Northern Territory v Tasmania
12.10pm, Sunday, April 10
Peanut Reserve, St Kilda
• 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
A FIT and fresh Tasmania against the match-hardened Northern Territory - it will be intriguing to see which of these contrasting preparations proves decisive in Sunday's AFL women's exhibition series match at St Kilda’s Peanut Reserve.
The Tassie girls admit they are underdone, going in against the Territory players who recently finished their summer competition and therefore will be better primed.
Women to kick off 2017 with short season
"We're at opposite ends of our seasons, so it will be interesting to see how it pans out,'' Tasmania’s co-captain Zoie Crawford said.
"Obviously, they're going to be more match-fit and probably a bit more drilled than what we are. But we're coming in fresh and fully fit and they'll be coming off celebrations and with a few injuries.
“Our season hasn't started yet. We had one practice match at club level and one-and-a-half games with the (Tasmanian) academy squad,” she said.
Crawford, who has stepped up from vice-captain last season, said the Tasmanian squad has benefitted from the AFL academy hubs in key regions across the Apple Isle; Hobart to the south, Launceston to the north and Burnie for players in the north-west.
"(That arrangement) is what we've been lacking. The off-season training, being able to develop some of the younger girls and fine-tuning the skills of some of the other girls has been really beneficial,'' the skipper said.
"Most of the squad is from last year's team, so the majority of us have played together before. We've also got some new girls who have come out of the academy.
“We've been training together, so we've had a bit of time to get to know each other.”
Tasmania will rely on leaders like Crawford, a run-and-rebound midfielder who bases her game on her St Kilda role model David Armitage, winger-midfielder Emma Humphries, who played with the Western Bulldogs last year, and key forward Elyse Gamble.
Tasmanian players will be aligned with the NSW team for the AFL's eight-club women's league next season. Crawford said everyone was aware Sunday's game provided players with a key opportunity to perform for recruiting scouts.
“Playing in the new league is something we all aspire to. You wouldn't play if you didn't want to further your career. I need to work hard – I haven't got that natural talent that some of the other girls do,'' Crawford said.
"Some of the more experienced girls are really excited about it because they've been in the system and have every chance of being picked up. And we have younger girls who are raw, but have genuine talent as well.''
Sunday's game at St Kilda's Peanut Reserve starts at 12.10pm (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
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants
1.40pm (EST), Saturday, April 9
SCG
West Coast v Fremantle
3.05pm (WST), Saturday, April 9
Domain Stadium
