IT IS a round of milestones in the rebel VFLW this weekend, with two clubs and three players celebrating their 50th matches in the competition.

The struggling Western Bulldogs will run out for their 50th VFLW appearance since taking over their licence from the VU Western Spurs and will be hoping for a form turnaround against Hawthorn at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday.

And fresh from naming co-captain Georgia Nanscawen as its first AFLW player on Friday, the high-flying Essendon will play its 50th VFLW match when it takes on the Southern Saints in a mouthwatering clash at The Hangar on Sunday.

The Bulldogs have a 26-23 win-loss record in their 49 VFLW matches, including a run to the 2019 Grand Final, with a highest score of 14.9 (93) against Darebin at Bill Lawry Oval and a home best of 11.6 (72) against the Hawks, both last year.

Their biggest win has been 78 points against NT Thunder in Ballarat in 2019, while they beat Essendon by 44 points for their biggest Whitten Oval win the same season – the day they conceded their lowest score of 0.3 (3).

The Western Bulldogs will run out for their 50th VFLW match when they play Hawthorn on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

Essendon is fast improving on its win-loss record of 20-29 after charging into last year’s preliminary final and sitting on top of the ladder this year with four dominant victories.

The Bombers set their record score and winning margin of 15.8 (98) and 98 points while keeping the Bulldogs scoreless at The Hangar in Round 1 this year, while they kicked 12.7 (79) against Carlton in Round 3 for their highest away score, with 11.12 (78) against Darebin in 2019 being their best at Windy Hill.

And Darebin is closing in on becoming the first team to win 50 VFLW matches – after beating North Melbourne last week to move to 49-32-1 it will hit the mark if it can knock Carlton off at Ikon Park on Saturday.

The Bombers’ milestone match at The Hangar has individual celebrations attached to it as well, with Jessie Davies (pictured above) to play her 50th VFLW match – she has kicked 13 goals after starting at the Spurs.

In the other changeroom, Southern Saint Kayla Ripari also reaches 50 VFLW games, having kicked 10 goals after starting at Cranbourne.

Essendon will be hoping to celebrate again when it plays its 50th VFLW game on Sunday. Picture: AFL Photos

And it could be a double celebration for the Falcons, with veteran star Nicole Callinan to play her 50th VFLW match against the Blues, having kicked seven goals for the Falcons and Bulldogs.

In selection news, Geelong and Williamstown have named debutants, with the Colac Imperials’ AFLW No.9 draft pick Gabbi Featherston, 18, named at centre half-back to debut at VFLW level for the Cats.

The Seagulls have handed a debut to Ruby Barnes, 21, who is the granddaughter of 1960s Team of the Decade member and 1969 best-and-fairest winner Ken Barnes.

Four clubs have been affected by Covid or health and safety protocols, with Collingwood losing rookie Shanel Camelleri, the Cats being without Chloe Leonard, Darebin losing Karly McNeice and Williamstown missing Tayla Dinnucio.

Geelong made six changes for its big clash with Casey Demons after the surprise loss to the Saints, but five of them were forced, with Danielle Higgins and Stephanie Williams called into the AFLW team, Leonard out under protocols, Maddie Boyd having had wisdom teeth out and Breanna Pratt to miss long term with an ankle problem, but they do regain key forward Claudia Gunjaca.

Hawthorn lost star youngster Jaide Anthony (ankle) early last week and she is out among three changes, with the experienced Katelyn Cox being recalled and Nadia von Bertouch back from her own period of isolation, while Bridget Deed will stay in the team instead of returning to the Eastern Ranges.

Meg Macdonald’s 10-vote performance for Port Melbourne last week saw her recalled to the Richmond AFLW team, while Charlotte Wilson (Carlton), Renee Saulitis and Annabel Woodward (Saints) also join Higgins and Williams in being promoted to the highest level.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

Darebin will sing its song for the 50th time in VFLW football if it can defeat Carlton on Saturday. Picture: AFL Photos

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 (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.

COLLINGWOOD v PORT MELBOURNE

Saturday, March 12, 9.45am @ Victoria Park
(www.warfradio.com 9am; www.youtube.com/user/AFLVictoria 9.30am)

COLLINGWOOD
B: 88. N O’Connor 72. K Lee
HB: 74. E Wroe, 5. N Hales, 53. D Pedersen
C: 55. C Bunker, 91. D Hallett, 56. M Neal
HF: 76. E Chaston, 51. M Zander, 35. H Bowey
F: 63. G Ricardo, 19. B Smith, 4. M DeMatteo
R: 60. G Matser, 77. I Barnett
Inter: 52. E O’Dea, 57. N Dojiok, 58. K Colborne-Veel, 73. O Storer, 99. M Emond
Emerg: 64. M Harding, 70. L Barr
*Also named in AFLW squad

