THE run of 50-match milestones for rebel VFLW clubs continues on Saturday, with Williamstown and Carlton both reaching the first landmark in their short histories.
The Seagulls have taken the development pathway since joining the league in 2018 and face a tough task as they aim to secure their 10th win to go with 39 losses and a draw, taking on undefeated ladder leader Casey Demons at Williamstown.
They haven’t beaten the Demons in three previous attempts and were held scoreless in their most recent meeting in May last year, and they will again be without star Aimee Whelan, while Eliza Straford (back) and Sasha Long (concussion) are out among five changes to the team that lost to Darebin last week, but mid-season recruit Isabella Young will play her first game for the club.
ALL THE REBEL VFLW ROUND 8 TEAMS
Casey has also rung the changes, making nine on the back of its win over Collingwood as the entire Melbourne AFLW list heads to Adelaide for Saturday’s Grand Final against the Crows.
They will be without key players Brenna Tarrant, Maggie Caris, Alison Brown, Jacqueline Parry, Lauren Magee, Georgia Campbell and Krstel Petrevski, but captain Samantha Johnson and Emma Horne return, while Ella Dempster, Jennifer Macdonald and Leah Swain will make their VFLW debuts.
REBEL VFLW ROUND 8 INJURY LIST
Carlton also joined the VFLW in 2018, is also still fighting for its first finals appearance, holding a 17-31-1 win-loss-draw record, and also has a formidable task against an unbeaten opponent in Essendon at The Hangar.
The Blues have made two changes, with Jasmine Ware and Teresa Zampaliogne coming into the team for Teagan Brett and Esther Honybun, while the Bombers will be without in-form keys Cecilia McIntosh (rested) and Danielle Marshall (health and safety protocols), with Georgia Elarmaly in alongside debutant Northern Knights midfielder Maykaylah Appleby.
Darebin’s bid for five straight wins has copped a triple blow, with its three best players – Angelica Gogos (hand), Nicole Callinan (hamstring) and captain Stephanie Simpson (H&S protocols) – ruled out of its return to Bill Lawry Oval against North Melbourne.
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
DAREBIN v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday, April 9, 10am @ Bill Lawry Oval
(www.youtube.com/user/AFLVictoria 9.45am)
Prediction: Darebin by 1
HAWTHORN v SOUTHERN SAINTS
Saturday, April 9, 10am @ Box Hill City Oval
(www.warfradio.com.au, 9am; www.youtube.com/user/AFLVictoria 9.45am)
Prediction: Hawthorn by 4
GEELONG v COLLINGWOOD
Saturday, April 9, 11.05am @ GMHBA Stadium
(www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 10.50am)
Prediction: Collingwood by 14
ESSENDON v CARLTON
Saturday, April 9, 12pm @ The Hangar
(www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=11 11.50am)
Prediction: Essendon by 41
WILLIAMSTOWN v CASEY DEMONS
Saturday, April 9, 3pm @ Williamstown
(www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 2.45pm)
Prediction: Casey Demons by 19
PORT MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday, April 9, 4.05pm @ ETU Stadium
(www.warfradio.com.au, 3pm; www.youtube.com.au/user/AFLVictoria 3.50pm)
Prediction: Port Melbourne by 33
Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Round: 5. Season: 31
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). Multiple matches are also broadcast at WARFRadio.com.au.
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 Play 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)
