BOX HILL Hawks have recalled a group of important players for their journey to the country to take on Casey Demons in a crucial rebel VFLW clash at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

Two of the pre-season premiership favourites are both languishing outside the top six, making this one of the most vital victories of the season to achieve.

It is the seventh-placed Hawks who have fared better at selection, with star forward Maddie Boyd returning to the team alongside, Nadia von Bertouch, Hawthorn’s WA recruit Cassie Davidson, Janet Baird, Akayla Peterson and Hannah Fosbrooke, who will wear the brown and gold for the first time after five VFLW games for Port Melbourne last year.

However, they will be without experienced trio Kristy Stratton, Louise Stephenson and Amanda Tessari, while youngster Bridie Hipwell is injured.

The ninth-placed Demons have regained Steph Rummel and handed debuts to Melbourne’s GWS recruit Georgie Fowler and Oakleigh Charger Jemma Rigoni, with Charlotte Wilson being managed.

Resurgent Port Melbourne will aim to overturn its convincing Round 1 loss to Carlton, with important players Kate Adams, Lisa Davie and Chanelle Slater among five inclusions to the team that hasn’t lost since, but the Borough will be without hard nut Courteney Bromage due to concussion.

The Blues lose Ally Bild and Brooke Vickers to concussion, with AFLW player Imogen Milford included alongside WAFLW debutant Chloe Wrigley and highly rated Montrose debutant Mia Austin.

North Melbourne has two 17-year-old Tasmanian debutants for its home clash against ladder leader Geelong, with Glenorchy’s Georgia Clark and North Hobart’s Grace White to play their first VFLW games alongside the returning Cassidy Mailer, with the Kangaroos losing Ciara Fitzgerald to concussion.

Ingrid Houtsma will be the second former Port Melbourne player to debut for her new club this weekend when she lines up for the Cats, with in-form Cheryl de Groot also coming in, while Chloe Scheer and Liv Fuller have been rested.

Reigning premier Essendon continues strengthen its team for its trip to a buoyant Williamstown, with former captain Mia-Rae Clifford to play her first game since her 100th game in Round 1, while Dani Marshall is back from injury alongside Sophie van de Heuvel, replacing rested star midfielder Alana Barba and the injured Sophie Molan among six changes.

The Seagulls, who stunned ladder leader Carlton last week, have lost Brittney Gray to a one-week suspension for rough conduct on Millie Klingbeil last week, an incident graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, plus the unavailable Aleisha Newman, but Newman’s fellow Swan Bridie Kennedy returns and Strathmore’s Eloise Freeman will make her debut.

Southern Saints have two debutants for their clash with Western Bulldogs at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, with Bentleigh’s Charli Murphy and Dandenong Stingrays young star Mikayla Williamston earning their first games, while Sarah Black is back in the team, but they will be without important duo Tayla Kearns to covid protocols and Kayla Ripari to a shoulder injury.

The Bulldogs also have a debutant, with West Preston-Lakeside’s Tallia Pulcino called up, while Dom Carruthers and Kate McCarthy have been managed.

Darebin has lost Simone Ruedin after she was suspended for four weeks by the VFLW Tribunal for striking Fitzgerald, an incident sent straight to the tribunal and graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

The Falcons have three local debutants, with Banyule’s Lauren Jatczak, Wallan’s Evie Lee and Diamond Creek’s Grace Wake to all become VFLW players.

The Magpies have been boosted by the returns of captain Caitlin Bunker and Nic Weston, but Jo Lin has an elbow problem.

All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.

Casey Radio will also broadcast Port Melbourne vs Carlton and 3WBC taking the Hawks and Demons.

SOUTHERN SAINTS vs WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday April 29, 11:00am, Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Head-to-head: Southern Saints 4-2. At TBBO: Southern Saints 2-1. Streak: Southern Saints 2

SOUTHERN SAINTS
B: C. Matthews (44), G. Foran (37)
HB: J. Moore (15), A. Hynes (16), T. Boyd (21)
C: W. Laing (9), G. Hodder (31), C. Ryan (11)
HF: A. Tregellis (42), C. Murphy (45), E. Stuber (7)
F: G. De Angelis (39), L. Burke (28)
R: S. Black (22), D. Jolliffe (4), J. Wrigley (18)
INT: O. Robinson (33), B. Enno (26), M. Williamson (53), N. Cormack (12), M. Fogas (29)
EMG: S. Phillips (48), J. Webster (32), K. Prendergast (56)

