LEADING Lion Courtney Hodder has been withdrawn less than an hour before Brisbane’s clash with Essendon this afternoon at Windy Hill due to quad soreness.
The 25-year-old Hodder, who is firming towards inaugural All-Australian and club best and fairest honours, has been one of the competition’s most dynamic players in 2025, bringing her impact further afield to add a new dimension to Brisbane’s midfield.
Hodder has been replaced by debutant Claudia Wright in today’s side, with the young Western Australian taken with pick No. 16 at last year’s NAB AFLW Draft.
BOMBERS v LIONS Follow it LIVE
The Lions have won four straight games to improve to a 6-3 record with three rounds remaining, but will also be without last week’s 100-gamer Bre Koenen (injured) as they push towards another top-four finish.
They will be favourites to continue that winning streak, coming up against an Essendon side which has lost six consecutive matches.
Even in the face of some real personnel issues this year, the Bombers have risen to the challenge when facing the best teams, but things fell apart last week the Bulldogs.
Essendon will enter Sunday’s game without sidelined pair Maddi Gay and Maggie MacLachlan, who have been replaced by Sophie Strong and Alexandra Morcom.
Essendon v Brisbane at Windy Hill, 1.05pm AEDT
LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Nil
Brisbane: Courtney Hodder (quad soreness) replaced in selected side by Claudia Wright
Struggling pair Collingwood and Richmond have a chance to add a rare win when they meet at Victoria Park.
The Magpies (2-7) and Tigers (1-8) have endured tough seasons, but get an opportunity to get on the winners list.
MAGPIES v TIGERS Follow it LIVE
While Collingwood has lost four straight matches, the Tigers recorded their first win by upsetting Adelaide in round eight.
Nell Morris-Dalton returns for the Pies in place of Eliza James, while the Tigers have omitted Lauren Brazzale and Maddie Shevlin as Sarah Hosking and Sierra Grieves come in.
The Western Bulldogs have shown huge improvement in the past month and make the trip to Mackay to face Gold Coast on Sunday.
The Bulldogs have won two of their past three games, including thrashing the Bombers last week.
SUNS v BULLDOGS Follow it LIVE
The Suns have won just one game in 2025 to be bottom of the ladder with a 1-8 win-loss record.
The Bulldogs have hit a little sweet spot when it comes to their confidence, winning each of its last two home games by 57 points, but now the challenge is to take that form on the road.
Gold Coast has omitted Ellie Veerhuis as Sienna McMullen comes in for her AFLW debut, while Brooke Barwick is back for the Dogs, replacing the injured Jasmyn Smith.
