AFLW Round 4: Collingwood 32 Footscray 25

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD   1.1.7     1.1.7   5.2.32   5.2.32
FOOTSCRAY        0.2.2   1.4.10   1.4.10   3.7.25

GOALS - Collingwood: Garner 2, Hope, D'Arcy, Eva

BEST - Collingwood: Eva, Garner, Hutchins, Cameron, Kuys

INJURIES - Collingwood: Sheahan (knee)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 6733 at Whitten Oval

THE MEDIA

AFL COLLINGWOOD has its first win of the NAB AFL Women's competition, blitzing the Western Bulldogs in the third quarter to spark a seven-point win at the Whitten Oval on Saturday night. The Magpies kicked four goals in the third term alone, after coming into the match having scored just eight majors in total over their past three games. The burst set up the 5.2 (32) to 3.7 (25) win. The tight, scrappy affair was soured by a potentially serious knee injury to Collingwood rookie Kate Sheahan. The forward, coming in as an emergency for her first game, changed direction attempting to evade an opponent and fell to the ground clutching her knee just seconds before half-time. Sheahan, the daughter of veteran journalist Mike, was carried from the ground by trainers visibly distressed. Magpies coach Wayne Siekman said Sheahan will undergo scans to determine the extent of the injury. "Obviously it's a knee, and the docs let me know she will have scans on Monday," Siekman said. "Fingers crossed it's not the worst, that's all we can do at the moment, just hope for her." Ellie Blackburn, acting Bulldogs captain after the late withdrawal of Katie Brennan, wrestled her team back into the contest in the second quarter after a lacklustre opening term. She had 10 disposals to half-time, and finished with 19 for the match. Meg Hutchins was a rock in defence for the Magpies, cutting off numerous Bulldogs entries and setting up play with her booming right foot. Alicia Eva (14 disposals, one goal) and Jasmine Garner (two goals, five marks) were among the Magpies' best, especially in the third quarter. Jess Cameron's great ball skills set up Eva's goal. Cameron continually tapped the ball along the boundary line, evading two defenders, before handballing to Eva who snapped truly. With their season on the line, the Bulldogs came out firing in the fourth quarter, putting the Magpies under enormous pressure. Blackburn kicked a goal inside the first minute, with Kirsty Lamb adding her second minutes later. But the Magpies slowed the game down in the final minutes, chipping the ball around to the dismay of the Bulldogs' faithful, to hold on for their first win. The dynamic duo Sides have tried and failed to kerb the influence of Bulldogs midfielders Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney, and that was nearly the case again the case on Saturday night. Blackburn was taken as a marquee player by the Dogs and her class is evident. She runs hard, creates and brings teammates into the game. Kearney, while quieter than normal, still finished with 13 disposals. The two seem to work as a tag-team – one is dominant while the other is quiet. If the two get going at the same time, the Bulldogs will be tough to beat. The premiership quarter The Magpies have struggled all season to kick goals, with poor delivery inside 50 a serious issue. But they were much more direct on Saturday night, constantly putting pressure on defenders, and kicked four goals in the crucial third term while holding the Bulldogs scoreless. Got the job done Questions surrounded the Bulldogs' scoring power, especially after the late withdrawal of marquee forward Katie Brennan. But Kirsty Lamb, who plays for Melbourne Uni and cricket for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, stepped up and filled some of the breach. While not as skilful as Brennan, she kicked two goals and provided a useful target in the forward line. The game-changer At 163cm, Alicia Eva is one of the smaller players on Collingwood's list, but she's also one of the more ferocious. She hassles opponents, disposes of the ball well, and is dangerous around goal. But she showed another side to her game on Saturday night, going head to head with the damaging Emma Kearney (leading disposals for the competition) and just shading her, finishing with 14 disposals and a goal to Kearney's 13. Say what? "Where did it get away from us? Probably that five-minute patch in the third quarter where they kicked three or four goals. We couldn't stem the flow there, but after that we could." – Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves "It was good that we played in similar conditions as last week in Brisbane with the breeze. That third quarter we got our reward, which set us up for victory." – Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman What's next? Collingwood will travel to Rushton Park in Perth to play Fremantle, also on Saturday morning. Both matches are double-headers with the men's sides.                                  REAL FOOTY Collingwood notched up their first win of the season with a second-half surge that blew the Western Bulldogs away at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. Moana Hope shrugged of the mid-week criticism to boot a strong goal, the first of the match. She played her part but did not star in the 5.2 (32) to 3.7 (25) win. It was a scrappy first quarter and a couple of missed opportunities from the Bulldogs forwards saw them go into the first break five points down. The Doggies' Kirsty Lamb got her team's first major score early in the second and the teams were neck-and-neck at half time. But Collingwood lifted after the main break, booting four goals and leaving the Doggies in their wake, It felt like football weather - a cool February night with a strong breeze and more than 6700 fans created a lively atmosphere at the Whitten Oval. The only downside was a strong smell emanating from the portaloos at the Yarraville end of the ground, which intermittently had fans covering their faces with scarves. Why Collingwood won The Western Bulldogs missed star forward Katie Brennan, who has been troubled by an ankle injury. They should have reached halftime well ahead, as they lead the statistics sheet with more disposals, tackles and inside-50s. But they simply could not convert in front of goal and as the game wore on, Collingwood gained confidence. After struggling all year, the Pies were not about to let the opportunity to win their first game slip way from them. Meg Hutchins was a strong presence at half-back and Jess Cameron and Alicia Eva were potent up forward. The Western Bulldogs had their chances, but Collingwood deserved the win. Play of the day Dynamic forward Cameron shrugged off two Bulldogs defenders to tap the ball well into Collingwood's forward 50. She eventually showed clean hands in scooping it up and hand passing to Eva, who snapped a beautiful Collingwood goal, opening the floodgates for the Pies. The moment people will talk about Kate Sheahan's worrisome injury late in the second quarter will be talked about for all the wrong reasons. The professional tennis coach had the ball on the flank and side-stepped to avoid a tackle when her knee appeared to give way, sending her tumbling to the ground. Sheahan, who in her mid-30s is among the oldest AFLW players, was a picture of pain when she was carried off the ground as cameras panned to her famous football journalist father Mike Sheahan in the stands. She later appeared on the sidelines wearing a tracksuit and walking on crutches. What the results mean Neither the Western Bulldogs nor Collingwood will play in this year's grand final, but for both teams pride was on the line. Highly regarded before the start of the season, the Bulldogs have been competitive, but have only one win from four matches to their names. Saturday night's match was their last at Whitten Oval this season and the Doggies would have loved to have won in front the home crowd. It was Collingwood's first win in the AFLW and they fought hard to achieve it. The Pies will be relieved to get the win and gain confidence ahead of their next match, against fellow battlers Fremantle.

