ESSENDON’s bid to continue its dominant start to the season has suffered a blow with co-captain and the rebel VFLW’s best player Georgia Nanscawen to miss Saturday’s clash with Williamstown with a knee injury.
Nanscawen, the reigning Lambert-Pearce medallist, has been unstoppable again in the first three rounds, averaging 26.7 disposals as the Bombers won those games by an average of 71 points.
The better news is she is expected to only miss one match and should be fine to face the Southern Saints next week.
Her position will be filled by Irishwoman and former Carlton AFLW player Joanne Doonan, 27, who will make her VFLW debut at ruck-rover, with the Bombers also recalled the experienced Lauren Caruso to replace Grace Dicker, who was suspended for two matches during the week for rough conduct.
Hawthorn’s hopes of upsetting Collingwood have received a multi-pronged boost, with captain Tamara Luke returning after being a late withdrawal last week, alongside the club’s first AFLW signing, Eastern Ranges gun Bridget Deed, her star teammate Izzy Khoury and fellow top youngsters Jaide Anthony and Jenna Richardson.
The Magpies have handed talented Western Bulldogs’ recruit Nyakoat Dojiok a club debut alongside Monique DeMatteo and Grace Matser to replace AFLW promotions Ebony O’Dea and Bella Smith and ruck Sarah King.
Port Melbourne’s cavalry is back as it chases its first win of the season against Carlton at Ikon Park on Sunday.
The Borough was held to a paltry one behind at Geelong last week, but have been able to select captain and best-and-fairest winner Claire Dyett for her first game of the season, plus Courtney Bromage, Stella Reid, Sarah Dargan, Akayla Peterson, Maddi Shaw, Isabella Stutt, AFLW revelation Meg Macdonald and Richmond draftee Ingrid Houtsma for a debut among nine changes – only one of those forced.
The Blues will be without AFLW call-ups Brooke Vernon and Brooke Walker plus injured pair Esther Honybun and Charli Linssen, with 10th-gamer Sarah Ingram the most experienced of the inclusions and Poppy Schaap also returning from the AFLW team.
North Melbourne has been rocked by the loss of key player Jennifer Guy for the rest of the season after she injured her ACL in last week’s loss to Casey Demons.
Guy, Molly Eastman (unavailable), Daisy Bateman and Alexia Hamilton (both AFLW) are all out of the Kangaroos’ team for what now shapes as a danger game against Darebin at Aegis Park.
2018 Lambert-Pearce medallist Jess Duffin could have something to say about that as she makes a rare appearance at VFLW level since that win for Williamstown, with the Roos also naming two debutants in Tess Craven, 18, and Irishwoman Kayleigh Murrihy.
The Falcons have been boosted by experienced trio Simone Ruedin, Alyssia Mifsud and Rachel Hibbert, plus the talented Naomi Celebre, for Sunday’s clash.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
In a first for VFLW, all matches in 2022 will be live streamed free. One VFLW feature match per week can be watched live via afl.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. All remaining games will be streamed live and available on demand via the VFL/W YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria).
To access live scores, results, ladder, stats and to link to live streams/replays, download the VFL/W Official App from the Apple or Google app stores.
Keep track of your VFLW team via our VFLW Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and Fantasy points. Check it out here (https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/fixture)
GEELONG v SOUTHERN SAINTS
Saturday, March 5, 10am @ Deakin University
(www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria 9.45am)
GEELONG
B: 42. E Coventry, 38. M Boyd
HB: 58. B Beckley, 29. C Remmos, 25. S Williams
C: 20. Z Friswell, 40. T Smith, 33. E Ramsay
HF: 34. M Skinner, 17. G Clarke, 2. D Higgins
