The rebel VFL teams for Round 5.
Reigning premier North Melbourne-Werribee has named an unchanged line-up as it aims to repeat its epic 2024 rebel VFLW Grand Final victory over the Western Bulldogs at Arden Street Oval on Saturday.
The Bulldogs have made two changes to the team that thrashed Casey Demons last week, with Imogen Milford and recruit Ruby Benham coming in for AFLW-listed pair Brit Gutknecht and Cleo Buttifant.
Amazingly just five weeks into the new season each team will only field 10 players who ran onto ETU Stadium last July, with three premiership Roos and two Bulldogs Grand Final members named as emergencies, while Courtney Ugle has crossed the divide after playing for the Bulldogs that day.
The 10 premiership players backing up for the Kangaroos are Lisa Hardeman medallist Nyakoat Dojiok, Alana Barba, Maddie Di Cosmo, Zara Flanigan, Nic Hales, Elisabeth Jackson, Amanda Ling, Tahlia Meier, Kate Reynolds and Renee Tierney.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be again represented by Stephanie Asciak, Ellie Bishop, Tamsin Crook, Keeley Hardingham, Jorja Livingston, Mali McLeod, Imogen Milford, Renee Saulitis, Trinity Skenderis and Jaimi Tabb.
Port Melbourne star Kaitlyn O’Keefe will play her 50th VFLW game when the Borough meets Geelong at ETU Stadium on Saturday. O’Keefe has played her entire career with the Borough and kicked 20 goals since graduating from the Western Jets.
Fellow premiership player Maggie McKellar is back in the team for the first time this year after a foot injury, while mature-aged Caulfield Grammarians forward Sarah Kenny makes her debut after kicking 10 goals in four VAFAW games this year and 27 last year.
Geelong have included Zoe Larkins and Ruby Dale but lost Seisia White to a minor back injury as it tries to break an 11-match losing streak.
Sandringham recruit Eleri Morris has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing her achilles last week.
She goes out of the team alongside fellow former AFLW player Zoe Barbakos, who will miss with a back injury, and rested youngster Lily Skinner, with Mornington teenager Makhaela Bloom and Giants Academy recruit Ash Patton to debut alongside the returns of Jordan Membrey and Zahlia Clarke.
Williamstown unveils signing Krystal Russell, welcomes back star midfielder Ash Thorneycroft and recalls rookie Zara Guss as it attempts to end Sandringham’s unbeaten start to the season.
Collingwood and Box Hill Hawks have each suffered significant blows ahead of their match at Victoria Park on Saturday.
Key Magpie Jordan Ivey has been ruled out for at least a month with an ankle injury and in-form running machine Lily-Rose Williamson will miss with an ankle problem while Hawks’ recruit Bec Neaves could miss a month with a finger issue, putting on hold her push towards her 100-game milestone.
Both clubs will field debutants, with Old Brighton’s Sienna Courtney to play her first game for Collingwood and Tasmanian teenager Natasha Furjanic making her bow for Box Hill.
Experienced Casey Demon Ally Kirkwood and ruck Lauren Jatczak will return among four changes for the home game against Essendon on Saturday, with Gemma Proy and Olivia Morris also in. However, 2023 best-and-fairest Shree Fairchild (ankle) could miss two weeks and rookie Nat Banjavcic-Mills is awaiting the verdict on a knee injury.
The Bombers have lost Christina Bernardi, Scarlett Orritt and Sienna Hobbs, although all are expected back next week, recalling Lucy Thompson and giving debuts to North Hobart’s Eva Downie and Eaglehawk’s Sam Johnston.
Carlton has named two debutants among three recruits for its home Pride Match against Darebin at IKON Park, unveiling former Geelong player Mia Fuller and giving an opportunity to Montmorency pair Mary Robinson and Kira Lemire after strong form for the Northern Knights.
The Blues have rested AFLW quartet Brooke Vickers, Amelia Velardo, Lila Keck and Maddie Hendrie against an unchanged Falcons team attempting to make it two wins in a row to get back in touch with the top six.
BROADCAST AND STREAMING: All matches in the 2025 rebel VFLW season will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
RADIO: Casey Demons vs Essendon will be broadcast on Casey Radio 97.7FM and caseyradio.com.au.