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD posted its first win in AFLW which has all-but ended the Bulldogs' grand final hopes. Eliza Sewell takes a look at the talking points to emerge from the game at Whitten Oval. Injuries could prove the difference in who wins the flag Bulldogs coach Paul Groves had said it many times this season — the side that keeps its stars on the park will win the AFLW flag. The Bulldogs were without captain Katie Brennan for the second week, her ankle keeping her out again, and their forward line was dysfunctional. They were also missing ruck Aasta O'Connor while mid/small forward Jamie Lambert has looked out of sorts the past few weeks. Carlton was without star playmaker Bri Davey and it hurt in the Blues' loss to Melbourne. It's a cruel game Kate Sheehan had waited her entire life for the opportunity to play AFL football and finally got her chance last night at the age of 35. She sat patiently at full forward for a small stint in the first quarter and then in the second got her first touch of the Sherrin. She gathered the ball on the wing and as she went to sidestep around Angelica Gogos her left knee buckled and she went down in extreme pain. Sheahan was carried from the ground in tears as her father, legendary Herald Sun chief football writer Mike, watched on. Ellie Blackburn leads from the front The stand in captain had the home crowd cheering when she kicked a goal in the opening minute of the last quarter. The Bulldogs looked gone 22 points down at the last break, but when Hannah Scott won the ball at half-back and booted it long to a running Blackburn, the Dogs were suddenly back in it. The Magpies were just holding on, while the Bulldogs were charging. Kirsty Lamb kicked her second of the game and it was a seven point ball game. But it wasn't enough. Blackburn's usual partner in crime Emma Kearney didn't have the impact we're used to, being well held by Alicia Eva and Brittany Bonnici. Jazzy J She lives in the shadow of teammate Mo Hope at VFL Women's club St Kilda, but Jasmine Garner was the standout forward. She played a crucial role on the wing and high forward with her marking and kicks into attack setting up several scoring opportunities. She also kicked two goals in the crucial third quarter, where the Magpies took a 22-point lead. Hope still waiting to kick a bag Moana Hope is a confidence player and the opening moments would have stirred her. She was last out of the race as the Magpies were cheered onto the Whitten Oval, but was the first to score. Her opening goal came after a free kick when she was monstered by three Bulldogs without the ball. She started higher inside 50 and the Magpies were giving her space. A lead and mark could have easily led to her second goal of the first term, but she only registered a point. Where to now for the Magpies and the Bulldogs? Collingwood is sixth and a grand final berth is a pipe dream, while it appears season done for the Bulldogs. Only poor performances by rivals will get the Bulldogs to the last day of March. The Magpies have to travel to Mandurah next week to face Fremantle and then finally, six rounds in, they will play their first home game at Olympic Park. It's against the Giants so you'd think capacity wouldn't be a problem and the match will stay put.                                  COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood will know more about the severity of AFLW debutant Kate Sheahan's injury on Monday, when the forward will be sent for scans on her left knee. In an historic evening at Whitten Oval, Sheahan endured a bittersweet 24 hours. On Friday, the 35-year-old's childhood dream came true, when coach Wayne Siekman informed her she would be making her AFLW debut for the Magpies as a late inclusion against the Bulldogs. "Kate was so excited when she got the news," Siekman told the media at his post-match press conference. "When it was announced she was playing on the bus, she was in tears. "The whole group of players got around her and nearly jumped on her because they were so excited for her to get the opportunity." Pre-game, Sheahan was supported by family and friends in the rooms, including her father and well-renowned AFL journalist, Mike Sheahan. Australian tennis star, Daria Gavrilova – one of Kate's best friends and former housemate – was also in the rooms cheering on the small forward before the big game. The rookie-listed Sheahan was a late inclusion for forward Christina Bernadi, who doctors took a precautious approach with after suffering a head knock during last week's game against the Lions. After starting in the forward pocket, Sheahan pushed up onto the wing to find the ball in the second quarter. Sadly, while trying to sidestep one of the Bulldogs tacklers, her left knee buckled, and she went to ground in extreme discomfort. "I didn't see the incident (as I was coaching from the bench), but she'll go for scans on Monday," Siekman said. "Fingers crossed it's not the worst case for Kate." Sheahan was carried off the ground by the medical staff, and would not return to action for the rest of the game. She re-joined the bench in a tracksuit and crutches during the third term to cheer on her fellow Magpies. After running out of the top of the Bulldogs by seven points to claim victory, she joined her teammates on the field, celebrating emphatically in what was an emotional rollercoaster of an evening. Siekman said it was a "relief" to get the first win on the board, and credited the team's improvement from last week's performance against the Lions. "We had great positive signs last week. We knew how to play a good half of footy. In the third term tonight, we got more reward for effort on the scoreboard, and that ultimately set up our victory in the end. The Magpies piled on four unanswered goals after the half time break, with forward Jasmine Garner proving influential with two back-to-back goals in the period. Vice-captain Alicia Eva was one of the standout performers, amassing 14 disposals, three marks, eight tackles, one goal, as well as shutting down the Bulldogs' ball magnet, Emma Kearney after half-time. "Eva was up for the challenge (of playing on Kearney) and did what the team needed." "It was a big effort by Alicia and the team to get that result tonight." Siekman said he had 22 contributors on the field tonight, and that was the most pleasing factor of the win. "It's just great for our players – we are the biggest club in the country. "Our team is building towards something special – we all worked towards one goal to win tonight, and we'll hope to do the same next week when we take on Freo." Both Collingwood's women's and men's teams will travel to WA next week, where they'll take on Fremantle in a double-header for their respective AFLW and JLT Community Series matches. Collingwood women's team will be first up, when they meet the Dockers at Rushton Park, with the match set for a 1:35pm (AEST) start time. Kate Sheahan carried from field.

AFLW Round 4: The Team

AFLW Round 4 COLLINGWOOD v FOOTSCRAY Time & Place: Saturday Feb 25, 7:10pm Whitten Oval TV: 7Mate / Fox Sports 7:00pm Weather: Min 15 Max 21 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: S 28kph Betting: Collingwood $3.25 Footscray $1.33

B: Cecilia McIntosh, Stacey Livingstone, Caitlyn Edwards

HB: Stephanie Chiocci, Nicola Stevens, Meg Hutchins

C: Amelia Barden

HF: Alicia Eva, Sarah D'Arcy, Jess Cameron

F: Emma Grant, Moana Hope, Jasmine Garner

R: Emma King, Lauren Tesoriero, Bree White

Int: Tara Morgan, Brittany Bonnici, Georgia Walker, Melissa Kuys, Ruby Schleicher, Christina Bernardi

Emg: Penny Cula-Reid, Kate Sheahan

Collingwood News Emma King has won more hitouts than any other ruck in the first three weeks of the season. Collingwood has named an unchanged line up for the first time in the inaugural AFL Women's season. The Magpies are yet to register their first win, but their narrow four-point loss to Brisbane was the team's best performance of the season to date. Goalless in the first half, the Pies outscored the Lions after the main break and very nearly pinched victory. "We had a really good four quarter effort last week from the playing group," coach Wayne Siekman told Collingwood Media. "We won the majority of our key stats, except of course the scoreboard, and as a match committee we were pleased with that and didn't feel there was any need to change the line up." Defender Penny Cula-Reid and the untried Kate Sheahan are the team's two emergencies. Their opponents, the Western Bulldogs, sit fifth on the competition ladder with one win from two games. They fell 14-points short against Melbourne last week, with Ellie Blackburn (26 disposals) and Emma Kearney (25 disposals) leading the charge. A trip to the Kennel won't be easy, but, as Siekman says, Collingwood's priority will be picking up where it left off in the final quarter against the Lions. "We've got to continue the momentum we had from last week's game, especially with the way we finished the game. "If we start that way, it gives us an opportunity to post our first win of the season. "We want the players to continue to play to the structure that we require against the opposition. They were executing it extremely well last week, and they saw the rewards." Ultimate Preview Amelia Barden has been one of Collingwood's leading midfielders in the early stages of the 2017 AFLW season. After their best performance in the AFL Women's competition to date, Collingwood is back in Melbourne to meet Victorian rivals the Western Bulldogs in a round four Saturday night clash at Whitten Oval. Recent Form The Magpies may not have a win on the board yet, but Siekman said he was confident his team's first victory wouldn't be too far away, after huge improvements were made against Brisbane in the team's first away trip of the competition. Having started slowly, the Magpies came out strong after the long break with all the momentum, and almost pinched victory from the hometown Brisbane Lions with only minutes to play. Despite the result, Siekman told the media post-game: "This was the first game we've played the full four quarters and the effort was still there until the final siren sounded." Meanwhile, last weekend the Western Bulldogs were defeated by 14-points on their home turf against Melbourne. The loss means the Dogs currently sit fifth on the ladder, with a 1-2 season record. Collingwood currently sits at the bottom of the ladder, but a big win against the Bulldogs could skyrocket them straight back up the other end of the eight. Keep an eye on… The Melbourne Stars: Collingwood's Jess Cameron and Western Bulldogs' Emma Kearney will put former alliances aside when they clash on Saturday night at Whitten Oval. Kearney (a right-arm medium pace bowler) and Cameron (a right-hand bat), both play for the Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League Speaking of Emma Kearney, the Bulldogs midfielder has been dominant in the middle in the first three weeks of AFLW competition. Kearney has amassed 20-plus disposals in each match, including 15 contested possessions against Melbourne For the Magpies, Nicola Stevens was one of the best afield last week against the Lions. The defender led the back half with 13 disposals and five marks, including a courageous pack mark with only minutes to play in the final term The importance of inside 50s: Despite missing captain and key forward Katie Brennan against the Demons, the Bulldogs took zero marks inside 50 last week For the Pies, getting the ball inside 50 with any purpose was their biggest problem. However, once adjustments were made in the second half, the Magpies were able to mark the ball inside the arc, with key targets Sarah D'Arcy (six marks) Jasmine Garner (three marks) presenting off the half forward line.