In: Chaston, O’Dea, Smith
Out: S Camelleri (health and safety protocols), T Cowan (foot), E Jackson (foot)

PORT MELBOURNE
B: 23. Z McWhinney, 1. O Barton, 33. C Locke
HB: 11. M Shaw, 6. L Davie
C: 52. I Houtsma, 4. C Bromage, 15. C Dyett
HF: 29. I Stutt, 16. B Wilson
F: 10. S Locke, 27. E Harley, 48. S Reid
R: 2. K Dudley, 32. K Adams, 18. K O’Keefe
Inter: 17. B Winbanks, 19. C Ryan, 22. A Peterson, 24. J Joyce, 35. S Navarro
Emerg: 5. H Fosbrooke, 7. R Niclasen, 30. M Briedis, 44. L Atkinson
*Also in AFLW squad

In: Navarro, Ryan
Out: M Macdonald (AFLW), N Borg (shoulder)

Prediction: Collingwood by 15

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN

Saturday, March 12, 10.05am @ VU Whitten Oval
(www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=11 10am)

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: 49. L Bibby, 31. N Wright
HB: 53. E Vale, 51. R Christgoergl, 26. E Snell
C: 42. M Purcell, 43. J Webster, 55. L Schneider
HF: 46. B Hards, 54. M Freeman, 28. J Woods
F: 39. M Sandral, 31. M Lister
R: 48. K Betts, 38. J Morrow, 41. T Meier
Inter: 58. B Kinghorn, 59. M McSweeney, 61. A Xanthos, 63. K Bays, 41. S Perrott
Emerg: 65. E. Collard
*Played AFLW on Tuesday

In: Meier, Snell
Out: M Barnes, H Scott (both managed) 

HAWTHORN
B: 33. E Shannon, 28. N von Bertouch
HB: 6. K Hay, 11. J Richardson, 3. L Szigeti
C: 40. M Beruldsen, 46. A Whelan, 4. N Garner
HF: 20. J Williams, 41. K Stratton, 5. E Humphries|
F: 34. D Carbone, 22. T Luke
R: 29. S Perrott, 25. B Deed, 32. J Mifsud
Inter: 13. M Kendall, 14. G McRae, 17. K Cox, 19. L Camilleri, 27. E McLinden
Emerg: 23. S Cameron, 24. S Bolding, 35. J Wise

In: Cox, Kendall, von Bertouch
Out: J Anthony (ankle), A Kemp (managed), I Khoury (Eastern Ranges)

Prediction: Hawthorn by 53

GEELONG v CASEY DEMONS

Saturday, March 12, 12pm @ Deakin University
(
www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 11.45am)

GEELONG
B: 42. E Coventry, 29. C Remmos
HB: 58. B Beckley, 32. G Featherston, 31. J Woollett
C: 35. I Hill, 20. Z Friswell, 33. E Ramsay
HF: 34. M Skinner, 26. C Gunjaca, 17. G Clarke
F: 44. M Bragg, 36. S De Giacomi
R: 1. R Caris, 40. T Smith, 55. P Sheppard
Inter: 39. A Haigh, 43. S Dineen, 49. A McKeegan, 50. L Ryan, 54. B Wells
Emerg: 46. T Nelson, 62. L Al-Huneidi
*Also in AFLW squad

In: Dineen, Featherston, Gunjaca, Haigh, Ryan, Wells
Out: D Higgins, S Williams (both AFLW), M Boyd (wisdom teeth), C Leonard (health and safety protocols), B Pratt (ankle), T Nelson (omit)
VFLW Debut: Gabbi Featherston, 18, Colac Imperials/Geelong Falcons 

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, 15. C McCrossan
F: 19. J Parry, 36. G Campbell
R: 46. M Caris, 20. B Tarrant, 52. K Petrevski
Inter: 7. C Selleck, 23. Z Mitchell, 25. M Harasimiuk, 27. A Laing, 45. M Hogg
Emerg: 9. L Wales, 62. G Byrne
*Also in AFLW squad

In: Campbell, Caris, Parry
Out: E O’Connor (unavailable), T Reiter (concussion), L Wales (omit)

Prediction: Geelong by 8

Darebin's Nicole Callinan plays her 50th VFLW game when the Falcons meet Carlton. Picture: AFL Photos

DAREBIN v CARLTON

Saturday, March 12, 4pm @ Ikon Park
(
www.warfradio.com 3pm; www.youtube.com/user/AFLVictoria 3.45pm)

