Sydney Swans v GWS Giants
1.40pm (EST), Saturday, April 9
SCG
• WATCH the match live at AFLcommunity.com.au
* LISTEN to the live call at afl.com.au/womens or via the headphones icon on the AFL Live app
IF YOU think air travel can affect local players, spare a thought for two hopefuls lining up in Saturday’s AFL women’s exhibition match in Sydney.
Americans Kim Hemenway and Katie Klatt arrived in Sydney on Thursday after a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles.
The duo, who paid their own way to attend the AFL’s talent search testing in February, will line up in opposing teams when the Sydney Swans face the GWS Giants at the SCG as a curtain-raiser to the AFL game between the two clubs.
Women to kick off 2017 with short season
Hemenway (Swans) and Klatt (Giants) will join members of the NSW women’s academy in the teams, with players hoping to earn selection for the NSW squad that takes on South Australia on June 5 at Adelaide Oval.
Hemenway plays for the New York Magpies and Klatt for the Sacramento Suns in the USAFL competition. But Saturday’s game will be a genuine test for the two, who have set their sights on playing in the inaugural AFL women’s competition in 2017.
Also hoping to take their first steps towards being drafted later this year are football newcomers Casey Samuels and Monique Hollick, who will line up for the Swans.
Samuels, an elite basketballer and former member of Sydney Uni Flames (WNBL), and Hollick, a well-credentialed runner and former boundary umpire, earned selection in the NSW academy squad after impressive testing results at the Sydney talent search.
Although many eyes will be on that quartet, they will also be drawn to Maddie Collier. The star on-baller was the hard-luck story of the women’s exhibition series last year after breaking her ankle two days before she was due to debut for the Western Bulldogs.
“It was devastating at the time (but) I’ve had a taste of it and I’m craving another opportunity,” Collier said.
Collier, who will play for the Swans, tipped elite runner Nicola Barr and Bec Beeson (Swans) and Jodie Hicks (Giants) as others to watch.
Saturday’s game at the SCG starts at 1.40pm (EST).
Log on to AFL.com.au/womens for a live audio broadcast or to AFLcommunity.com.au for a link to a live video stream.
OTHER WOMEN’S MATCHES THIS WEEKEND
West Coast v Fremantle
3.05pm (WST), Saturday, April 9
Domain Stadium
Northern Territory v Tasmania
12.10pm (EST), Sunday, April 10
Peanut Reserve, St Kilda