AFLW Round 3: Brisbane 27 Collingwood 23

THE FACTS

BRISBANE           1.2.8    2.2.14    3.2.20    4.3.27
COLLINGWOOD    0.0.0     0.4.4    2.4.16    3.5.23

GOALS - Collingwood: Cameron, Chiocci, D'Arcy

BEST - Collingwood: D'Arcy, Tesoriero, Stevens, Chiocci, Hutchins

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 5,500 at South Pine Sports Complex

THE MEDIA

AFL THE BRISBANE Lions registered their third straight win in the NAB AFL Women's competition, condemning Collingwood to its third consecutive loss in the process. In front of a packed house at South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon, the Lions led for the entire game, in the end emerging 4.3 (27) to 3.5 (23) winners. The Pies surged in the third quarter to get within four points, but it was the inspiring effort of Kate McCarthy (two goals) which buoyed the Lions. Supported by skipper Emma Zielke and Kaitlyn Ashmore in the middle, McCarthy was given plenty of opportunity to show why she is one of the most explosive inside midfielders in the competition. Collingwood looked a different team in the second half, and had a chance to take the lead from a Moana Hope set shot late in the fourth but ultimately fell short. The win puts the undefeated Lions at the top of the AFL Women's ladder, while the Pies are anchored to the bottom after Fremantle and GWS earned their first competition points in a draw earlier in the day. The Lions will slip to second on percentage behind either the Crows or Carlton when the two other unbeaten sides meet to finish off round three on Sunday. Did you see that? Kate McCarthy, take a bow. The 23-year-old may have just scored the goal of the competition. After being fed the ball inside the centre square, the ex-Queensland sprint champion put the jets on, outrunning teammates and opposition alike. She took five bounces in her blistering run, travelling over half the field on a one-way trip to the goal square. Do yourself a favour and watch it here. The difference While Collingwood led most of the statistical measures, it was the key moments where the Lions stepped up and made the most of their opportunities. On two occasions, lightning quick turnovers in their back half allowed for Lions midfielders McCarthy and Ashmore to provide run and carry which both resulted in goals. From the winners' rooms After belting out the team song for the third consecutive week, the Lions are full of confidence going into next week's game against the Giants. The ladder now The Lions sit on top for now, but the winner of the Carlton and Adelaide clash on Sunday will displace them. GWS and Fremantle's drawn match means the luckless Pies are now the sole team at the bottom. Say what? "I think we were probably lucky, but full credit and we're very proud of them to hang in there and be able to compete to the end." Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich "As a coach I'm really proud of the group. Across the board everything was really positive, just not the result on the scoreboard at the end of the game." Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman What's next? Collingwood heads to Whitten Oval on Saturday night to take on the Western Bulldogs from 7:10pm (AEDT).                                  REAL FOOTY Former Australian representative sprinter Kate McCarthy kicked arguably the goal of the AFL Women's competition so far as the Brisbane Lions maintained their unbeaten record with a nailbiting four-point win over Collingwood. The 23-year-old, who had also played touch football for Australia and cricket for Queensland, switched on the afterburners with a stunning run-and-gun goal in Saturday's second quarter. Believed to be the only AFL player in history to wear a pacemaker, McCarthy left chasing Magpies opponents in her wake as she took five bounces from behind the centre circle all the way to the goal square before converting from point-blank range. She also kicked another in the last quarter to send the Lions on their way to a hard-fought 4.3 (27) to 3.5 (23) victory, with Collingwood still searching for their maiden AFLW win. "I picked it up and there was just a lot of wide open space so I thought, here's my chance to have a run," McCarthy said. "[The pacemaker] doesn't stop me at all. I was pretty tired at the end so we could blame it on that, but really it was just a long run that took a lot out of me." A strong wind favouring one side of the ground and tough 34 degree heat contributed to the low scoring. The Lions relished the conditions, dominated the first half and led by 10 points at half-time. Collingwood did not score a goal until midway through the third term, the team's first major in four quarters of football, having been held scoreless after quarter-time last week by Melbourne. The Magpies' marquee star Moana Hope finished with just two disposals, and also missed a set shot from a difficult angle in the last quarter that could have put her side in front. Coach Wayne Siekman said he would consider moving Hope further up the field to give her a better chance of making an impact on games. "Going through the numbers, we won every single area except the inside 50s and the scoreboard. We couldn't just quite get the reward," he said. Sarah D'Arcy was one of Collingwood's best in the loss to Brisbane.

SUPERFOOTY KATE McCarthy knows how to set hearts racing. She electrified the largely pro-Brisbane crowd on hand to watch the Lions' four point victory over Collingwood with a scorching five-bounce sprint that ended in the best goal of the AFLW so far. It was one of two goals she kicked to be the difference in the Lions' 4.3 (27) to 3.5 (23) victory over Collingwood in front of 5500 at the South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale. McCarthy is already an inspiration for being the first player in the AFLW to compete with a pacemaker. "It doesn't stop me at all,'' she said. "I was pretty tired at the end so we could blame it on that (pacemaker), but really it was just a long run that took a lot out of me.'' She is clearly also the competition's pacesetter. The Lions midfielder collected the ball just behind the centre circle midway through the second quarter and put the jets on, leaving a trail of defenders in her wake. Her pace was no secret to the competition given her resume as a former Australian touch football and track and field representative. And she's also a state cricketer. But to see it in action was something else. Rarely do players have multiple bounces unless they are out on a wing and there has been a switch of play. The 23-year-old's charge was straight through the middle of the ground. And no one laid a hand on her. For Collingwood fans it would have raised memories of one of their own, Phil Manassa who kicked the goal of the year in 1977 with a four bounce effort for the Pies. "I picked it up and there was just a lot of wide open space so I thought, here's my chance to have a run,'' she said. "I had a few bounces and got about 30m out and thought about kicking it but then thought. I'd better just be safe here so I had one more bounce.'' Her students at Clairvaux McKillop College will have something to talk about at school on Monday. "Some of the boys and a lot of the girls have been getting around me, that has been great,' she said. The Pies surged back in the third quarter and, with the aid of a strong wind in the final term looked capable of causing an upset. McCarthy gave the Lions the breathing space they needed with her second when she sprinted into space to get on the end of a handpass from Kaitlyn Ashmore who had broken trough from the middle of the ground with a powerful run of her own. Emma Zielke, Emily Bates, Leah Kaslar, Sabrina Frederick-Traub were other standouts for the Lions. The Pies were best served by D'Arcy and captain Stephanie Chiocci.                                  COLLINGWOOD NEWS The AFLW Magpies may not be flying home to Melbourne with the four points, but their best performance to date has coach Wayne Siekman confident the club's first win isn't far away. Collingwood came as close as they've been to securing victory in the AFLW, but ultimately were defeated by the hometown Brisbane Lions by four points in a thrilling fourth quarter finish at South Pine Complex in Queensland. Both teams battled it out in trying conditions - which saw temperatures reach a sizzling high of 36 degrees, as extreme winds and humidity also play a role in the contest. After a scoreless first quarter, the Pies stormed home in the second half but were unable to take the lead in the final term, going down 3.5 (23) to Brisbane 4.3 (27). Despite Collingwood's winless start to the competition, Siekman says he is "proud" of his team's improvement against the Lions. "It was a great effort," Siekman told the media in his post-match press-conference. "We came up here with a good game plan and a good attack and we won every single area except the inside-50 count and the scoreboard, and that's just part of the game. "This was the first game we've played the full four quarters and the effort was still there until the final siren sounded. As a coach, I'm very proud of this group." Forward Sarah D'Arcy reaffirmed her status as one of the best young forwards in the AFLW competition, backing up her first two impressive performances with another dominant 14 disposal, six mark, two tackle and one goal game. D'Arcy was the driving force behind Collingwood's third-quarter momentum swing, presenting across centre-half forward and working hard in tough conditions. After a disappointing third term fade-out against the Demons last week, the Pies kicked two goals into the breeze – thanks to Jess Cameron and skipper Steph Chiocci – to pull back and trail by four points heading into the final break. Despite the result, Siekman was full of praise for side's performance. "It was a tight contest all day, but we just couldn't quite get the reward on the scoreboard." "It was a huge improvement from last week, and as the season goes on we keep improving. "We just couldn't quite get across the line today." After being omitted from last week's game against Melbourne, Lauren Tesoriero returned to form, collecting 14 possessions and five tackles in the middle. Defender Nicola Stevens was another standout for the Magpies, amassing 13 disposals and five marks, including a courageous grab in defence in the final minutes of play. Next week, the Magpies hit the road again – this time, just down the freeway - to face the Western Bulldogs at VU Whitten Oval in a Saturday night blockbuster. After an improved performance against the Lions, Siekman says his team needs to take the next step to secure their first victory. "We have to keep finding that next edge to get over the line now. We had our first four quarter effort, and now we just need to find that extra 5-10% to get us across the line." "We want players to come in and play their role and represent the club (like Georgia Walker did today), and if they do that, we'll get our first win. "We set up the best side to play the opposition every week. We'll look at the Bulldogs and what they do well, and well pick a side that we think that could go in and beat them."

