponents so far and have not registered their first win of the season. But at RAMS Arena, both teams will have the chance to get a win on the board on what is set to be a rainy encounter.

Madison Prespakis has unsurprisingly been in sensational form, and will be keen to take on a talented Western Jets midfield this week. Prespakis would be familiar with impressive Jets midfielder, Elizabeth Georgiostathis, as they played in the same Youth Girls competition last year in the Essendon District Football League.

Isabella Pritchard has been a key player for the Jets so far, and will slot onto the half-back flank. She and Katarina Rebuffo will have to team up in defence to nullify the impact of Calder AFLW Academy member, Georgia Patrikios and Zoe Hardiman, who was named in the Cannons’ best last week.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS V. SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS

Round 3- Sunday, March 25, 12.45pm

RAMS Arena, Craigieburn

The Northern Knights have charged out of the blocks this year, recording convincing wins in the first two rounds of the competition. The Dragons too have been competitive and have made significant inroads to developmental improvement. Sandringham recorded a confidence-boosting win against the Chargers last week, knocking them off the top of the ladder and preparing themselves appropriately for arguably the game of the round.

Abigail Bennett has been a star for the Knights, making an impact both in the middle of the ground and in the forward 50. She has been well complemented by Nell Morris-Dalton, who has used her strength to perfection to double up in the forward line and in the midfield.

The Knights’ dynamic mid/ forward combinations will undoubtedly be a challenging prospect for the Dragons, but Abbie McKay and captain, Jemma Owen are up to the task. Both are coming off wonderful performances last week, and were well complemented by Winnie Laing, who played a Chelsea Randall type role. Laing played in defence and through the midfield, and could play that role again to nullify the impact of Northern’s versatile outfit.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS V. EASTERN RANGES 

Round 3- Sunday, March 25, 2.30pm

RAMS Arena, Craigieburn

The last of the triple-headers at Craigieburn sees the Chargers taking on the Ranges to bounce back from last week’s loss. Oakleigh had some time on top of the ladder after a big win in round one, while the Eastern Ranges are on the march to take top spot off the Knights.

Oakleigh has been boosted by the return of Katie Lynch, who sat out the round two loss. She had a wonderful performance in round one and can certainly take it up to the Ranges midfield. It will be interesting to see her and Gemma Lagioia go head-to-head against Eastern’s Mikala Cann and Sarah Kendall. Cann has been tearing it up with her explosive speed while Kendall has shown poise through the middle of the ground in her first two outings of the season.

Plenty of attention will be given to AFL Draft Central Player of the Week, Georgia Macpherson, who marked everything that came her way last week. Players would simply avoid kicking it in her vicinity, which is something that Oakleigh will definitely take into consideration this week.