{"id":34334,"date":"2018-05-03T19:01:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-03T08:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afldraftcentral.com.au\/?p=34334"},"modified":"2018-05-03T19:01:31","modified_gmt":"2018-05-03T08:01:31","slug":"vfl-womens-2018-season-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2018\/05\/03\/vfl-womens-2018-season-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"VFL Women&#8217;s 2018 season preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">THE new-look VFL Women\u2019s season features 10 new teams in a 13 team competition. The sides feature plenty of elite AFLW, TAC Cup and local talent in what is shaping up to be a fascinating season of the state league. We have looked at each side\u2019s players in the lead-up to the season\u2019s commencement on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Carlton Blues <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Carlton Blues have one of the most exciting TAC Cup Girls players joining their new team in 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gippsland Power co-captain and gun midfielder, <\/span><b>Tyla Hanks <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will pull on the navy blue to test her skills against some bigger bodies. Hanks has been named in the best players in each game she has played for the Power this season and is a member of the AFLW Academy. Hanks will be joined by fellow AFLW Academy member, <\/span><b>Rene Caris. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caris has been a solid force in the ruck for the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels this season and has been awarded with a navy blue jumper. Oakleigh\u2019s <\/span><b>Isabella Gietzmann <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will also suit up for the Blues this season. Gietzmann plays cricket as well as footy and could be a potent player for Carlton. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Blues have also secured the services of their AFLW players including 2017 AFLW leading goal-kicker, <b>Darcy Vescio, <\/b>2018 club best and fairest, <b>Breann Moody, <\/b>2017 TAC Cup Girls best and fairest, <b>Bridie Kennedy, <\/b>2018 Carlton captain, <b>Sarah Hosking <\/b>and 2017 Carlton captain, <b>Lauren Arnell.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Casey Demons <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Casey Demons have combined Melbourne stars with Dandenong guns in their inaugural VFL Women&#8217;s side.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coach and former Melbourne defender,\u00a0<strong>Colin Garland<\/strong>\u00a0will be able to work with plenty of AFLW talent, including <\/span><b>Aliesha Newman, Bianca Jakobsson, Kate Hore, Katherine Smith <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Shelley Scott. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two well-known former TAC Cup Girls players will also join the Melbourne brigade, with <\/span><b>Eden Zanker <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Darcy Guttridge <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">donning the red and blue in this VFL Women\u2019s season. Zanker hails from the Bendigo Pioneers and starred in her late appearances for the Demons in the AFLW. Guttridge on the other hand is a former Gippsland Power player who suited up for the Pies in the AFLW season, and will now get an opportunity to combine her skills with a new group of players in the VFL Women\u2019s season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In terms of TAC Cup players, the Demons have gone with two talented Dandenong Stingrays to fill their side. Captain, <\/span><b>Jordyn Allen <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a key acquisition for the club, as she is a talented defender who oozes composure and class. She will be joined by forward, <\/span><b>Brooke Struylaart, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who knows how to find the goals and provides plenty of assists along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Collingwood Magpies <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collingwood\u2019s VFL Women\u2019s coach is a pioneer in female football. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Penny Cula-Reid <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was instrumental in getting the Youth Girls competition up and running. After being told at the age of 14 that she could not play football with the boys anymore, she took the case to the Victorian and Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and AFL Victoria created the competition for the young female footballers. Although Cula-Reid only played two games for Collingwood, she played in excess of 150 games at the St Kilda Sharks VFL Women\u2019s club and has a brilliant footy mind. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collingwood will have a very strong line-up with plenty of its AFLW players joining the Magpie brigade in the VFL Women\u2019s season. 2018 Collingwood best and fairest, <\/span><b>Chloe Molloy <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will be joined by AFLW captain, <\/span><b>Stephanie Chiocci, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">former Calder Cannon, <\/span><b>Sarah Dargan, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and plenty more. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The club also has a strong connection to TAC Cup Girls club, Oakleigh Chargers, signing three players for its inaugural VFL Women\u2019s campaign. Oakleigh captain, <\/span><b>Hannah McLaren <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is the most notable of the signings. McLaren has been one of the Chargers\u2019 most important players this year, demonstrating her versatility in the side\u2019s line-up. Other Oakleigh signings include former players,\u00a0<\/span><b>Julia Halaseh-Russo <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Sarah Cameron, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who will be players to watch throughout the VFL Women\u2019s season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Darebin Falcons <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Darebin Falcons are the most successful VFL Women\u2019s side, having won five consecutive premierships. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Falcons have lost Melbourne AFLW captain, <\/span><b>Daisy Pearce, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who will take a year off from VFL Women\u2019s. However, they have plenty of players from local roots, with all but three coming from Darebin. These include AFLW players, <\/span><b>Karen Paxman, Elise O\u2019Dea, Lauren Pearce <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Maddy Guerin. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that\u2019s just from Melbourne. The Falcons will also have the services of Greater Western Sydney star, <\/span><b>Jessica Dal Pos, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as well as <\/span><b>Aasta O\u2019Connor <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Nicole Callinan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the Western Bulldogs. Perhaps the most notable signing is Ainslie&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><b>Hannah Mouncey. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The transgender footballer was ineligible for the 2017 AFLW draft, but will be keen to play some good football for Darebin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darebin has also recruited the services of three TAC Cup Girls stars. Northern Knights forward, <\/span><b>Alex Pronesti <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will pull on the Falcons jumper this year, after kicking nine goals for the undefeated Knights so far. She will be joined by teammate, <\/span><b>Marnie Jarvis, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who has been a valuable player for the Knights with her agility and speed around the contest. Eastern Ranges defender, <\/span><b>Lauren Szigeti <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also has the opportunity to pull on the Darebin jumper in the VFL Women\u2019s season. Szigeti has been a solid asset in defence for the Ranges, and could have the same impact for the Falcons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Essendon Bombers <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Essendon Bombers have recruited a number of Calder Cannons and Diamond Creek players to join the newly-formed VFL Women\u2019s side. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current Calder players, <\/span><b>Carla Rendelmann <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Molly Warburton <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have earned a spot on the Bombers\u2019 list this year. Rendelmann is a dominant force in the ruck and has represented Vic Metro while Warburton is a hard-working defender who boasts a place in the AFLW Academy squad. Premiership Cannons captain, <\/span><b>Lauren Caruso <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also has an opportunity to pull on the footy boots again after not playing as an over-ager in the TAC Cup Girls this season. Caruso was a fantastic on-field leader in the midfield and 2018 is likely not to be any different. The Calder trio will be joined by another solid ruck presence in <\/span><b>Bridie Winbanks <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the Oakleigh Chargers. In the upcoming VFL Women\u2019s season, Winbanks will have an opportunity to go head-to-head against Chargers teammate, Hannah McLaren, who will play for Collingwood. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bombers have also poached 17 (14 VFL Women\u2019s players and three development players) Diamond Creek players, including the face of their AFLW bid, <\/span><b>Michaela Long, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who is the daughter of Essendon legend, <\/span><b>Michael Long<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Essendon has also recruited some local talent, including <\/span><b>Natasha Hardy,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who hails from the Sunbury Lions in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL). Hardy is a fantastic on-field leader and adds a mature presence in the Bombers\u2019 VFL Women\u2019s line-up. She will be joined by another experienced player in GWS defender, <\/span><b>Tanya Hetherington<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who often matched up on the damaging key forwards in the AFLW this year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Geelong Cats <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Geelong Cats boast a number of AFLW players as well as some TAC Cup talent, but not who you may think. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GWV Female Talent Manager, <\/span><b>Krista Woodroffe <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will line up for the cats in 2018, having an opportunity to do battle against Rebels ruck, Rene Caris<\/span><b>, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who will don the navy blue in the VFL Women\u2019s competition. She will be joined by GWV defender, <\/span><b>Georgia Clarke, <\/b>who has been fantastic in the Rebels backline this season<b>.