AFL Pre Season Game 1: Collingwood 105 Essendon 94

THE FACTS

COLLINGWOOD   0.3.0.18    0.5.4.34     0.9.4.58   2.13.9.105

AFL Pre Season Collingwood Game 2 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time & Place: Saturday March 4, 1:40pm WST Rushton Park, Mandurah

ESSENDON         0.2.2.14    0.6.5.41    0.12.9.81   0.14.10.94

SUPER GOALS - Collingwood: Dunn, Varcoe

GOALS - Collingwood: Hoskin-Elliott 2, Crisp 2, De Goey 2, White, Varcoe, Phillips, Moore, Mayne, Elliott, Aish

BEST - Collingwood: Phillips, De Goey, Smith, Sidebottom, Greenwood, Ramsay

INJURIES - Collingwood: Sinclair (hamstring)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD: 16,521 at Etihad Stadium

Collingwood News Returning stars, prized new recruits and a bevy of new faces awaited eager Essendon supporters on Thursday night as the freshest iteration of the red and black team lined up for the first time. And Bombers fans would have left Etihad Stadium pleased with what they saw on every front – well, that was at least until Collingwood's barnstorming finish ruined what looked like being a perfect night for the Dons as they enter their new era. That the Bombers gave up a 27-point lead in the third quarter to be defeated by 11 points at the hands of Collingwood in the opening JLT Community Series match on Thursday night was not the most significant takeaway from the game. Nor would it have been had the Bombers held on, with both sides missing important players. Within the 2.13.9 (105) to 0.14.10 (94) win for Collingwood was a number of more telling storylines for both clubs – one aiming to get back into the finals for the first time after a poor year in 2016 and the other aiming to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder. The losers were the centre of attention, and for obvious reasons. For one, there was the six (midfielder Heath Hocking did not make the final squad) Bombers who played their first games after serving anti-doping bans last year – a comeback that finally puts a full stop on football's longest and worst saga. Jobe Watson, perhaps the face of the scandal over the past four years, took no time to get involved with the first kick of the game and opening two centre clearances. The former skipper was also given a rapturous reception when he lined up for goal in the second term (a moment that would have drawn an even bigger cheer had his shot not sailed wide). Of the other returning Dons, new skipper Dyson Heppell (17 disposals) was his busy self, Travis Colyer kicked two goals in a lively showing up forward, and Michael Hurley was composed across half-back. Ben Howlett also hit the scoreboard, while David Myers didn't really get into the game until the third term after spending most of the first half on the bench. The Pies, though, had their own comeback stories to tell, which made their impressive fourth-quarter fightback (which included two supergoals and four regular majors) all the more encouraging. Jamie Elliott did not get much of the ball – he finished with eight disposals and a goal in a half – but proved his importance to the Pies' hopes this season. After not playing a game last year due to a debilitating back injury, the star small forward showed glimpses of his ability with a high-flying grab early on and his presence will be important if the Magpies are to return to the finals. Lachlan Keeffe, returning after his own anti-doping ban, was solid as a forward and pinch-hitting ruckman, while Matt Scharenberg, after his well-publicised knee struggles, was quiet but looked comfortable for the Pies. After a scrappy first half, the Pies looked set to drop their opening pre-season encounter when they trailed by 21 points at the final change, but two supergoals early in the last term – to former Demons defender Lynden Dunn and ex-Cat Travis Varcoe – sprung them into action and they overrun the Bombers. The last-quarter lift came from a young midfield group that was without skipper Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams for the night. Tom Phillips was in everything early – he had 15 disposals to half-time in an effort to razz his teammates into action – and he finished as the Pies' leading possession winner. But just as positively, it was Jordan De Goey's two-goal last term that all but iced the win for the Pies. On Thursday night's evidence, both will be important in shaping the Pies' fortunes this season. What we learned - Collingwood The Pies have some impressive youth, but they will be relied upon plenty this year. In the midfield Jordan De Goey and Tom Phillips went well against Essendon, and Brayden Maynard is a powerful unit wherever he goes. James Aish is still only about to head into his fourth season, while Darcy Moore will enter his third. Moore, in particular, will have plenty of pressure on him this season to be the Pies' main man in attack and he was quiet against the Dons. But his athleticism and marking ability will make him a constant danger, and he is one of a group of young Pies who will get valuable experience in 2017 as they attempt to push up the ladder. New faces - Collingwood The Pies' free agent signing, Chris Mayne, played in attack but was largely quiet aside from a third-quarter goal. Former Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott's run and carry showed he should be able to bring something different to the club this season. There have been questions on who will hold down the Pies' key position posts in defence this season, but the addition of former Gold Coast backman Henry Schade added some size and strength there against the Dons. Father-son pick-up Josh Daicos spent the first half on the bench before being introduced to the game in the third quarter. He finished with seven touches playing across half-forward. Former Demon Lynden Dunn will add some stability to the back half and highlighted his long kick with a vital supergoal as well. Next up - Collingwood Collingwood has a big break between games, having more than two weeks off before traveling to Western Australian to play Fremantle at Rushton Park on March 4.

AFLW Round 3: The Team

AFLW Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v BRISBANE Time & Place: Saturday Feb 18, 4:35pm EDT South Pine TV: Fox Sports 4:30pm EDT Weather: Min 22 Max 34 Chance of rain 40%: 1-5mm Wind: NE 27kph Betting: Brisbane $1.38 Collingwood $3.05

B: Tara Morgan, Stacey Livingstone, Meg Hutchins

HB: Cecilia McIntosh, Nic Stevens, Stephanie Chiocci

C: Amelia Barden

HF: Alicia Eva, Sarah D'Arcy, Jess Cameron

F: Christina Bernardi, Moana Hope, Jasmine Garner

Foll: Emma King, Bree White, Brittany Bonnici

Int: Caitlyn Edwards, Melissa Kuys, Georgia Walker, Ruby Schleicher, Lauren Tesoriero, Emma Grant

Emg: Lou Watton, Helen Roden

IN: Lauren Tesoriero, Ruby Schleicher, Georgia Walker

OUT: Sophie Casey (suspended), Penny Cula-Reid (omitted), Lou Watton (omitted)

Collingwood News Lauren Tesoriero returns after missing last week's loss to Melbourne. This weekend, Collingwood hits the road in search of its first win in the AFL Women's competition. After two games at Ikon Park, the Magpies will fly to Queensland to take on the undefeated Brisbane at South Pine Sports Complex. The match committee has made three changes, recalling Ruby Schleicher and Lauren Tesoriero, who were omitted after the opening loss to Carlton, and blooding Georgia Walker, who joined the club in late December. About the inclusions Coach Wayne Siekman on Collingwood's three inclusions: Ruby Schleicher "Ruby will add further versatility to our team, not just in the ruck but all over the ground. Her ability to play in multiple positions will help us this week." Lauren Tesoriero "A strong-bodied midfielder who will help against a very good midfield that we're up against, and add further depth to the onball group." Georgia Walker "She's been training well and will add further depth to our midfield, especially given we're playing in hot afternoon conditions in Queensland. She will give us the extra run that we require." How will we approach our trip to Queensland? "We're excited to get the group together to go away for two days to play a very well coached side in Brisbane," Siekman said. "To play in hot conditions is going to be a good challenge that both sides will need to manage. "We've picked a side that can give us the best chance to get the four points this week."

