| 2018 AFLW Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time & Place: Friday February 2, 7:45pm EDT Princes Park TV: 7mate / Foxtel 7.40pm EDT Weather: Min 14 Max 24 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 14kph Betting: Collingwood $2.45 Carlton $1.55 |
Last year’s inaugural match was a lockout. A lockout! We don’t see those in football too often these days. More than 24,000 fans packed Princes Park to watch history as Collingwood and Carlton launched the new national women’s competition. Huge crowds are expected to flock to the precinct again on Friday night, and the match is quickly drawing notice as one of the showpiece matches of the football season.
2. It’s time to atone
What many may have forgotten is that Carlton won that first match, and won it quite convincingly (by 35 points, in fact). Collingwood will be keen to make amends this time around, as noted by captain Steph Chiocci during the team’s Season Launch.
“We’ll be fierce. We’re not going to let them get one up on us again. We’ve got a point to prove.
We’ve done all the hard work and we’ve got a great program in place. We want to do it justice, we want to go out there and play Black and White footy and get the four points on the board.”
Say no more.
3. New faces aplenty
While some, such as Nicola Stevens (Carlton) and Alicia Eva (Greater Western Sydney) have moved on from the 2017 squad, Collingwood has added plenty of talent to its ranks for the new season.
Top draft choice Chloe Molloy, the leading goal kicker in the VFLW last season, headlines a host of new arrivals, including former Western Bulldog Jamiee Lambert.
Three international athletes have traded in the green and gold for Collingwood’s Black and White. Georgie Parker (hockey) and Eliza Hynes (volleyball) have completed their first pre-seasons at the club, while Ashleigh Brazill has made history, representing Collingwood in both netball and football since making the choice to switch to footy late last year.
4. The dawn of a new era
The Collingwood Football Club has undergone plenty of change in the past eight months.
New staff in both women’s and men's football and fresh blood in playing personnel have given the club a fresh look heading into 2018.
The club’s AFL Women’s outfit will lead the Magpies into a new era when they run through the banner on Friday night.
Herald Sun
Collingwood
THE HOOK: Will it be as big as last year? The AFLW01 season opener resulted in a lockout after it was shifted and more than 20,000 turned up, and they’re much better prepared this time around. If you can’t get in, there’s a big screen on the grass. Not a bad result if it’s a nice night.
BOOM OR BUST: The Pies will come up against a familiar face in last year’s best-and-fairest Nicola Stevens who is now a Blue. Both have plenty to play for — Stevens to show she’s at home as a Blue and the Pies to show they can do it without her. Exciting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Like every Blues v Pies clash — men’s or women’s — bragging rights. There’s not a lot bigger rivalries than this one.
The Age
Collingwood
Captain: Steph Chiocci
Coach: Wayne Siekman
Ins and outs
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| Collingwood's most recent top draft pick Chloe Molloy. Photo: Joe Armao |
Out: Nicola Stevens (Carlton); Alicia Eva (GWS); Penny Cula-Reid, Kendra Heil, Helen Roden, Lou Wotton, Kate Sheahan and Georgia Walker (delisted)
Key player: Jasmine Garner
Excellent second target up forward in 2017, she has been impressing track watchers with her talent. The hard-running Garner could play as a high half-forward as she has great running power.
How they went last year: 5th
Looked to get it wrong last year from the start with the list's athleticism below par and their wingless structure found wanting. By season's end they were playing winning football but they were still a way off the best teams.
Prediction for this year: 6th
It's hard to see the Magpies winning the competition although the first match against Carlton will be telling. With a new structure, a good opening result would give the team confidence and momentum. Unfortunately early draftee Darcy Guttridge suffered a broken collarbone in a practice match.
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