F: 44. M Bragg, 36. S De Giacomi
R: 1. R Caris, 37. C Leonard, 55. P Sheppard
Inter: 31. J Woollett, 35. I Hill, 46. T Nelson, 47. B Pratt, 49. A McKeegan
Emerg: 39. A Haigh, 50. L Ryan, 54. B Wells, 62. L Al-Huneidi
*Also in AFLW squad
In: McKeegan, Nelson, Pratt, Woollett
Out: O Fuller, C Gunjaca (AFLW), S Dineen (unavailable), Wells (omit)
VFLW Debut: Ava McKeegan, 19, Torquay/Geelong Falcons
SOUTHERN SAINTS
B: 35. I Gentile, 26. C Saultry
HB: 2. L Burke, 16. A Hynes, 32. G Buchan
C: 9. W Laing, 12. N Cormack, 25. R Neaves
HF: 19. O Flanagan, 23. T Kearns, 24. K Ripari
F: 39. G De Angelis, 31. A Peck
R: 22. S Black, 11. H Stuart, 4. D Jolliffe
Inter: 6. G McLean, 7. N Wallace, 44. R Saulitis, 47. T Meyer, 57. A Woodward
Emerg: 1. C Slater, 13. M Bertuna, 14. H Dyson, 18. C Leighton, 21 T. Boyd, 48. S Nolan, 99. S Phillips
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Black, L Burke, Flanagan, Saulitis, Wallace
Out: L Cutting, I Shannon (AFLW), E Nixon (back), T Boyd, E Stuber (omit)
Prediction: Geelong by 14
CASEY DEMONS v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday, March 5, 11am @ Casey Fields
(www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria 10.45am)
CASEY DEMONS
B: 28. S Rummel, 12. A Brown
HB: 16. B Woolcock, 30. R Grant, 4. L Magee
C: 6. S Johnson, 33. A Dowler, 38. A Kirkwood
HF: 31. T Fellows, 37. B Borchard, 32. T Reiter
F: 52. K Petrevski, 23. Z Mitchell
R: 9. L Wales, 20. B Tarrant, 15. C McCrossan
Inter: 7. C Selleck, 18. E O’Connor, 25. M Harasimiuk, 27. A Laing, 45. M Hogg
Emerg: Nil
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Grant, Harasimiuk, Reiter, Rummel, Selleck, Wales
Out: G Campbell, M Caris, M Fitzsimon (AFLW), M Chaplin (concussion), E Horne (groin), S Notman (omit)
VFLW Debut: L Wales (unlisted)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: 22. H Scott, 31. N Wright
HB: 53. E Vale, 51. R Christgoergl, 59. M McSweeney
C: 42. M Purcell, 43. J Webster, 55. L Schneider
HF: 46. B Hards, 54. M Freeman, 28. J Woods
F: 39. M Sandral, 32. M Lister
R: 48. K Betts, 38. J Morrow, 45. M Barnes
Inter: 49. L Bibby, 58. B Kinghorn, 61. A Xanthos, 63. K Bays, 64. E. Collard
Emerg: 41. S Perrott
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Bays, Christgoergl, Collard, Kinghorn
Out: B Hunt, A Ling, A Strahan (AFLW), E Morrison (omit)
VFLW Debut: E Collard (unlisted)
Prediction: Casey Demons by 33
ESSENDON v WILLIAMSTOWN
Saturday, March 5, 11am @ The Hangar
(WARF Radio 10am; www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria 10.45am)
ESSENDON
B: 16. T Crook, 21. A Morcom
HB: 8. E Ashley-Cooper, 15. L Caruso, 19. N Julian
C: 42. J Zanchetta, 1. C Ugle, 18. K Heil
HF: 7. J Davies, 20. C McIntosh, 24. R Tierney
F: 17. F Frew, 4. M. Clifford
R: 30. S Nalder, 3. S Ford, 26. J Doonan
Inter: 9. M Anthony, 10. E Cornish, 14. D Marshall, 23. A Radford, 38. O Manfre
Emerg: 12. I Currenti, 46. G Elarmaly, 47. S Asciak
In: Caruso, Doonan, Manfre
Out: G Dicker (suspended), G Nanscawen (knee), E Hosking (omit)
VFLW Debut: Joanne Doonan, 27, Carlton
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: 15. L King, 35. E Baxter
HB: 19. E Meade, 3. G Biedenweg-Webster, 6. S Whiting
C: 21. S Dunell, 9. R Tripodi, 12. S Bridgewater
HF: 18. E Straford, 13. S McCarthy, 5. E Cleland
F: 31. L Stepnell, 29. E Mangan
R: 32. A Sarec, 25. B Kennedy, 23. J Kawa
Inter: 2. S Long, 7. T Wright, 11. S Hosking, 14. S Georgas, 36. T Dinuccio
Emerg: 8. D Di Santo, 10. R Barnes, 33. A Doherty, 40. O Purcell
In: Hosking, Long
Out: M Hunter (NTFLW), A Price (knee)
Prediction: Essendon by 25
COLLINGWOOD v HAWTHORN
Saturday, March 5, 12.05pm @ Victoria Park
(www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=11 12pm)
COLLINGWOOD
B: 53. D Pedersen, 72. K Lee
HB: 63. G Ricardo, 5. N Hales, 74. E Wroe,
C: 55. C Bunker, 65. E Jackson, 91. D Hallett