IN: S. Black, C. Murphy, O. Robinson, M. Williamson
OUT: T. Kearns (covid), M. Kershaw (pectoral), K. Ripari (shoulder), M. Podnecky
NEW: Charli Murphy, 19, Bentleigh; Mikayla Williamson, 17, Pines/Dandenong Stingrays

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: K. Tracey (44), T. Delgado (69)
HB: F. Taylor (48), C. Pickett (59), M. Freeman (28)
C: S. Asciak (26), T. Meier (42), E. Greet (52)
HF: E. Nekrep (41), I. Cameron (32), I. Barker (56)
F: I. Robson (60), M. Sandral (39)
R: J. Borg (64), J. Tabb (63), S. Skinner (62)
INT: T. Pulcino (36), A. Ling (29), T. Skenderis (34), R. Beuzeville (50), D. Carbone (54)
EMG: P. Amber (61), K. Henry (46), A. Snow (58)

IN: M. Freeman, T. Pulcino, T. Skenderis, J. Tabb
OUT: D. Carruthers, K. McCarthy (managed), K. Henry, J. Paten (omit)
NEW: Tallia Pulcino, 20, West Preston-Lakeside

COLLINGWOOD vs DAREBIN FALCONS

Saturday April 29, 11:00am, Victoria Park
Head-to-head: Collingwood 4-0. At Victoria Park: Collingwood 1-0. Streak: Collingwood 4

COLLINGWOOD
B: N. Weston (66), R. Busch (67)
HB: O. Storer (73), R. Christgoergl (56), A. Weston (58)
C: E. James (2), J. Bates (50), E. Jackson (65)
HF: C. Van der Vlies (69), E. Morris (21), A. Kane (57)
F: M. DeMatteo (44), J. Tweddle O'Donnell (60)
R: R. Caris (68), C. Bunker (55), M. Zander (51)
INT: E. Shepherd (49), S. King (46), I. Evans (5), M. Jarvis (48), T. Hurst (45)
EMG: T. Cowan (54), T. McCafferty (71), E. Southgate (53), S. Hosking (47)

IN: C. Bunker, A. Kane, A. Weston, N. Weston
OUT: J. Lin (elbow), N. Dojiok, T. Cowan, S. Hosking

DAREBIN FALCONS
B: R. Goring (12), P. Kearney (28)
HB: V. Blackwood (44), K. McNiece (5), G. Wake (37)
C: M. Shone (60), A. Gogos (1), V. Smiljanic (58)
HF: P. Louey (3), S. Du Parquet (50), E. Mackay (39)
F: Z. Larkins (21), A. Misfud (9)
R: S. Simpson (17), S.Egan (34), M. Plunkett (18)
INT: S.Dickens (29), S. Lynch (24), T. Mills (43), E. Lee (35), L. Jatczak (48)
EMG: A. Gunn (11), S. Kenna (15), M. Giannopoulus (54)

IN: L. Jatczak, E. Lee, G. Wake
OUT: S. Ruedin (suspension), A. Gunn, J. Phung (omit)
NEW: Lauren Jatczak, 18, Banyule/Northern Knights; Evie Lee, 17, Wallan/Northern Knights; Grace Wake, 19, Diamond Creek

NORTH MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS

Saturday April 29, 1:00pm, Arden Street Oval
Head-to-head: Geelong 2-1. At Arden Steet Oval: Geelong 1-0. Streak: North Melbourne 1

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: T. Bradley (33), R. Hicks (12)
HB: M. McDonald (5), K. Delia (20), C. Mailer (40)
C: T. Gatt (8), G. Nicholas (9), J. Mourney (2)
HF: A. Rhodes (4), Z. Flanigan (16), E. Macdonald (24)
F: R. Tripodi (34), E. Paterno (21)
R: J. Jones (17), A. Scott (23), F. Theodore (1)
INT: G. Clark (38), G. White (39), K. Peake (31), J. Hillas (30), M. Klaumanns-Moller (14)
EMG: M. McSweeney (22), A. Xanthos (29), G. Walsh (15)

IN: G. Clark, C. Mailer, G. White
OUT: C. Fitzgerald (concussion), M.McSweeney, G.Walsh
NEW: Georgia Clark, 17, Glenorchy/Tasmania Devils, Grace White, 17, North Hobart/Tasmania Devils