2017 Pre-Season Game 1 Squad Named

Collingwood News - Luke Mason

Collingwood Pre Season Game 1 Squad
1. Alex Fasolo 2. Jordan De Goey 5. Jamie Elliott 6. Tyson Goldsack 9. Jesse White 11. Jarryd Blair 12. Matthew Scharenberg 14. James Aish 15. Lynden Dunn 16. Chris Mayne 18. Travis Varcoe 19. Levi Greenwood 21. Tom Phillips 22. Steele Sidebottom 23. Lachlan Keeffe	25. Jack Crisp 26. Josh Daicos 28. Ben Sinclair 30. Darcy Moore 31. Jackson Ramsay 32. Will Hoskin-Elliott 37. Brayden Maynard 38. Jeremy Howe 40. Josh Smith 41. Henry Schade* 43. Adam Oxley 44. Liam Mackie* 45. Max Lynch* 46. Mason Cox* *Denotes rookie

Jamie Elliott headlines a pack of Magpies who are set to return to senior football after lengthy absences in Collingwood’s JLT Community Series opener against Essendon.
The team includes three untried players, four experienced recruits and a further four players who have not played senior football for some time.

The comeback kings
The match will be momentous for Elliott and young teammates Matthew Scharenberg and Jackson Ramsay, will play their first games of any kind since undergoing major surgery.
Elliott, as has been well documented, has not played senior football since the final round of the 2015 season. A back injury laid him low during the pre-season and eventually saw him sent in for surgery.

PRE-SEASON DRAW MATCH 1 Thursday, 16 February Collingwood v Essendon Etihad Stadium 19:40 EDT MATCH 2 Saturday, 4 March Fremantle v Collingwood Rushton Park, Mandurah 13:40 WST MATCH 3 Saturday, 11 March Richmond v Collingwood Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe 13:10 EDT

"To be honest, I didn't know what was going to happen (with my injury)," Elliott said during a live interview on Collingwood’s Facebook page last Wednesday.
"I had good days and bad days. I still do, but I am finding a way to manage my back in terms of preparation and recovery leading into training sessions."
For Scharenberg and Ramsay, the match will mark their returns from knee reconstructions.
Ramsay underwent his in April 2016 following a training mishap.
Scharenberg, meanwhile, has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during a training session in November 2015.

Back into the fray
Lachlan Keeffe is in line to make his return to senior football.
The 26-year-old’s two-year anti-doping suspension expired on 10 February.
Should he play against Essendon, it will 902 days since Keeffe’s last senior appearance against Hawthorn in the final round of the 2014 season.
Coach Nathan Buckley has already hinted that Keeffe, historically used as a key defender, may be trialled up forward.
“We know Keeffey can play down back if required but our depth charts indicate he may be a better chance of playing senior footy as a forward/ second ruckman,” Buckley wrote in an AFL Media Facebook Q&A.
“He has trained really well and will be ready when called upon. (He) came back very fit.”

Josh Daicos impressed during Wednesday's intra-club match at the Holden Centre.

Another Macedonian Marvel
Collingwood fans have been pining for the sight of a Daicos in a Black and White jumper since Peter’s final game in round 10, 1993.
For the most one-eyed of Pies, Thursday night could mark the end of a 23 year-7 month-6 day drought.
Eighteen-year-old Josh Daicos has been named in the 29-man squad after a fine performance in Wednesday’s intra-club match.
“Josh looked really good. Whichever grade he steps up to, he looks like he can handle it," assistant coach Brenton Sanderson after the game.
“He looks poised and balanced with the footy, a bit like his Dad.”
Daicos, along with rookies Liam Mackie and Max Lynch, are the three untried players in Thursday’s squad.

Old faces, new jumper
It’s not just the uncapped and once-injured Magpies who will be a little toey on Thursday night.
Lynden Dunn, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Chris Mayne and Henry Schade are in line to play their first games in a Collingwood jumper after arriving from other AFL clubs during the off-season.
All four performed well in Wednesday’s intra-club match and will be eager to develop an on-field chemistry with their new teammates.

Squad rules
Both teams are to name a 29-man squad before trimming the group to 26 on game day. Both sides will play with eight players on the interchange bench with no substitutes.

Absentees
Senior Magpies who will sit out Thursday’s match include Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Adam Treloar and Daniel Wells. In Pendlebury’s absence, Steele Sidebottom will captain the side.