HF: 35. H Bowey, 99. M Emond, 58. K Colborne-Veel
F: 77. I Barnett, 64. S Camelleri
R: 60. G Matser, 51. M Zander, 41. T Cowan
Inter: 4. M DeMatteo, 56. M Neal, 57. N Dojiok, 73. O Storer, 88. N O’Connor
Emerg: 24. R Busch
*Also named in AFLW squad
In: DeMatteo, Dojiok, Matser
Out: E O’Dea, B Smith (AFLW), S King (omit)
HAWTHORN
B: 33. E Shannon, 28. E McLinden
HB: 6. K Hay, 11. J Richardson, 9. A Kemp
C: 14. G McRae, 3. L Szigeti, 5. E Humphries
HF: 44. J Anthony, 41. K Stratton, 4. N Garner
F: 34. D Carbone, 22. T Luke
R: 29. S Perrott, 25. B Deed, 7. I Khoury
Inter: 19. L Camilleri, 20. J Williams, 32. J Mifsud, 40. M Beruldsen, 46. A Whelan
Emerg: 23. S Cameron, 24. S Bolding, 17. K Cox
In: Anthony, Deed, Khoury, Luke, Richardson
Out: N Von Bertouch (concussion), A Francese, S Bolding, S Cameron, K Cox (omit)
Prediction: Collingwood by 7
CARLTON v PORT MELBOURNE
Sunday, March 6, 10am @ Ikon Park
(WARF Radio 9am; www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria 9.45am)
CARLTON
B: 17. N Moore, 9. B Gurr
HB: 23. A Lee, 34. C Wilson, 20. M Di Cosmo
C: 37. C Hammans, 1. A Klingbeil, 30. L Brazzale
HF: 7. A Bild, 3. S Lawrence, 22. T Nicolaou
F: 35. P Schaap, 40. I Milford
R: 18. J Borg, 2. L Goss, 27. A Thorneycroft
Inter: 12. S Ingram, 14. T Zampaglione 19. A Jordan 26. M Cowan, 29. J Stramandinoli
Emerg: 4. O Madden, 11. E Wood, 12. M Jarvis, 16. L Robertson, 24. M Wilson, 28. T Kolevski
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Cowan, Ingram, Nicolaou, Schaap, Stramandinoli
Out: B Vernon, B Walker (AFLW), E Honybun (hamstring), C Linssen (ribs), V Murphy (omit)
PORT MELBOURNE
B: 23. Z McWhinney, 32. K Adams
HB: 11. M Shaw, 6. L Davie, 1. O Barton
C: 52. I Houtsma, 4. C Bromage, 15. C Dyett
HF: 16. B Wilson, 48. S Reid, 29. I Stutt
F: 10. S Locke, 27. E Harley
R: 17. B Winbanks, 12. N Borg, 41. M MacDonald
Inter: 22. A Peterson, 2. K Dudley, 59. S Dargan, 33. C Locke, 18. K O’Keefe
Emerg: 5. H Fosbrooke, 7. R Niclasen, 19. C Ryan, 24. J Joyce, 30. M Briedis, 35. S Navarro, 44. L Atkinson
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Bromage, Dargan, Dyett, Houtsma, MacDonald, Peterson, Reid, Shaw, Stutt
Out: L De Gleria Cade (shoulder), L Atkinson, M Briedis, H Fosbrooke, E Grundon, J Joyce, S Navarro, R Niclasen, C Ryan (omit)
VFLW Debut: Ingrid Houtsma, 18, Geelong Amateur/Geelong Falcons
Prediction: Port Melbourne by 4
NORTH MELBOURNE v DAREBIN
Sunday, March 6, 10am @ Aegis Park, Arden St
(www.youtube.com/AFLVictoria 9.45am with WARF Radio)
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: 25. L Loughnane, 10. C Fitzgerald
HB: 45. J Duffin, 5. M McDonald, 3. H Ibrahim
C: 26. T Craven, 23. A Scott, 2. J Mourney
HF: 16. G Nicholas, 44. B Gibson, 7. B Slaney
F: 32. A Vine, 21. E Paterno
R: 22. E McGrath, 28. P King, 15. S Skinner
Inter: 13. K Murrihy, 18. A Melnikas, 24. E Macdonald, 33. T Bradley, 42. E Maurer
Emerg: 4. A Rhodes, 11. R Burton, 17. J Jones
*Also in AFLW squad
In: Bradley, Craven, Duffin, Ibrahim, Melnikas, Murrihy, Slaney, Vine
Out: D Bateman, A Hamilton (AFLW), M Eastman (unavailable), J Guy (ACL), J Jones, T Moss, A Rhodes, D Taylor (omit)
VFLW Debut: Tess Craven, 18, Drysdale/Geelong Falcons, Kayleigh Murrihy, 27, Melbourne University
DAREBIN
B: 32. S. Ruedin, 44. V Blackwood
HB: 5. K McNiece, 10. G Lawson-Tavan, 11. A Gunn
C: 26. M Meyer, 8. N Celebre, 18. M Plunkett
HF: 35. K McAloon, 50. S Cowley Du Parquet, 39. E Mackay
F: 17. S Simpson, 9. A Mifsud
R: 24. S Lynch, 2. N. Callinan, 1. A Gogos
Inter: 7. K Hazlett, 16. E Buckley, 19. R Hibbert, 28. P Kearney, 60. M Shone
Emerg: 29. S Normington-Dickens, 31. A Reibelt, 52. C Weston-Sirett, 56. M Huta
In: Celebre, Hibbert, Mifsud, Ruedin
Out: A Caddy (shoulder), T Mills, A Reibelt, C Weston-Sirett (omit)
Prediction: North Melbourne by 16
Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 6. Season: 15.