GEELONG CATS
B: M. Bragg (44), E. Worpel (49)
HB: B. Beckley (28), G. Rankin (10), C. Leonard (37)
C: E. Firth (48), C. Simpson (51), S. O'Dea (47)
HF: R. Garing (12), C. de Groot (40), S. Degiacomi (30)
F: I. Houtsma (31), A. McKee (43)
R: K. Scoullar (29), E. Ramsay (33), A. Favell (42)
INT: E. Wilson-Macdonald (57), O. Cicolini (53), M. Walton (64), D. Stewart (27), B. Pratt (36)
EMG: L. Ryan (50), E. Gilligan (58), O. Stewart (34), M. Fuller (66), J. McMeel (38)

IN: C. de Groot, I. Houtsma, E. Wilson-Macdonald, E. Worpel
OUT: Abbey McDonald (ankle), S. Perrott (medical), O. Fuller (managed), C. Scheer (managed)
NEW: Ingrid Houstma, 19, Port Melbourne

BOX HILL HAWKS vs CASEY DEMONS

Sunday April 30, 11:30am, Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve
Head-to-head: Box Hill Hawks 3-1. At Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve: Never met. Streak: Box Hill Hawks 1

BOX HILL HAWKS
B: C. Perera (55), C. Davidson (68)
HB: M. Van Berkel (86), L. Elliot (20), E. Everist (25)
C: C. Hammans (75), J. Baird (2), N. Garner (64)
HF: J. Trend (63), E. Woods (52), N. von Betouch (58)
F: G. McRae (88), M. Boyd (77)
R: G. Matser (60), J. Mifsud (54), S.Locke (21)
INT: E. Mclinden (57), H. Fosbrooke (83), A. Muir (59), A. Peterson (91), M. Kendall (66)
EMG: M. Trusler (81), S. Wilson (79), D. Ryan (93)

IN: J. Baird, M. Boyd, C. Davidson, H. Fosbrooke, A. Peterson, N. von Betouch
OUT: B. Hipwell (injured), K. Stratton, T. Smith, L. Stephenson, A. Tessari (managed), M. Trusler
NEW: Hannah Fosbrooke, 24, Port Melbourne

CASEY DEMONS
B: B. Woolcock (16), G. Gall (29)
HB: M. Hogg (45), M. Neal (7), G. Fowler (13)
C: J. Rigoni (34), A. Kirkwood (6), T. Burn (4)
HF: N. O'Neill (19), C. Keohane (40), I. Lehman (11)
F: I. Makai (1), T. Williams (36)
R: L. Swain (50), S. Fairchild (8), S. Danckhert (25)
INT: S. Rummel (28), A. Kinnane (49), B. Lyne (30), S. Sheerin (5), B. Smith (43)
EMG: D. Smith (3), B. Borchard (38), K. Carew (48)

IN: G. Fowler, J. Rigoni, S. Rummel
OUT: C. Wilson (managed), K. Carew, D. Smith
NEW: Georgie Fowler, 19, GWS AFLW; Jemma Rigoni, 18, Ashburton/Oakleigh Chargers

WILLIAMSTOWN vs ESSENDON

Sunday April 30, 2:00pm, DSV Stadium
Head-to-head: Essendon 5-1. At DSV Stadium: Essendon 2. Streak: Essendon 5

WILLIAMSTOWN
B: D. Pedersen (15), Z. Day (34)
HB: S. Bridgewater (12), S. Whiting (25), M. Edwards (17)
C: B. Kennedy (2), N. Julian (35), P. King (38)
HF: E. Cleland (5), S. Dunell (21), E. Eaves (6)
F: A. Sarec (22), J. Kawa (23)
R: L. Stepnell (4), E. Straford (18), S. Cameron (43)
INT: E. Freeman (33), T. Wright (7), C. Tyrell (39), T. Brett (20), M. Willamson (24)
EMG: D. Di Santo (8), T. Moss (42)

IN: E. Freeman, B. Kennedy, A. Sarec
OUT: B. Gray (suspended), A. Newman (unavailable), T. Moss
NEW: Eloise Freeman, 22, Strathmore