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geelong\u2019s <\/span><b>Mia-Rae Clifford <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will be another player who will be involved in an intriguing battle. Clifford, who is a former Melbourne AFLW player will play against the side that her partner, Penny Cula-Reid coaches, in the Collingwood Magpies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking of Melbourne, Geelong boasts two current AFLW Demons players on its VFL Women\u2019s list. Powerful forward, <\/span><b>Richelle Cranston <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and agile ruck, <\/span><b>Erin Hoare <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will line up for the Cats in 2018. Hoare, who is a former Melbourne Vixen, got the opportunity to play AFLW this year for the Demons after being a rising star for the Cats last year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Hawthorn Hawks<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hawthorn boasts a very experienced VFL Women\u2019s list, with a host of AFLW players donning the brown and gold for the upcoming season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently retired Pie, <\/span><b>Meg Hutchins <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was one of the club\u2019s first signings, and will provide a level head in defence. The forward line on the other hand, will be explosive with Adelaide\u2019s <\/span><b>Sarah Perkins <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and Greater Western Sydney\u2019s (GWS) <\/span><b>Phoebe McWilliams <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">headlining the Hawks forward 50 line-up. Perkins was named as an AFLW All-Australian forward in 2017 while McWilliams was the Giants\u2019 leading goal-kicker in 2018. Perkins grew up in Waverley and was a Hawthorn supporter growing up. The club also welcomes back Collingwood AFLW mid\/ forward, <\/span><b>Melissa Kuys, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who captained Box Hill in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is also no shortage of TAC Cup talent, with 2017 TAC Cup Girls Team of the Year member, <\/span><b>Olivia Flanagan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suiting up for the Hawks. Flanagan played for Box Hill last year and was also a key cog in the forward line for the Eastern Ranges. She will be joined by current Eastern Ranges players, <\/span><b>Emerson Woods, Georgia Macpherson,\u00a0<\/b><b>Mikala Cann<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Sarah Kendall<\/strong><b>. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Woods is the co-captain of the Ranges side this year and is a member of the AFLW Academy. Macpherson is also a member of the Academy, and has been a key cog in Eastern\u2019s defence this year with one some of the best hands in the TAC Cup Girls competition. Cann is a basketballer, and has showed her immense speed in the midfield this year for Eastern. Kendall has been dominant in the ruck and can also play a sweeping role in defence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Melbourne University<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is plenty of TAC Cup Girls talent in the Melbourne University lineup this year, including one Calder Cannon who has been tearing up the competition so far. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calder captain\u00a0<\/span><b>Madison Prespakis <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will have the opportunity to play VFL Women\u2019s for the first time this year, and could be a key cog in the Melbourne University midfield. She will be joined by fellow AFLW Academy member, <\/span><b>Rebecca Webster, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who has been a versatile player across the midfield and in defence for the Murray Bushrangers this year. Up forward, Western Jet\u00a0<\/span><b>Caitlin Greiser <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will have an opportunity to continue her solid goal-kicking form into the VFL Women\u2019s competition, after kicking eight goals for the Jets so far this season. Former Bendigo Pioneer, <\/span><b>Aisling Tupper <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will be one to keep an eye out for, as the small and powerful midfielder starred for the Pioneers last season. Sandringham\u2019s <\/span><b>Alanna Dalley <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Nicole Amiet <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">round out the elite list of TAC Cup Girls players in the Melbourne University side. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As far as AFLW players go, Melbourne University only has one. But it is the best of the lot, as 2018 AFLW best and fairest, <\/span><b>Emma Kearney <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will suit up for Melbourne University this season. After dominating in the midfield for the Bulldogs in 2018, Kearney will be a North Melbourne player in 2019, as the club prepares to enter AFLW for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Northern Territory Thunder <\/b><b><br \/><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Northern Territory (NT) Thunder unsurprisingly has a number of Adelaide AFLW players in its VFL Women\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The club has a strong connection to the Crows, and could be a surprise package in the VFL Women\u2019s competition. This is because the club has acquired the services of Adelaide co-captain, <\/span><b>Chelsea Randall, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adelaide United\u2019s <\/span><b>Jenna McCormick, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leading ruck, <\/span><b>Rhiannon Metcalfe <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and exciting forward, <\/span><b>Ruth Wallace. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defenders, <\/span><b>Marijana Rajcic, Deni Vernhagen, Jasmyn Hewett <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Angela Foley <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are among the other notable inclusions for the side. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Thunder outfit also features two GWS players in <\/span><b>Renee Forth <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Emma Swanson. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forth was a solid presence for the Giants in the AFLW season, and is a mentor in the AFLW Academy program. Swanson is the GWS vice-captain and was a fantastic on-field leader for the side in 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Richmond Tigers <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richmond have poached some Collingwood AFLW players ahead of its first season in the VFL Women\u2019s competition. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Emma King, Lauren Tesoriero <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Amelia Barden <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will swap the black and white for yellow and black, as they prepare to suit up as Tigers for the 2018 VFL Women\u2019s season. All three players were key contributors to Collingwood\u2019s AFLW outfit, with King dominating in the ruck, Barden having some nice moments in the forward line while Tesoriero was a lively player around the ground. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tigers have also acquired two Murray Bushrangers, <\/span><b>Grace Egan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Sophie Damon. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Egan has been a star in defence for the Bushrangers this season, and has also proven her versatility through stints in the midfield. Damon has been solid in the ruck for Murray and has been one of the most valuable players for the side in the TAC Cup Girls season. Eastern Ranges\u2019 <\/span><b>Jess Provan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will also pull on a yellow and black jumper this season, after formerly playing at Diamond Creek. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Southern Saints <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Southern Saints are one of the new sides in the VFL Women\u2019s competition, and have a diverse line-up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The line-up will feature two Sandringham Dragons stars in <\/span><b>Eleanor Brown <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Jemma Owen. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brown has been a key cog in the midfield and has produced plenty of fantastic performances throughout the TAC Cup Girls season. Owen, who is the Dragons captain, has been leading from the front, as she has been dominant in the midfield and has even found herself up forward a couple of times, proving her versatility. Dandenong midfielder, <\/span><b>Shelley Heath <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also joins the Saints side, and may have an opportunity to match up against TAC Cup Girls teammates, Jordyn Allen and Brooke Struylaart, who will suit up for Casey this season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the Saints have no AFLW players, they have a combination of players from Cranbourne, Seaford, and Mornington, recruiting local talent to boost their side\u2019s chances in 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Western Bulldogs <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Western Bulldogs have a host of AFLW premiership players in their VFL Women\u2019s side. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Players include 2018 leading goal-kicker, <\/span><b>Brooke Lochland, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">captain, <\/span><b>Katie Brennan, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and Rising Star nominees, <\/span><b>Monique Conti, Aisling Utri <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>Bonnie Toogood. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Star midfielder, <\/span><b>Ellie Blackburn <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has also joined the side after making the move from Melbourne University. The club has also acquired the services of <\/span><b>Bree White, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who retired from AFLW in 2018 after playing for the Pies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three TAC Cup Girls players will also feature for the Bulldogs\u2019 VFL Women\u2019s outfit. GWV Rebels captain, <\/span><b>Lauren Butler <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has been a wonderful leader for the Rebels this season, after making solid contributions in the midfield. Also joining the Bulldogs is Western Jets,\u00a0<\/span><b>Lauren Basto <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and\u00a0<\/span><b>Katarina Rebuffo. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rebuffo has been a key cog in defence for the Jets and will look to continue her form into the VFL Women\u2019s season. Basto played for the Jets last season and would be keen to make an impact at the Bulldogs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Williamstown Seagulls <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Williamstown has an even mix of local, AFLW and TAC Cup talent in its inaugural VFL Women\u2019s side. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bendigo captain\u00a0<\/span><b>Megan Williamson <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will play for the Seagulls this year, after being a shining light for the Pioneers in the midfield this season. She will be joined by AFLW Academy forward, <\/span><b>Sophie Van De Heuvel. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Van De Heuvel has kicked five goals in five games for the GWV Rebels this season, and has been a key link in the chain in the Rebels forward line. Western Jets defender, <\/span><b>Sharnie Whiting <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will also have the opportunity to stay close to home, after doing a wonderful job in the Jets\u2019 backline during the TAC Cup Girls season. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Seagulls have one of the leading AFLW defenders lining up for their side this year. Collingwood\u2019s <\/span><b>Jess Duffin <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was dominant in the back line, and was able to show composure and class at all times. She will be joined by teammate, <\/span><b>Jasmine Garner, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who revolutionised her game through moving from the forward line to the back line. Garner showed that she can dominate in both roles, which is a dangerous prospect in the VFL Women\u2019s competition. Bulldogs premiership player, <\/span><b>Jenna Bruton <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rounds out the AFLW players who are featuring in the Seagulls outfit. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE new-look VFL Women\u2019s season features 10 new teams in a 13 team competition. The sides feature plenty of elite AFLW, TAC Cup and local talent in what is shaping up to be a fascinating season of the state league. We have looked at each side\u2019s players in the lead-up to the season\u2019s commencement on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":33851,"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":[8,3121,137],"tags":[3021,2107,3088,3461,3436,3135,3048,4654,39,3018,3090,3237,3403,2100,3318,3087,4646,4652,47,3761,523,4604,3045,141,4605,4647,3014,43,2106,3004,3079,46,2596,3310,3060,3020,3277,3022,3058,3283,3072,4617,784,3345,3415,3397,44,3300,4650,4622,3301,3044,2949,3306,3187,3229,3179,3168,3385,2105,3037,3800,3066,3245,3019,3346,3272,4344,3344,3727,3185,3118,158,3225,3759,3221,3476,4651,3057,4621,4619,4618,3278,3287,140,50,3460,4653,4623,4610,3035,3352,3348,3069,3029,3034,1576,3080,3478,4649,4648,3033,3441,3366,3427,3062,3502,3392,3032,2801,3257,4599,2802,4645,1922,41,4655],"class_list":["post-34334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-vflw","category-womens","tag-aasta-oconnor","tag-aisling-tupper","tag-aisling-utri","tag-alanna-dalley","tag-alex-pronesti","tag-aliesha-newman","tag-amelia-barden","tag-anglea-foley","tag-bendigo-pioneers","tag-bianca-jakobsson","tag-bonnie-toogood","tag-breann-moody","tag-bree-white","tag-bridie-kennedy","tag-bridie-winbanks","tag-brooke-lochland","tag-brooke-stuylaart","tag-cailtin-greiser","tag-calder-cannons","tag-carla-rendelmann","tag-carlton-blues","tag-casey-demons","tag-chelsea-randall","tag-chloe-molloy","tag-colin-garland","tag-collingwood-magpies","tag-daisy-pearce","tag-dandenong-stingrays","tag-darcy-guttridge","tag-darcy-vescio","tag-deni-vernhagen","tag-eastern-ranges","tag-eden-zanker","tag-eleanor-brown","tag-elise-odea","tag-ellie-blackburn","tag-emerson-woods","tag-emma-kearney","tag-emma-king","tag-emma-swanson","tag-erin-hoare","tag-essendon-bombers","tag-geelong-cats","tag-georgia-clarke","tag-georgia-macpherson","tag-grace-egan","tag-gwv-rebels","tag-hannah-mclaren","tag-hannah-mouncey","tag-hawthorn-hawks","tag-isabella-gietzmann","tag-jasmine-garner","tag-jasmyn-hewett","tag-jemma-owen","tag-jenna-bruton","tag-jenna-mccormick","tag-jess-duffin","tag-jessica-dal-pos","tag-jordyn-allen","tag-julia-halaseh-russo","tag-karen-paxman","tag-katarina-rebuffo","tag-kate-hore","tag-katherine-smith","tag-katie-brennan","tag-krista-woodroffe","tag-lauren-arnell","tag-lauren-basto","tag-lauren-butler","tag-lauren-szigeti","tag-lauren-tesoriero","tag-maddy-guerin","tag-madison-prespakis","tag-marijana-rajcic","tag-marnie-jarvis","tag-meg-hutchins","tag-megan-williamson","tag-melbourne-university","tag-melissa-kuys","tag-mia-rae-clifford","tag-michael-long","tag-michaela-long","tag-mikala-cann","tag-molly-warburton","tag-monique-conti","tag-murray-bushrangers","tag-nicole-amiet","tag-northern-territory-thunder","tag-olivia-flanagan","tag-penny-cula-reid","tag-phoebe-mcwilliams","tag-rebecca-webster","tag-rene-caris","tag-renee-forth","tag-rhiannon-metcalfe","tag-richelle-cranston","tag-richmond-tigers","tag-ruth-wallace","tag-sandringam-dragons","tag-sarah-cameron-darebin-falcons","tag-sarah-darhan","tag-sarah-hosking","tag-sarah-kendall","tag-sharnie-whiting","tag-shelley-heath","tag-shelley-scott","tag-sophie-damon","tag-sophie-van-de-heuvel","tag-stephanie-chiocci","tag-tanya-hetherington","tag-tyla-hanks","tag-vfl-womens","tag-vflw","tag-vflw-season-preview","tag-western-bulldogs","tag-western-jets","tag-williamstown-seagulls"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34334","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\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}