DAREBIN
B: 32. S. Ruedin, 44. V Blackwood
HB: 28. P Kearney, 10. G Lawson-Tavan, 11. A Gunn
C: 26. M Meyer, 8. N Celebre, 60. M Shone
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, 18. M Plunkett, 19. R Hibbert, 56. M Huta
Emerg: 29. S Normington-Dickens, 31. A Reibelt, 52. C Weston-Sirett, 59. T Snelleksz

In: Huta
Out: K McNiece (health and safety protocols) 

CARLTON
B: 17. N Moore, 9. B Gurr
HB: 6. E Honybun, 28. T Kolevski, 20. M Di Cosmo
C: 30. L Brazzale, 22. T Nicolaou, 7. A Bild
HF: 37. C Hammans, 32. B Walker, 29. J Stramandinoli
F: 35. P Schaap, 40. I Milford
R: 18. J Borg, 2. L Goss, 27. A Thorneycroft
Inter: 1. A Klingbeil, 3. S Lawrence, 12. S Ingram, 21. V Murphy, 23. A Lee
Emerg: 4. O Madden, 10. C Linssen, 12. M Jarvis, 14. T Zampaglione, 16. L Robertson, 19. A Jordan, 26. M Cowan
*Also in AFLW squad

In: Honybun, Kolevski, Murphy, Walker
Out: C Wilson (AFLW), A Jordan, M Cowan, T Zampaglione (all omit)

Prediction: Carlton by 11 

ESSENDON v SOUTHERN SAINTS

Sunday, March 13, 11am @ The Hangar
(
www.warfradio.com 10am; www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 10.45am)

ESSENDON
B: 16. T Crook, 21. A Morcom
HB: 13. E Hosking, 14. D Marshall, 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, 23. A Radford, 26. J Doonan
Inter: 8. E Ashley-Cooper, 9. M Anthony, 10. E Cornish, 15. L Caruso, 38. O Manfre
Emerg: 12. I Currenti, 45. B Clarke, 46. G Elarmaly
*In Melbourne AFLW squad

In: Hosking
Out: S. Ford (managed)

SOUTHERN SAINTS
B: 35. I Gentile, 2. L Burke
HB: 8. E Nixon, 6. G McLean, 32. G Buchan
C: 9. W Laing, 12. N Cormack, 25. R Neaves
HF: 24. K Ripari, 23. T Kearns, 19. O Flanagan
F: 39. G De Angelis, 31. A Peck
R: 16. A Hynes, 11. H Stuart, 4. D Jolliffe
Inter: 13. M Bertuna, 14. H Dyson, 21 T. Boyd, 26. C Saultry, 47. T Meyer
Emerg: 1. C Slater, 7. N Wallace, 18. C Leighton, 34. C Keohane, 48. S Nolan, 50. S Phillips
*Also in AFLW squad

In: Bertuna, Boyd, L Burke, Flanagan, Nixon
Out: R Saulitis, A Woodward (both AFLW), S Black, C Leighton, N Wallace (all omit)

Prediction: Essendon by 6

Southern Saint Kayla Ripari also reaches 50 VFLW matches, sharing the milestone with Jessie Davies and Essendon at The Hangar. Picture: AFL Photos

NORTH MELBOURNE v WILLIAMSTOWN

Sunday, March 13, 12.30pm @ Aegis Park, Arden St
(
www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 12.15pm)

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: 33. T Bradley, 10. C Fitzgerald
HB: 45. J Duffin, 17. J Jones, 35. A Smith
C: 26. T Craven, 23. A Scott, 2. J Mourney
HF: 6. A O’Loughlin, 44. B Gibson, 7. B Slaney
F: 22. E McGrath, 21. E Paterno
R: 34. A Hamilton, 18. A Melnikas, 15. S Skinner
Inter: 3. H Ibrahim, 24. E Macdonald, 25. L Loughnane, 28. P King, 42. E Maurer
Emerg: 4. A Rhodes, 11. R Burton, 20. K Delia, 32. A Vine
*Also in AFLW squad

In: A Hamilton, Jones, O’Loughlin, Smith
Out: M McDonald, K Murrihy, G Nicholas, A Vine (all omit)

WILLIAMSTOWN
B: 7. T Wright, 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, 10. R Barnes, 14. S Georgas, 37. M Lawrence, 40. O Purcell
Emerg: 8. D Di Santo, 33. A Doherty15. L King, 30. C Landwehr

In: Barnes, Lawrence, Meade, Purcell
Out: T Dinnucio (Covid), S Hosking (Dandenong Stingrays), M Blackburn, L King (both omit)
VFLW Debut: Ruby Barnes, 21, Williamstown CYMS

Prediction: North Melbourne by 9

Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 3. Season: 18.