ESSENDON
B: D. Marshall (6), T. Crook (49)
HB: S. Van De Heuvel (27), G. Clarke (17), A. Van Loon (26)
C: K. Heil (78), E. Chaston (61), C. Ugle (41)
HF: A. Clarke (33), M. Ryan (76), M. Wilson (66)
F: M. Clifford (47), O. Manfre (43)
R: S. Wales (30), J. Doonan (12), G. Dicker (44)
INT: E. Ashley-Cooper (74), C. Prpic (58), B. Clarke (45), T. Davidge (77), L. Spargo (51)
EMG: K. Russell (50), E. Cornish (55), M. Huta (56)

IN: M. Clifford, O. Manfre, D. Marshall, L. Spargo, S. Van De Heuvel, A. Van Loon
OUT: T. Hart-Aluni (shins), L. Keck (injured), S. Molan (wrist), A. Radford (illness), A. Barba (managed), M. Bateman

PORT MELBOURNE vs CARLTON

Sunday April 30, 4:15pm, ETU Stadium
Head-to-head: Port Melbourne 3-1. At ETU Stadium: Port Melbourne 1-0. Streak: Carlton 1

PORT MELBOURNE
B: M. McKellar (14), O. Barton (1)
HB: L. Caruso (5), M. Denahy Maloney (35), M. Shaw (11)
C: L. Hart (39), T. Watson (23), J. Livingstone (3)
HF: S. Reid (48), F. Frew (28), S. Williams (44)
F: B. Wilson (16), E. Robins (40)
R: K. Dudley (2), J. Williams (26), K. O'Keefe (18)
INT: K. Adams (7), A. Campbell (20), I. Hartog (42), S. Taylor (49), C. Slater (13)
EMG: R. Dale (41), J. Farrugia (22), B. Mueck (31), M. Mottram (24), K. Byrne (25), K. Whitehead (8)

IN: K. Adams, L. Hart, I. Hartog, E. Robins, C. Slater, S. Taylor
OUT: C. Bromage, A. Peck, L. Wright (injured), C. Dyett (illness), M. Mottram, I. Stutt

CARLTON
B: C. Bain (4), K. Lennox (13)
HB: L. Hosking (3), G. Lawson-Tavan (10), B. Gurr (9)
C: L. Beatty (33), T. Nicolaou (22), M. Anthony (38)
HF: A. Thorneycroft (27), K. Sherar (32), K. Skepper (30)
F: M. Austin (25), E. Wood (11)
R: E. Hurley (18), A. Klingbeil (1), M. Di Cosmo (20)
INT: O. Di Donato (31), I. Khoury (5), M. Hendrie (14), I. Milford (39), C. Wrigley (34)
EMG: M. Cowan (26), G. Tait (29), V. Murphy (21), L. Robertson (16)

IN: M. Austin, O. Di Donato, I. Milford, T. Nicolaou, C. Wrigley
OUT: A. Bild (concussion), B. Vickers (concussion), M. Cowan, T. Ortepp, L. Robertson
NEW: Mia Austin, 19, Montrose/Eastern Ranges; Chloe Wrigley, 23, Peel Thunder

UMPIRES

Southern Saints vs Western Bulldogs
FIELD: Lisa Compton-Robins, Sophie Gleeson, Keizia Laker. BOUNDARY: Olivia Grcic, Thomas Kreun, Daniel Mortlock. GOAL: Nathan Dugdale, Ben Geleit.

Collingwood vs Darebin Falcons
FIELD: Genevieve Devenish, Lucinda Lopes, Sophia Tozer. BOUNDARY: Michael Court, Luke Gonis, Vo Schofield. GOAL: Bradley Heferna-Benfield, Samuel Polden.

North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats
FIELD: Elias Kafritsas, Shannon van Boven, Jeremy Zhou. BOUNDARY: Reuben Dyer, Madeleine Lum, Solomon Miesen. GOAL: Noah Myers, Jake Penny.

Box Hill Hawks vs Casey Demons
FIELD: Jonathan Clark, Brock Reid, Austin Tattersall. BOUNDARY: Mitchell Dorling, Mitch Lea, Ryan Pulley. GOAL: Zak Kenny, James Rodwell.

Williamstown vs Essendon
FIELD: Douglas Haworth, Jai Smith, Ned Walsh. BOUNDARY: Cooper Geall, Luke Myatt, Ben Tingiri. GOAL: Jenna Green, Jackson Mansell.

Port Melbourne vs Carlton
FIELD: James Meek, Connor Newett, Jacob Stuckey. BOUNDARY: Ashlee Ball, Benjamin Myatt, Jonathon Peck. GOAL: Bradley Gutbier, Courtney Stelling.