CARLTON vs DAREBIN FALCONS
Saturday 17 May, 12:35pm, IKON PARK
CARLTON
B: E. Horne (68), M. Fuller (73)
HB: M. Robinson (50), N. von Bertouch (52), S. Demeo (66)
C: A. Trindade (62), D. Di Santo (76), H. Bowey (64)
HF: R. Maslin (25), S. McCarthy (54), K. Lemire (72)
F: T. Plunkett (69), L. Burke (74)
R: G. Matser (58), O. Di Donato (51), H. Scott (29)
INT: M. Fitzgerald (80), J. Jackson (63), S. Damon (59), S. Pearce (71), E. Hurley (61)
EMG: M. Connell (34), T. Bradley (67), E. Lee (57)
IN: M. Fuller, E. Hurley, J. Jackson, K. Lemire, S. Pearce, M. Robinson, N. von Bertouch
OUT: M. Hendrie, L. Keck, A. Velardo, B. Vickers, T. Bradley, M. Connell, E. Lee (omitted)
NEW: Mia Fuller, 20, 164cm, Geelong VFLW; Kira Lemire, 18, 167cm, Montmorency/Northern Knights; Mary Robinson, 18, 175cm, Montmorency/Northern Knights
DAREBIN FALCONS
B: R. Christgoergl (20), L. Beatty (4)
HB: B. Gray (24), C. Ryan (36), C. Kodagoda (15)
C: S. Egan (34), M. De Matteo (52), A. Gogos (1)
HF: N. MacDonald (25), S. Du Parquet (50), E. Cornish (19)
F: C. Cococcia (46), N. Callinan (31), A. Duguid (11)
R: C. Bunker (33), P. Kearney (28)
INT: L. Burgess (3), A. Mifsud (9), L. McLennan (18), B. Daddo (10), S. Simpson (17)
EMG: S. King (43), O. Storer (21), E. Rayment (35), Z. Clubb (60)
No change
Head-to-Head: Level 4-4; At IKON Park: Darebin 3-2; Streak: Darebin 2; Last time: Darebin 5.2 (32) def Carlton 3.5 (23) – Round 14, 2024, IKON Park
COLLINGWOOD vs BOX HILL HAWKS
Saturday 17 May, 2:05pm, Victoria Park
COLLINGWOOD
B: T. Henry (58), L. Leighton (71)
HB: E. McKinnon (43), D. Carbone (45), L. Szigeti (63)
C: C. Brewer (40), K. Lennox (47), C. Jones (53)
HF: S. de Castella (74), T. Sanger (62), Z. McCurdy (70)
F: M. Eastman (57), A. Peck (50)
R: B. Clarke (55), T. Fellows (73), J. Ramsdale (51)
INT: S. Courtney (66), C. Hunt (49), A. Muir (56), M. Lang (76), M. Bourne (75)
EMG: A. Campbell (44), D. Sgarbi (67), T. Christensen (77), M. Jarvis (48)
IN: S. Courtney, K. Lennox, Z. McCurdy
OUT: J. Ivey (ankle), L. Williamson (adductor), M. Jarvis (omitted)
NEW: Sienna Courtney, 23, 178cm, Old Brighton
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: A. Embleton (24), M. Van Berkel (6)
HB: E. McLinden (35), E. Butler (38), R. Murdoch (34)
C: A. Torcasio (30), R. Dillon (7), N. Furjanic (31)
HF: S. Stevenson (5), J. Matin (18), D. Spamer (1)
F: G. Collingwood (10), N. Exon (19)
R: P. Price (27), O. Fogarty (2), I. Baldwin (12)
INT: M. Kendall (17), E. Stilve (22), M. Zielinski (50), A. Cariss-Brett (4), T. Cattle (3)
EMG: M. Bell (39), E. Robins (80), M. Lee (33), P. Pavic (23), H. Griffiths (13), S. Rogers (20), G. Baldwin (36), T. Gray (29)
IN: O. Fogarty, N. Furjanic
OUT: B. Neaves (finger), M. Lee (omitted)
NEW: Natasha Furjanic, 18, 170cm, Clarence/Tasmania Devils
Head-to-Head: Collingwood 5-3; At Victoria Park: Collingwood 2-1; Streak: Box Hill Hawks 1; Last time: Box Hill Hawks 5.7 (37) def Collingwood 0.3 (3) – Round 3, 2024, Box Hill City Oval
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE vs WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday 17 May, 2:05pm, Arden Street Oval
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE
B: N. Hales (30), J. Douglas (13)
HB: E. Jackson (19), C. Ugle (1), T. Ortlepp (34)
