- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Calder Cannons<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Northern Knights<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday, April 9
Highgate Recreation Reserve @ 9:30am<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LAST SEASON:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both the Calder Cannons and Northern Knights made the respective Vic Metro conference finals after top eight finishes. They came up against the clear two standouts in the season first-up though in Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges, and bowed out in the first week. Still, both sides showed plenty of talent with promising players over the next couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHO’S MISSING?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Due to the AFLW Academy against Under 23s All-Star match, the Northern Knights will be minus Zoe Hargreaves<\/a>, while Calder Cannons will be without Kyla Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Calder Cannons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Forbes’ absence, the top-ager to watch is the tenacious Maddison Albrecht<\/a>. She attacks it hard, covers ground so well ad can play in a multitude of positions. An improving player who is only small but has great potential. Ava Gerada<\/a> is a top-ager highly touted by coaches and will lineup in defence, while Stephanie Mitchell<\/a> had her moments throughout 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dual double bottom-agers of Chloe Baker-West<\/a> and Jade McLay<\/a> loom as two top-end talents for 2025. The pair are very different players with Baker-West being a gut-running midfielder who can also play up either end and suffers leather poisoning most weeks, while McLay is equally as versatile, with a strong frame and a booming kick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Northern Knights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hargreaves will be a big loss for the Knights as she provides that powerful burst out of the stoppage, but Tahlia Plunkett<\/a> provided some key ball-winning ability last season. Skipper Holly Ridewood<\/a> is one with potential to lead from the front, while marking forward Kira Lemire<\/a> is a player with upside for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bottom-agers from the Knights are building nicely with Marlo Graham<\/a>, Scarlett Johnson<\/a> and Olivia Gorman<\/a> all exciting talents who will build over the next 18 months. Phoebe Hargreaves<\/a> is unavailable for the match, but is right up there in terms of talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PREDICTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A tricky game to predict with both players missing their best top-ager, though with Calder playing at home and with the standout bottom-agers, the Cannons should be a little bit stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Sandringham Dragons<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Eastern Ranges<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday, April 9
RSEA Park @ 1:30pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LAST SEASON:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Eastern Ranges fell a win short of the flag after going down to Oakleigh Chargers in a memorable grand final. They finished minor premiers and had a thrilling win over Sandringham Dragons in confusing circumstances – the scoreboard at Warrawee Park was incorrect indicating a Dragons win – while the Dragons did well enough to charge into the top eight, but just miss out on finals due to the metro and country conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHO’S MISSING?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sandringham Dragons’ talent Sophie McKay<\/a> will be at her father’s spiritual home of Ikon Park tomorrow, while small forward Kera Galaminda Gellar<\/a> will represent the Under 23 All-Stars in the same game. A trio of talented Ranges will also be out due to the game, with AFLW Academy defender Grace Baba<\/a>, and forward-midfielders Georgie Brisbane<\/a> and Grace Belloni<\/a> representing the All-Stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sandringham Dragons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vic Metro hub member Daisy Flockart<\/a> is one to watch for the Dragons, with her class and ability to make things happen wherever she plays, crucial to Sandringham’s transition. She along with co-captain Scout Howden<\/a> are two Dragons looking to put their name up in lights this season, while Judie Goldman<\/a> is another former Under 16s Metro representative in the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olive McLean<\/a> has been earmarked by the coaches as a player to keep an eye on this season, while from a bottom-age perspective, Sienna Sharp<\/a> has promise, while Amy Smith<\/a> will be looking to build on her six games last season where she averaged 9.8 disposals and 2.8 marks per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern Ranges:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ranges have ridiculous depth in their side once again even with a host of players missing. Top-age vice-captains Evie Parker<\/a> and Molly Paterson<\/a> will step up to the plate and provide some run and carry across the ground, while forward Georgia Knight<\/a> is a potent goalkicker. Asher Fearn-Wannan<\/a> is highly touted by coaches and impressed over the preseason, while Stasia Stevenson<\/a> became an important member of the Ranges’ lineup last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to Calder, Eastern has a couple of seriously talented bottom-agers headlining its list with Tayla McMillan<\/a> a standout and ultra-smooth midfielder, while Jordyn Allen<\/a> has huge upside with a nice balanced game sometimes playing a similar role to her Collingwood namesake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PREDICTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Eastern Ranges are right up there in terms of contention once again, with a really deep and talented list across the board and should get the job done. It will be a great test for the Dragons to see where they are at, and how they fair without the top 10 talent in McKay, but will also be a good chance for others to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>- Zoe Hargreaves<\/a><\/div><\/li>Kyla Forbes<\/a><\/div><\/li>Maddison Albrecht<\/a><\/div><\/li>Ava Gerada<\/a><\/div><\/li>Stephanie Mitchell<\/a><\/div><\/li>Chloe Baker-West<\/a><\/div><\/li>Jade McLay<\/a><\/div><\/li>Tahlia Plunkett<\/a><\/div><\/li>Holly Ridewood<\/a><\/div><\/li>Kira Lemire<\/a><\/div><\/li>Marlo Graham<\/a><\/div><\/li>Scarlett Johnson<\/a><\/div><\/li>Olivia Gorman<\/a><\/div><\/li>Phoebe Hargreaves<\/a><\/div><\/li>Sophie McKay<\/a><\/div><\/li>Kera Galaminda Gellar<\/a><\/div><\/li>Grace Baba<\/a><\/div><\/li>Georgie Brisbane<\/a><\/div><\/li>
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>