{"id":187256,"date":"2025-04-18T07:50:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=187256"},"modified":"2025-04-18T07:50:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:50:32","slug":"2025-vflw-roos-and-blues-open-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/04\/18\/2025-vflw-roos-and-blues-open-season\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 VFLW | Roos and Blues open season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>REIGNING VFL Women&#8217;s premier, newly named North Melbourne-Werribee plays host to Carlton in the 2025 season opener with an early 9:15am start this morning. We take a look at those two teams with the rest of the sides coming tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div class=\"t7_match_result match-result-comparison rmc-block is-match-preview\">\n<div class='match-result_legend'><ul><li>Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class='match-result_team'><ul><li class='column-head'><h5 class='heading title h5'>North Melbourne VFLW<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/north-150x150.png' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class='match-result_team'><ul><li class='column-head'><h5 class='heading title h5'>Carlton VFLW<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/carlton-150x150.png' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>LAST SEASON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North Melbourne came from fourth to win the premiership, defeating the Western Bulldogs in the 2024 VFLW Grand Final. Carlton on the other hand won just five of 14 matches to finish 10th overall, or ninth of the full-time VFLW teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE<\/strong><br><strong>B:<\/strong>&nbsp;N. Hales (30), T. Boyd (17)<br><strong>HB:<\/strong>&nbsp;E. Jackson (19), C. Ugle (1), C. Fletcher (27)<br><strong>C:<\/strong>&nbsp;S. Reid (6), R. Tierney (23), M. Zander (10)<br><strong>HF:<\/strong>&nbsp;B. Deed (15), N. Dojiok (40), T. Meier (2)<br><strong>F:<\/strong>&nbsp;Z. Flanigan (16), Z. Savarirayan (35)<br><strong>R:<\/strong>&nbsp;K. Reynolds (44), A. Barba (11), M. Di Cosmo (12)<br><strong>INT:<\/strong>&nbsp;T. Ortlepp (34), C. Blair (26), C. Ryan (5), R. Sutton (4), G. Lawson-Tavan (32)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CARLTON<br>B:<\/strong>&nbsp;E. Horne (68), O. Di Donato (51)<br><strong>HB:<\/strong>&nbsp;L. Field (33), N. von Bertouch (52), A. Velardo (1)<br><strong>C:<\/strong>&nbsp;A. Trindade (62), B. Vickers (24), H. Bowey (64)<br><strong>HF:<\/strong>&nbsp;E. Lee (57), S. McCarthy (54), T. Plunkett (69)<br><strong>F:<\/strong>&nbsp;L. Keck (23), L. Burke (74)<br><strong>R:<\/strong>&nbsp;G. Matser (58), S. Demeo (66), E. Fitzpatrick (19)<br><strong>INT:<\/strong>&nbsp;S. Pearce (71), J. Jackson (63), H. Scott (79), M. Fitzgerald (80), S. Howden (70)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NEW FACES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North Melbourne-Werribee brings in some important AFLW talent to stock up on its already successful side with ex-Pie <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"64824\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/charlotte-blair\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Charlotte Blair<\/a>, ex-Tiger <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"47275\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/stella-reid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stella Reid<\/a> and ex-Blues <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"115069\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/taylor-ortlepp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taylor Ortlepp<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"51627\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/gena-lawson-tavan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gena Lawson-Tavan<\/a> who face their former side for the first time. On top of that, Hawthorn ball-winner <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"47590\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/bridget-deed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bridget Deed<\/a>, experienced campaigner <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"43058\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/tessa-boyd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tessa Boyd<\/a> and ex-Bomber then most recent Dog, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"50240\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/courtney-ugle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Courtney Ugle<\/a>. Watch for <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"175289\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/caitlin-fletcher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Caitlin Fletcher<\/a> who has been a star at AFL Sydney level too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the Roos have not included any of their AFLW Draft prospects from last season, Carlton has unleashed defender and Western Jets premiership player <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"76202\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lou-lou-field\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lou-Lou Field<\/a> named at half-back. Fellow newcomers <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"101930\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/scout-howden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scout Howden<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons), <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"97437\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/tahlia-plunkett\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tahlia Plunkett<\/a> (Northern Knights) and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"97460\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/sasha-pearce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sasha Pearce<\/a> (Bendigo Pioneers) have come out of the Coates Talent League. From an AFLW perspective, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"78687\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lucy-burke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lucy Burke<\/a> has made the switch to the Blues to face her former team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PREDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is hard to go past the reigning premiers in this one. They have a lot of new faces &#8211; 10 in total &#8211; but still have the quality required to contend. If they can take control in the midfield where they have lots of strength, then it will be hard to stop.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/charlotte-blair\/\">Charlotte Blair<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/stella-reid\/\">Stella Reid<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/taylor-ortlepp\/\">Taylor Ortlepp<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/gena-lawson-tavan\/\">Gena Lawson-Tavan<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/bridget-deed\/\">Bridget Deed<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/tessa-boyd\/\">Tessa Boyd<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/courtney-ugle\/\">Courtney Ugle<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/caitlin-fletcher\/\">Caitlin Fletcher<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lou-lou-field\/\">Lou-Lou Field<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/scout-howden\/\">Scout Howden<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/tahlia-plunkett\/\">Tahlia Plunkett<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/sasha-pearce\/\">Sasha Pearce<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lucy-burke\/\">Lucy Burke<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_e\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/event\/north-melbourne-vflw-vs-carlton-vflw-4\/\">North Melbourne VFLW vs Carlton VFLW<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>REIGNING VFL Women&#8217;s premier, newly named North Melbourne-Werribee plays host to Carlton in the 2025 season opener with an early 9:15am start this morning. We take a look at those two teams with the rest of the sides coming tonight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":180999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22132,18232,22138,15,3121,3134],"tags":[6932,20648,16172,4883,15642,18489,17667,22541,20302,20429,10871,20416,21919,7274],"class_list":["post-187256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carlton-vflw","category-match-preview","category-north-melbourne-vflw","category-state-leagues","category-vflw","category-victoria","tag-bridget-deed","tag-caitlin-fletcher","tag-charlotte-blair","tag-courtney-ugle","tag-gena-lawson-tavan","tag-lou-lou-field","tag-lucy-burke","tag-north-melbourne-vflw-vs-carlton-vflw","tag-sasha-pearce","tag-scout-howden","tag-stella-reid","tag-tahlia-plunkett","tag-taylor-ortlepp","tag-tessa-boyd"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187256"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":187283,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187256\/revisions\/187283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/180999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}