C: C. Blair (26), R. Tierney (23), S. Ingram (21)
HF: S. Reid (6), N. Dojiok (40), T. Meier (2)
F: Z. Flanigan (16), Z. Savarirayan (35)
R: K. Reynolds (44), A. Barba (11), M. Di Cosmo (12)
INT: B. Deed (16), A. Ling (24), C. Ryan (5), K. Ternes (25), G. Lawson-Tavan (32)
EMG: R. Sutton (4), G. Nicholas (9), M. Zander (10), B. Slaney (7)
No change
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: T. Crook (30), S. Sansonetti (55)
HB: B. Barwick (12), J. Livingston (40), B. McFarlane (58)
C: E. Bishop (35), S. Asciak (29), D. Carruthers (8)
HF: E. McDonald (17), I. Milford (64), M. McLeod (31)
F: E. Grigg (5), L. Stephenson (21)
R: K. Hardingham (24), J. Tabb (63), J. Fitzgerald (23)
INT: R. Benham (44), T. Skenderis (34), S. Poustie (6), R. Saulitis (56), N. Ferres (16)
EMG: C. McDermott (38), E. Ramsay (46), F. Taylor (48), I. Young (51), A. Klingbeil (53), L. Swain (71)
IN: R. Benham, I. Milford
OUT: B. Gutknecht (managed), C. Buttifant (unavailable)
Head-to-Head: North Melbourne 4-2; At Arden Street Oval: North Melbourne 2-1; Streak: North Melbourne 1; Last time: North Melbourne 10.8 (68) def Western Bulldogs 7.6 (48) – Grand Final, 2024, ETU Stadium
CASEY DEMONS vs ESSENDON
Saturday 17 May, 2:35pm, Casey Fields
CASEY DEMONS
B: D. Madigan (23), K. Phillips (31)
HB: M. Williams (28), J. Pacevski (1), T. Doultree (26)
C: M. Macdonald (18), A. Kirkwood (6), E. Morris (27)
HF: A. Robinson (19), C. Hammans (17), T. Williams (36)
F: Z. Klein (3), A. Vrsecky (24)
R: L. Jatczak (14), T. Burn (4), Z. Mitchell (21)
INT: S. Casey (22), Z. Burn (25), O. Morris (13), G. Proy (32), J. Lin (10)
EMG: I. Markby (7), J. Piperkos (16), E. Cafolla (20)
IN: L. Jatczak, A. Kirkwood, O. Morris, G. Proy
OUT: N. Banjavcic-Mills (knee), S. Fairchild (ankle), I. Lehman, I. Markby (omitted)
ESSENDON
B: G. Azzopardi (67), B. Plummer (57)
HB: M. Robinson (80), E. Chaston (61), M. Ford (42)
C: I. Porter (70), S. Ford (45), A. Melnikas (64)
HF: M. Albrecht (48), T. Davidge (77), J. Richardson (52)
F: S. Molan (73), A. McDonald (53)
R: L. Prince (44), S. Johnston (79), A. Jordan (62)
INT: L. Thompson (74), M. Mifsud (46), E. Downie (50), M. Ibrahim (41), M. Harrison (54)
EMG: M. O'Connell (56), M. Klaumanns-Moller (75), S. McIntosh (78), K. Peake (71), M. Heymanson (66)
IN: E. Downie, S. Johnston, L. Thompson
OUT: S. Hobbs (ankle), S. Orritt (nose), C. Bernardi (personal)
NEW: Eva Downie, 19, 171cm, North Hobart/Tasmania Devils; Sam Johnston, 19, 178cm, Eaglehawk/Bendigo Pioneers
Head-to-Head: Essendon 7-2; At Casey Fields: Essendon 3-0; Streak: Essendon 7; Last time: Essendon 10.7 (67) def Casey Demons 4.2 (26) – Round 8, 2024, Windy Hill
PORT MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS
Saturday 17 May, 4:05pm, ETU Stadium
PORT MELBOURNE
B: L. Davie (6), M. Buchanan (33)
HB: N. Borg (12), M. McKellar (10), C. Anderson (55)
C: L. Hart (30), M. Caffry (9), I. Stutt (29)
HF: C. Bromage (4), K. O'Keefe (18), S. Kenny (62)
F: J. Mifsud (25), L. Wright (19)
R: M. Denahy-Maloney (28), A. Seton (36), L. Caruso (5)
INT: J. Begg (39), G. Foran (14), N. Davidson (34), K. Adams (7), G. Alomes (32)
EMG: M. Ginnivan (2), I. Robson (24), C. McDonald (11)
IN: J. Begg, S. Kenny, M. McKellar
OUT: O. Barton (ankle), R. Slater (injured), G. Booth (unavailable)
