AFLW 2019 Round 5: The Team

AFLW 2019 Round 5 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time & Place: Saturday 2nd March, 7:15pm EDT Princes Park TV: 7mate 7.00pm EDT Weather: Min 25 Max 36 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: NNE 16kph Betting: Collingwood $2.80 Carlton $1.44

Backs: Jordyn Allen, Sophie Casey, Iilish Ross

Half-backs: Emma Grant, Stacey Livingstone, Ash Brazill

Centre: Brittany Bonnici

Half-forwards: Melissa Kuys, Jordan Membrey and Kristy Stratton

Forwards: Sarah Rowe, Sophie Alexander, Katie Lynch                                        

Rucks: Eliza Hynes, Stephanie Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert

Interchange: Sharni Layton, Sarah Dargan, Darcy Guttridge, Maddie Shevlin, Ruby Schleicher

Emerg: Lauren Butler and Mikala Cann
In: Guttridge, Schleicher and Brazill
Out: Hildebrand, McIntosh and Parker

Collingwood News Darcy Guttridge will finally be presented with her black and white stripes when she makes her AFL Women’s debut in Saturday night’s clash between Collingwood and Carlton at Ikon Park. The 19-year-old was selected by the Pies as pick number nine in the 2017 draft. But having sustained a broken collarbone in a pre-season match, Guttridge was sidelined, missing the entire 2018 season. Back in the team this week is utility player Ash Brazill, who has recovered from concussion suffered in the Pies’ round three clash against the Dockers. Alongside her, defender Ruby Schleicher will also return after sitting out last week’s match against the Giants.

Roar Last week, Collingwood slumped to a new low – falling to their fourth straight loss. A scoreless first quarter against the Giants in Morwell saw the Pies forced to play catch-up, but while they scored four majors to one after quarter-time, they ended up falling short by nine points. On Saturday night they have their best chance yet to break their duck, in what shapes as a mockbuster at Ikon Park, with the Blues languishing on one win for the season. After breaking through for their first win in over 12 months, against the Giants in Round 3, Daniel Harford’s side fell agonisingly short of a second consecutive win when they went down to the Geelong Cats by just five points last Saturday night. Had Tayla Harris not hit the post twice in the third quarter (as well as dropped some gettable marks), the Blues could so easily have won consecutive matches for the first time since the opening two rounds of last season. Instead, they remain third in Conference B and while a win will go a long way towards keeping their finals chances alive, it would also see the Pies edge closer to the overall wooden spoon (not only have they not won a match, their percentage is 56.2). Prediction: Carlton by six points.