AFLW Round 2: Melbourne 44 Collingwood 25

THE FACTS

MELBOURNE           1.0.6    1.0.6   5.1.31   7.2.44
COLLINGWOOD     3.0.18   4.1.25   4.1.25   4.1.25

GOALS - Collingwood: Edwards, Hope, Grant, Cameron

BEST - Collingwood: Barden, D'Arcy, Eva, Grant, Chiocci

INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil

REPORTS - Collingwood: Casey reported for late hit on Downie

OFFICIAL CROWD: 6,917 at Princes Park, Carlton

THE MEDIA

AFL A FIVE-GOAL burst in just 17 minutes from Melbourne was enough to record a 19-point win against a disappointing Collingwood, consigning the Magpies to a second loss in two matches. With both teams needing a win to keep their slim Grand Final hopes alive in a short season, it was Collingwood that hit the ground running. The Magpies were led by their captain Steph Chiocci, who provided pace and accurate kicking off half-back and set up several goals. The Magpies' ruck duo of Emma King and Lou Wotton gave first use to the midfield and they jumped to a 19-point lead by half-time. Melbourne struggled to get the ball past the centre line in the first half, but came to life in the third quarter, kicking four goals and holding the Magpies scoreless. Karen Paxman was superb, the 28-year-old priority player (signed before the draft) using her experience and bigger body to kick-start the Demons. She finished with 15 disposals and a goal for the match. Magpies forward Sophie Casey will come under scrutiny for a heavy, late hit to Demon Meg Downie's jaw, which knocked her out. Downie had tapped the ball forward before getting cleaned up by Casey, and play was stopped for several minutes as she was taken off the ground on a stretcher. Melbourne coach Mick Stinear said Downie had been cleared of any serious damage and had been taken to hospital for further checks after suffering a severe concussion. The monkey off the back Moana Hope had a very quiet game against Carlton, and the Collingwood marquee forward bounced back in style in the first quarter. Intent on proving her doubters wrong, Hope was in everything early, setting up a goal and kicking one of her own – the first for the marquee player in the AFL Women's competition. She outplayed Mia-Rae Clifford, and Melbourne was forced to move Melissa Hickey on her in the second quarter. Five minutes of madness After barely raising a whimper in the first half, Melbourne came out after half-time and kicked three goals in five minutes. Cat Phillips, a former Ultimate Frisbee player for Australia and signed to the Dees as a rookie, showed speed and skill in kicking two goals – one a snap over her shoulder, and the other burning off her opponent running into goal. Karen Paxman kicked a goal between Phillips' two, an opportunistic kick out of a pack from 35 metres. From being 19 points down at half-time, Melbourne had levelled the scores after five minutes. The moment Melbourne had an outstanding third quarter, and the question was whether they could maintain their quick run-and-carry style game in the fourth – and if Collingwood would let them. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Melbourne was only six points ahead. Demon Shelley Scott had marked in the forward pocket, and looked ready to take a set shot at goal before playing on and snapping the ball. It bounced over the unguarded goal line, without a Collingwood player in sight. The questions had been answered, and Melbourne was 12 points in front, on its way to a win and a 38-point turnaround. It could be a nervous wait for… Collingwood's Sophie Casey. The forward is known for being courageous in the air and hard at the footy, but landed a late, crude hit on Meg Downie. The Demon had tapped the ball forward, volleyball style, before Casey jumped off the ground, appeared to lift her elbow, and collected Downie in the jaw. She was knocked out, and play was stopped for several minutes as she was taken off the ground on a stretcher. Downie was later taken to hospital with concussion for further observation. Say what? "We have a certain style of footy we want to play, and get it into space and take the game on. I think when the chips were down at half-time, they had nothing to lose and went for it. That's when it started to click and they began to believe in each other." - Melbourne coach Mick Stinear "We didn't play the full 70 minutes, as per the Carlton match. Our last seven or eight minutes we gave away too many uncontested marks, and allowed them to have too many easy shots at goal, which is unacceptable at this level." - Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman What's next? Collingwood hits the road for the first time and will be desperate for its first win, taking on the Brisbane Lions at South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon at 3.35pm AEDT. Melbourne heads to Whitten Oval to face the Western Bulldogs in a match of the AFLW pioneers. The game, on Saturday night at 7.40pm AEDT, will follow the men's corresponding JLT Community Series match.                                  REAL FOOTY Ultimate frisbee champion Cat Phillips proved the value of AFLW teams casting their recruiting nets wide, when she booted two impressive goals to help Melbourne to their first win of the season. She played as though she had a lifetime of football under her belt at  Ikon  Park on Saturday night, showing an uncanny ability to find the goals. Skipper Daisy Pearce was dynamic at half-back, every bit the league super star who got more of the ball than any other player. Much-loved by Melbourne fans, Pearce was everywhere the team needed her to be when she spearheaded the Dees' comeback in the second half. But Collingwood had their opportunities. They led by three goals at half-time and were playing a tough, relentless brand of football only to fade in the second half. A downside for the Demons was  Meg Downie  being stretchered off in the final term after copping a high hit. She was taken to hospital as a precaution. The side rallied however, their endeavour showcasing the strengths of the competition. Both Collingwood and Melbourne suffered heavy losses in round one, managing just one major score apiece for their entire matches. But facing each other, they were highly competitive. They scored often and played with excitement and flair. It is too early to write off either of these Victorian teams. The league's opening match between Carlton and Collingwood at the same ground was an emphatic success – security guards were forced to turn about 2000 angry punters away when the stands filled up halfway through the first quarter. The Pies' round two match against Melbourne did not attract quite the same crowd, with the 24,000-capacity ground about half full. But there was a sense of excitement about the place and enough of a crowd to give a resounding roar as the Dees' theme song rang out across Carlton. Both teams' goalkicking was a highlight. The forwards were daring and they kicked accurately. Collingwood got off to a strong start when star forward Moana Hope pulled in a strong mark at the 50-metre line, looked ready to take a shot then snuck a pass to Caitlyn Edwards, who kicked an easy goal. Hope followed up with a goal of her own just minutes later, with  an around the body shot, under pressure, which with a good helping of luck bounced through. Dees tall forward Jessica Anderson got her team on the board with a lovely goal on the run, setting the game up to be a competitive affair. Collingwood beat Melbourne through the centre in the first half.  Captain Stephanie Chiocci was particularly dynamic for the Pies early on, but she notched up most of her possessions in the first half. Collingwood recruited some particularly strong players into their forward line and the strategy paid off on Saturday night, when the likes of Jessica Cameron and  Hope had opportunities to shine. But in the third quarter, the tide turned and it turned quickly. With a burst of energy, Melbourne found a way to break through some of the stoppages around the edges of the ground and send the ball flying into their forward 50. Pearce came to life, with stamina and skills unsurpassed by any other player on the ground. Why Melbourne won the game  Melbourne had superior stamina to Collingwood, seeming to find a second wind in the third quarter when the 'Pies began to fade. Collingwood dominated the hit outs, but the Dees led the possession count 184 to 164 and used the ball more cleanly.  Melbourne were highly skilful when in their forward 50, working together well to set up some spectacular goals. The play of the game Jessica Anderson booted a long ball down the ground and into the goal square.  After a scramble where Collingwood's defenders almost managed to rush a behind, Alyssa Mifsud got her hands on the ball and, seemingly out of nowhere, kicked a spectacular snap-shoot goal to put the Dees in front for the first time. The moment that people will talk about Cat Phillips kicked a magical goal around her body, from the boundary line early in the third quarter that ignited the crowd and injected a new energy into the Melbourne team.  A game-changing moment and one destined for the end-of season highlights package. What the win/loss means for the teams Both teams approached the match keen to record their first win the season. Melbourne, lead by possibly's AFLW's best player in  Daisy Pearce, shook off any nerves to prove they are still a team to watch in this competition. But the Pies showed much more composure and promise than in round one.  They now need to work on maintaining their pressure throughout four quarters.

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD have been kept scoreless in the second half as Melbourne stormed home to claim its first AFLW win. The Magpies were well on top at half-time leading by 19 points before the Demons' charge, that saw them run out 7.2 (44) to 4.1 (25) winners. Collingwood's season now looks over at 0-2 after losing to arch-rivals Carlton in Round 1 while Melbourne's Grand Final hopes are still alive at 1-1. Mo was moving early After a subdued start to her AFLW career, Moana Hope wasn't going to go quietly on Saturday night. Just two minutes in Hope marked just outside 50. She drove the ball into the pocket where teammate Sarah D'Arcy gathered. Hope then snuck forward and marked again. She had every right to go for the shot, but instead picked out Caitlyn Edwards who then had an easy six points. Not long after Hope led strongly in front of Mia-Rae Clifford and took another text book mark and goal. The Demons sent top class defender Mel Hickey to her late in the first and it quelled her influence. She ended the match with the same number of touches she had in Round 1, four. Score and score fast is the key The Demons looked a different team in the third term. Top liners Mel Hickey, Karen Paxman and Daisy Pearce all got moving. Cat Phillips, the ultimate Frisbee player, showed speed and agility and was crucial to the scintillating 4.1 quarter as the Demons took the lead for the first time in the match. The big knock on the Dees was their lack of a forward line. But on Saturday night Jess Anderson presented better and Alyssa Mifsud got her hands on it. But it was more about the fast ball movement, thanks largely to Pearce and Paxman, which allowed them to score. Did we need to move the game from Olympic Park? Yes, the 6917 would have been spilling out of the 5000-capacity Olympic Park. It's interesting to see which clubs have the most fans. Carlton drew almost 8,000 after its family day and the Bulldogs had just over 7,500 for their clash against the Crows. The Dockers have their first home game this afternoon, going head-to-head with the W-League Grand Final. How harsh will the MRP be? Three players were suspended after Round 1 and this week, Collingwood's Sophie Casey appears in trouble. Her late hit on Meg Downie required an unconscious Downie to be stretchered off with a neck brace. Casey didn't have her eyes on the ball and raised her elbow to Downie's head. Melbourne coach Mick Stinear said Downie had been cleared of any serious damage by medical staff but was being sent to hospital after the head knock. "Still a heavy concussion," Stinear said. "Fingers crossed she continues to improve." Who won't be playing the last Saturday in March It's seems harsh that a season could be over by Round 2, but that's the way it looks for GWS and Collingwood in this seven-week home-and-away competition. With just the top two qualifying for the Grand Final, two losses, like Collingwood and GWS have suffered in the opening rounds, puts sides behind the preverbial eight ball. Adelaide is unbeaten and after its impressive showing on Friday night against the Bulldogs, it's hard to see the Crows dropping a match. The Blues were tested by the Giants but responded and are also unbeaten. If you're lucky a club might be able to drop one game and still make the Grand Final. When the lights go out You don't call the game off, not in AFLW. The temporary lighting in one of the pockets went off in the third term. The crowd tried its best to help, waving their lit phones. The lights were re-set at the last break and returned to their full glow for the last quarter.                                  COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood AFLW coach Wayne Siekman has lamented a disappointing second half as his side succumbed to their second straight loss, going down to Melbourne by 19 points at Ikon Park on Saturday night. After outplaying Melbourne in the first half and leading four goals to one at the long break, the Demons piled on four unanswered goals in the third term, and eventually ran out the game stronger to come away with a 7.2 (44) to 4.1 (25) victory. In a similar vein to last week's loss against Carlton, Siekman says his team didn't play out the full 70 minutes. "They outworked us tonight," Siekman told the media post-game at his press-conference. "The message to our players at half time was to be conscious of Melbourne breaking the game open. "Melbourne came out and executed their game plan perfectly in the second half. Full credit to their players and their coaching staff for being able to do that." The Magpies' disposal efficiency going into the forward 50 was the highlight of the first half, as Moana Hope, Emma Grant, Jess Cameron and Steph Chiocci got the scoreboard ticking over with accurate set shots at goal. But after a scoreless second half, Siekman said his side "needed to take more risks". "We weren't brave enough or willing to take the game on after half time. We outplayed them convincingly in the first half, but we couldn't manufacture that after the break." The forward group were starved of opportunities in the second half and this ultimately cost the side's first victory in the AFLW competition. "Our forwards couldn't do much when the ball doesn't get down there," Siekman said post-game. "Sarah D'Arcy hits up the footy and she's been a real positive in our forward line. Alicia Eva was great tonight, her work rate was exceptional. Moana Hope was up and about, but we just didn't get her the chances in the second half." "In the middle, Amelia Barden was great, and ruckman Emma King rebounded well after last week and gave her first use of the football in the first half." In the short, seven-week AFLW competition, the Magpies will need to win their last five games to have any chance of making the Grand Final. "There's a small window now, we can't afford anymore errors. 5-2 and a good percentage gives you a chance to get there. It we lose, that's it. We need to win the last five matches to give ourselves a chance." The Magpies head to Queensland next week to face-off against the Brisbane Lions in a Saturday-night blockbuster. This will mark the first away trip for the AFLW team, and Siekman says he is excited by the opportunity. "To get on a road trip and get on a plane will be great for our team." "I'm really looking forward to next week, heading up north to meet Brisbane." Moana Hope kicked her first AFLW goal.(AAP: Mal Fairclough)