NEW: Sarah Kenny, 27, 167cm, Caulfield Grammarians
GEELONG CATS
B: M. Sexton (28), M. Walton (49)
HB: K. Gray (68), F. Qoon (70), E. Cook (80)
C: S. Mahar (40), M. Staunton (39), M. Morrissy (57)
HF: B. Bailey (58), J. Woods (56), B. Pratt (36)
F: S. O'Kane (33), P. Schaap (35)
R: H. Peck (37), Z. Cowan (50), A. Favell (42)
INT: R. Dale (60), Z. Larkins (55), C. Tyrrell (65), J. Fitzgerald (51), L. Jordan (18)
EMG: O. Woods (67), Z. Penno (66)
IN: R. Dale, Z. Larkins
OUT: S. White (back), C. Bryant (omitted)
Head-to-Head: Port Melbourne 3-2; At ETU Stadium: Geelong 1-0; Streak: Port Melbourne 2; Last time: Port Melbourne 7.12 (54) def Geelong 1.1 (7) – Round 13, 2024, Deakin University
SANDRINGHAM vs WILLIAMSTOWN
Sunday 18 May, 9:45am, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval
SANDRINGHAM
B: A. Hynes (16), N. Entwistle (32)
HB: C. Aughtie (31), D. Jolliffe (4), Z. Clarke (37)
C: K. Henry (1), J. Membrey (21), W. Laing (46)
HF: C. Saultry (26), A. Tregellis (12), I. Evans (33)
F: E. Fowler (5), M. Bertuna (13)
R: A. Clarke (19), M. Stobie (43), E. Shepherd (18)
INT: B. Enno (15), M. Bluhm (48), G. Hodder (7), I. Hartog (34), A. Patton (36)
EMG: C. Bailey (17), L. Skinner (40), B. Randall
IN: M. Bluhm, Z. Clarke, J. Membrey, A. Patton
OUT: Z. Barbakos (back), E. Morris (achilles), L. Skinner (managed), C. Bailey (omitted)
NEW: Makhaela Bluhm, 19, Mornington/Dandenong Stingrays
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: A. Thorneycroft (8), L. Blue (47)
HB: C. Bux (20), E. Freeman (33), J. Wrigley (7)
C: I. Barker (16), E. Eaves (6), M. Smart (26)
HF: S. Whiting (25), T. Brett (2), G. De Angelis (12)
F: K. Leare (1), M. Simpson (43)
R: K. Russell (45), M. Williamson (24), Z. Guss (29)
INT: M. D'Agostino (31), B. Gray (44), Z. Day (13), G. Howes (11), N. Crowley (40)
EMG: E. Tyson (21), A. Marino (28), R. Mahony (9), M. Ciaverella (34)
IN: Z. Guss, R. Russell, A. Thorneycroft
OUT: M. Ciaverella, K. Mahony, C. O'Bryan (omitted)
NEW: Krystal Russell, 20, 180cm, Essendon VFLW
Head-to-Head: Sandringham 4-2; At Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Back Oval: Sandringham 3-2; Streak: Williamstown 2; Last time: Williamstown 7.3 (45) def Southern Saints 2.3 (15) – Round 13, 2024, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval
UMPIRES
CARLTON vs DAREBIN FALCONS
FIELD: Elizabeth Curtolo, Jeremy Zhou. BOUNDARY: Jenny Alley, Lucas McIntosh. GOAL: Alex Tomada, Harley Trickey.
COLLINGWOOD vs BOX HILL HAWKS
FIELD: Campbell Hymans, Oliver Pearce. BOUNDARY: Luke Gonis, Tahlia Merrett. GOAL: Ben Geleit, Cohen Shannon.
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE vs WESTERN BULLDOGS
FIELD: Adam Bailes, Ryan Mann. BOUNDARY: Daniel Molino, Jack Stelfox. GOAL: Charlie Lodge, Sam Rogers.
CASEY DEMONS v ESSENDON
FIELD: Gen Devenish, Sam Ritchie, Sophia Tozer. BOUNDARY: Jayden Dunning, Aiden McDonald. GOAL: Jenna Green, Noah Meyers.
PORT MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS
FIELD: Adam Marrow, Aiden Tester. BOUNDARY: Claire Irving, Josh Rofe. GOAL: Cameron Clune, Sam Polden.
SANDRINGHAM vs WILLIAMSTOWN
FIELD: Chris Menara, Josh Stacey, Jye Stannage. BOUNDARY: Ryan Bell, Nat De Lorenzo, Flynn Pallott. GOAL: Zak Kenny, Tim Wood.