AFLW Round 2: The Team

AFLW Round 2 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time & Place: Saturday Feb 11, 7:45pm Princes Park TV: 7mate / Fox Sports 7:30pm Weather: Min 19 Max 28 Chance of rain 90%: 1-5mm Wind: SSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.70 Melbourne $2.15

B: Tara Morgan, Stacey Livingstone, Meg Hutchins

HB: Stephanie Chiocci, Nic Stevens, Cecilia McIntosh

C: Amelia Barden

HF: Jess Cameron, Jasmine Garner, Alicia Eva

F: Sarah D'Arcy, Moana Hope, Emma Grant

Foll: Emma King, Brittany Bonnici, Bree White

Int: Christina Bernardi, Lou Wotton, Penny Cula-Reid, Melissa Kuys, Sophie Casey, Caitlyn Edwards

Emg: Lauren Tesoriero, Ruby Schleicher

IN: Melissa Kuys, Penny Cula-Reid, Lou Wotton

OUT: Lauren Tesoriero (omitted), Ruby Schleicher (omitted), Helen Roden (omitted)

Collingwood News Captain Stephanie Chiocci will be aiming to lead the Magpies to their first win of the AFLW season. Collingwood has turned to experience to help bolster its line up for its second game of the AFL Women's season on Saturday night. Melissa Kuys, Penny Cula-Reid and Lou Wotton will each represent the Magpies for the first time when they run out against Melbourne at Ikon Park. They replace the omitted Lauren Tesoriero, Ruby Schleicher and Helen Roden. Tesoriero and Schleicher remain on standby as the two emergencies. It's been a long journey for each of the incoming trio, for each has been playing their trade in the VFLW competition for several years. About the inclusions Melissa Kuys A hard-working and resilient midfielder, Kuys captained and was a stand out for VFLW club Knox in a poor 2016 season for the club. She is an excellent kick and her run-and-carry game will benefit from a strong program around her. Penny Cula-Reid Experienced small defender and captain of the St Kilda Sharks in the VFLW. Cula-Reid intercepts well and makes good decisions coming out of defence. She has been highly influential off-field in the development of the women's game. Lou Wotton A former triathlete who retired from footy in 2014 but decided to nominate for the draft after watching the 2016 exhibition series matches. An experienced ruck and twice a VWFL best-and-fairest. Extremely fit and won the club's 2km time trial. Coach's take "It was great to have 27 players available again after we had several injuries on Friday night," coach Wayne Siekman told Collingwood Media. "There were four players on the bench at the end who couldn't come back on, so our medical team has done a great job to ensure that they are all up and about and available to be selected again this week. I think the eight-day turnaround helped us. Who are we up against? "We have changed up the midfield to get a bit more impact and spread around the ground. Coming up against Melbourne, they have one of the best midfields in the competition with Daisy Pearce, Elise O'Dea and Karen Paxman and with Mel Hickey down back they have some top powerful players that win the footy and use it well, so we have to make sure that we match them in that area." Describe our debutants "We're bringing in Penny for her debut. He's an outstanding decision maker and is one of the bets kicks in the team. Last week our disposal efficiency wasn't great, so it was a pretty easy decision for us. "Lou Wotton, who is part of our leadership group, will come into the ruck with Emma King. She has trained really hard last week since missing out and deserves the opportunity to play against her old side, that she played an exhibition game for. "The third one is Mel Kuys, from Knox, who will strengthen us with her left foot which will add something a bit different, and something we didn't have on Friday night. Hopefully those three changes make the result a different outcome on Saturday night." What we learned from last week "Our effort at the contest was great. The first half was really physical, strong and aggressive at the football. We just didn't get the rewards like Carlton got at the other end, and we went into half time at 4.1 to 1.4. It arguably could have been even. All the stats and KPIs that we had showed that we were right in the contest but we just didn't take our chances. "A couple of Carlton's goals came from errors, so we just need to make sure that we're a bit tidier with ball use and decisions in the middle and back half to make sure we don't give easy goals to Melbourne this week. If we can do that, and make them accountable, hopefully it opens up a few more scoring avenues and hopefully we can kick eight or ten goals and get the win that we need."

AFLW Round 1: Carlton 46 Collingwood 11

THE FACTS

CARLTON              3.0.18   4.1.25   6.1.37    7.4.46
COLLINGWOOD      1.2.8   1.4.10   1.5.11     1.5.11

GOALS - Collingwood: Garner

BEST - Collingwood: D'Arcy, Chiocci, Barden, White

INJURIES - Collingwood: Emma Grant (concussion), Stacey Livingstone (shoulder), Helen Roden (left leg), Steph Chiocci (concussion)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 24,568 at Princes Park, Carlton

TALKING POINTS

1. How about the crowd? The AFL officially declared a lock out at 8pm, midway through the first quarter. League CEO Gillon McLachlan made an announcement to the crowd at quarter time to address the situation. McLachlan also ventured outside the ground to apologise to the 1000-2000 estimated people unable to get into the venue, based on the advice of Victoria Police. The AFL, of course, moved the historic first match of from Olympic Park Oval to Ikon Park due to concerns over the size of the Magpies' ground. McLachlan said; "It's an amazing turnout and clearly we're a little overwhelmed by the response." 2. Injury Room Collingwood midfielder Emma Grant left the field of play in the second quarter after an errant swinging arm from Carlton's Brianna Davey in a tackle. Grant was assisted from the field by trainers after looking dazed. Grant took not further part in the contest after failing a concussion test. Teammates Stacey Livingstone (shoulder) and Helen Roden (left leg) ended the match on the interchange bench, while Stephanie Chiocci received treatment for a cut above her eye. Nat Exon (quad) and Natalie Plane (ankle) were the Blues' injury worries.

3. The star of the show Darcy Vescio was unstoppable all night as her speed and uncanny instincts around goal proved too difficult to curb. The 23-year-old booted three goals in the first half, but it was the variety in which she scored that was most impressive. Vescio said she relished the occasion: "It was such a special occasion and the girls were buzzing with excitement. We were able to harness any nervousness and turn it into positive energy." 4. Who kicked the first goal? The Blues may have dominated the contest, but it was Collingwood's Jasmine Garner who will go down in history as the first-ever goal kicker in the AFLW competition. Garner marked strongly inside 50 before cooly slotting her chance from 30m out directly in front of goal. Vescio opened Carlton's account in the first term, one of three for the first half. 5. Say what? "The players came with a real balance tonight of being in the moment, and recognising it for what it was, but also being prepared to perform." – Carlton coach Damien Keeping

THE MEDIA

AFL A SCINTILLATING four-goal performance from Carlton marquee forward Darcy Vescio has powered her side to a 35-point win over Collingwood in the first match of the NAB AFL Women's competition in front of a sellout crowd at Ikon Park on Friday night. The venue was officially declared a lockout midway through the first quarter, with up to 2000 patrons unable to get into the ground. It led AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan to venture outside Ikon Park to apologise to those people waiting. The capacity crowd inside the ground was treated to a cracking contest, with the intensity – particularly early in the match – at a high standard on a stunning evening in Melbourne. The Blues made the early running thanks to three first-half goals from Vescio and took a three-goal lead into half-time, before running away with a triumphant 7.4 (46) to 1.5 (11) victory. Carlton midfielder Nat Exon led the way with her endeavour at the footy, while Brianna Davey (26 disposals and a goal) – another marquee Blue - rebounded strongly from defence and pushed forward to do damage on the scoreboard. Magpies skipper Steph Chiocci (nine disposals) was among her side's best for much of the contest, until she was helped from the field following a nasty head knock in the final term. Collingwood forward Sarah D'Arcy (14 touches) did her best to overcome the deficit with a strong second-half performance, but the Blues were far too classy across the ground and look like one of the teams to beat in the inaugural AFLW competition.                                  REAL FOOTY By late in the first quarter, security had stopped letting people into Princes Park. Full to capacity, the old Carlton stadium heaved with about 24,500 supporters at the first AFLW match, watching two new teams playing in the colours of the Blues and Pies. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan apologised for the lockout, saying the decision had been made to ensure the safety and security of fans. "We were a little overwhelmed by the turnout tonight," he said. A good problem for the AFL to have, although frustrating for more than 1000 fans who missed out on entry, some of whom complained that a big screen had not been set up for them to watch the match outside. Public transport providers, too, seemed to have underestimated the public enthusiasm for the match. There were tram delays along Elizabeth Street and Royal Parade and those that did run were crowded. But inside the ground, the atmosphere was electric. Dynamic Carlton marquee player Darcy Vescio was the star of the night, booting four goals to help the home-town team to a healthy 35-point win. By day a graphic designer at the Blues, Vescio was a class above the rest, showing off her silky skills and ability to find the goals. After the match, Vescio wore a wide smile and said the crowd had been so loud the players had barely been able to hear each other. Blues captain Lauren Arnell will hold the honour of AFLW's first winning captain. "It's a great day for women's footy, and AFL in general," she said. Defender Brianna Davey was force in the back half for the Blues, ending the game with 26 disposals. For the Pies, headline player Moana Hope had a relatively quiet night, unable to lift a Collingwood team that was beaten all over the ground. Magpie forward Jasmine Garner kicked the first goal of the competition and her team's only major score of the night. The women played shortened quarters, a controversial decision by the AFL, but it ensured the game moved along at a fast pace. There could barely have been a more perfect evening for the historic game. Golden sunlight bathed supporters as they walked through Princes Park. Some were die-hard fans of these grand old clubs, dressed in their colours, but there were also members of other clubs, and people who simply cared about sport, or opportunities for women. In the lead-up to the first ball-up, the crowd cheered it all – every announcement, both teams, the playing of the national anthem. By the time play got under way, many fans remained standing, unable to get a seat or not yet ready to sit down. "Collingwood men and women, standing side by side for 125 years," the Collingwood banner read. Fans lingered after the match on a memorable night, as the players spread out across the ground thanking them and signing autographs. There could barely have been a more perfect evening for the historic game. Golden sunlight bathed supporters as they walked through Princes Park. Some were die-hard fans of these grand old clubs, dressed in their colours, but there were also members of other clubs, and people who simply cared about sport, or opportunities for women. In the lead-up to the first ball-up, the crowd cheered it all – every announcement, both teams, the playing of the national anthem. By the time play got under way, many fans remained standing, unable to get a seat or not yet ready to sit down.

SUPERFOOTY A statement was made at Ikon Park on Friday night. It started when Carlton captain Lauren Arnell ran through Magpie Brittany Bonnici at the opening ball-up. It reached fever pitch when AFL chief Gillon McLachlan shut the gates. It left fans clambering over fences in a desperate bid to get a look. It reached 'peak Blues' when Carlton marquee Darcy Vescio — gee, she turned heads — stalked a stoppage in the goalsquare, leapt for the ruck contest, stole the ball out of the air and hands of her opponents and kicked the goal upon landing. It was her second of the night. The first came from a free kick awarded when a nervous Magpie defender monstered her as the dynamic Blue set herself to mark close to goal. The Magpies knew that danger was ever present. Collingwood defender Nicola Stevens, usually a half-back who intercept marks and gives run, was sent into lockdown mode. It didn't work. Vescio's third goal came after some brilliant work from teammate Sarah Last. Last collected the ball in the centre and took off, charged through Collingwood captain Steph Chiocci, throwing her to the ground, and booted it long to where Vescio was prowling. Vescio ran on to the ball, had a bounce and booted it from the goal square. For her fourth, a loose ball dribbled her way 30m out from goal. Facing away from the square, she gathered, feinted right, providing a small but crucial gap between her and Stevens, and dribbled the ball across her body and through the goals. A fifth goal could have come deep in the final quarter after a one-grab contested mark, but she passed off. This was Vescio's game. The 23-year-old who has been part of four flags at state-league level and won two best on ground gongs in those grand finals was being seen by many for the first time. She fed off the crowd and showed her sublime skills and timing. "That was insane. Just the numbers, the crowd, the game, it was so fast and the girls did so well, really happy with that," she said afterwards. "I think we just played with a lot of freedom and brought in our strengths into the game and everyone just played a ripper and we played just as a team. It was unreal. "The roar, we could hardly here anything out here. It was just amazing, hearing the crowd get up and about and that is what it is all about. We just want people to come and watch us play and see what we create." The entire Blues outfit flourished and surged on the big stage. A 35-point win was the reward. After conceding the first goal seven minutes in, Carlton swarmed the Magpies. They outnumbered them at the contest and then outran them. They were more assured. More daring. As well as Vescio, Bri Davey was stunning. The general down back, she worked forward and kicked a beauty to take the Blues' lead out to 20 points. And the former Matildas goalkeeper loved it. Nat Exon was great in tight. Half-forward Bianca Jakobsson was great, marking strongly. Skipper Arnell was hard and smart; when she slotted a left-foot snap from 30m to put the Blues in front she gave a fist pump to the crowd. Her crowd. Collingwood forward Jess Cameron felt it. She had a shot from the city-end pocket and was booed by the Blues faithful. There were repeat stoppages in the opening moments and things looked ominous. It was congested. But by the time Gill had to shut the gate, the game had opened up. Chiocci kicked the first score in AFLW, a behind. It was Magpie Jasmine Garner who scored the first goal. But that's where Collingwood's night ended. Marquee forward Mo Hope was often double teamed and suffered from poor, and insufficient, delivery. She kicked just a single behind.                                  COLLINGWOOD NEWS Collingwood AFLW coach Wayne Siekman confirmed five players sustained injuries in the 35-point loss to Carlton at Ikon Park on Friday night. Utility Emma Grant was first to go down, suffering a concussion in the second quarter after copping a knock from an opposing Carlton player. "[Emma Grant] was concussed, which really hurt our run and drive in the middle," Siekman said in his post-game press conference. After a courageous smother on the wing late in the fourth quarter, captain Steph Chiocci was assisted off the ground by the medical staff. Siekman revealed the skipper had a cut above her eye from the incident. Defender Stacey Livingstone hurt her shoulder and will have scans this week, while small forward Helen Roden picked up a corked thigh and forward Jasmine Garner struggled with an ankle injury. Despite the injury toll, Siekman ensured his side's depth would help cover any losses for next week's match-up against Melbourne at the Holden Centre on Saturday night. "We have one of the most deep lists in the competition," he said. "Lou [Wotton] and Penny [Cula-Reid] didn't play tonight…so there's still plenty of depth to tap in there." Siekman says his players were "disappointed" by the result, but it was a "great learning experience" for the club. "I told them we need to keep our heads up…we have six weeks to go." "Tonight we needed to be a bit more composed. We needed to be a bit braver and take the game on. "We were privileged to play against Carlton tonight. The results didn't go our way but it's a night the players and our fans won't forget."