AFL 2019 Pre-Season Game 1 Team

AFL 2019 Pre Season Game 1 Collingwood v Fremantle Time & Place: Monday, March 4, 6:40pm EDT Joondalup Arena, WA TV: Fox Footy 6:30pm EDT Weather: Min 21 Max 31 Chance of rain 20% < 1mm Wind: SW 13kph

B: J. Aish 14, J. Roughead 23, T. Langdon 8

HB: N. Murphy 28, D. Moore 30, J. Crisp 25

C: T. Phillips 21, R. Wills 33, S. Sidebottom 22

HF: J. Stephenson 1, J. Elliott 5, C. Brown 17

F: T. Varcoe 18, B. Mihocek 41, J. Daicos 26

Foll: B. Grundy 4, S. Pendlebury 10, D. Beams 11

I/C: I. Quaynor 35, L. Greenwood 19, J. Thomas 24, B. Reid 20, T. Brown 34, B. Crocker 39, F. Appleby 31, C. Mayne 16

Emerg: M. Cox 46, M. Lynch 45, A. Treloar 7, J. Madgen 44

Notable absentees: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Daniel Wells, Taylor Adams

Collingwood News Pendlebury to captain the Pies in 2019 Scott Pendlebury will captain the Collingwood AFL team for a sixth season in 2019. The five-time Copeland Trophy winner, who succeeded Nick Maxwell as skipper in 2014, is currently the third longest serving captain in Collingwood history. The Collingwood board ratified Pendlebury’s re-appointment at its meeting on Wednesday, along with the re-appointment of Steele Sidebottom as vice-captain. The Collingwood AFL leadership group for 2019 will consist of Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Taylor Adams, Jeremy Howe and Lynden Dunn. History is beckoning Pendlebury in 2019. The 31 year-old has ahead of him the prospect of becoming only the third Collingwood player to reach the 300-game milestone and is set to move into outright third on the all-time Collingwood games record list. Pendlebury has played 277 matches for the Magpies, which puts him behind only Tony Shaw (313 matches) and Gordon Coventry (306). He is currently equal third on the list with Wayne Richardson. “It was an honour to captain Collingwood six years ago. It is still a great honour to captain Collingwood and will always be an honour,” Pendlebury said. “Leadership isn’t an individual responsibility in team sport, though. It has to be a collective strength. A whole of squad mentality. “Which is why we need not only Steele, ‘Tay’, ‘Howey’, ‘Dunny’ and myself taking charge but everyone who pulls on the jumper. If we have that underlying strength we won’t be an easy proposition for anyone.” Buckley accepts a two-year contract extension Collingwood senior coach Nathan Buckley has accepted a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the helm of the AFL team until at least the end of 2021. Buckley was contracted for 2019 but club and coach were keen for a further commitment that will see his tenure as senior coach reach at least a decade. Buckley led Collingwood to the 2018 grand final, and in earlier seasons a preliminary final and elimination final. He has a career coaching record with Collingwood of 87 wins, 74 losses and one draw. He is currently the sixth longest serving coach in Collingwood history, behind Jock McHale (714 matches), his predecessor Michael Malthouse (286), Phonse Kyne (272), Leigh Matthews (224) and Bob Rose (193). The faith in the new deal, though, is as much about leadership and recognition of cultural change as it is about his win-loss record. “ ‘Bucks’ is an excellent coach and an outstanding Collingwood person who has always been club first,” said president, Eddie McGuire. “In a way, seven seasons in, it feels as if the journey has just begun. We have always seen many qualities in ‘Bucks’, which is why we appointed him in the first place and re-appointed him back in 2017. Through the review process of that year those qualities shone through. “We see an exciting future with him very much at the heart of it all.” Collingwood chief executive, Mark Anderson, added: “The two year extension reinforces the on-field progress and results that our team have achieved but also recognises the key leadership role Nathan has played in developing our culture and the deep connections that he has developed within the team and across our club. “As deep as the disappointment of our grand final defeat was for all, our fans felt immensely proud of ‘Bucks’, of the players and of the manner in which the football club carried itself through the season. “No one is satisfied with our results from last year and we are very aware that we start level with all teams come round one. But our plan is to build a team and club where our performance is strong and sustained. Nathan is certainly vital to us realising that objective.” Buckley said he was pleased to be able to continue to share in the challenge of ensuring  Collingwood – team and club -  remain strong and proud. “Sport evolves constantly. So must we,” Buckley said. “It is a personal and professional privilege to be sharing in and, to a degree, shaping the evolution of a club that is very close to my heart. “I thank Eddie, Mark and the hierarchy for their faith.”

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.

2019 AFL Pre Season Draw

2019 PRE SEASON DRAW
Game One Fremantle v Collingwood Monday March 4 Joondalup Arena 6:40pm EDT Fox Footy 6:30pm EDT	Game Two Collingwood v Carlton Monday March 11 Morwell Recreation Reserve 2:10pm EDT Fox Footy 2:00pm EDT

The 2019 pre-season competition will feature 18 matches across two weekends. For the sixth successive year, the competition will not have a grand final or overall winner. All matches will be televised live on Fox Footy.

AFLW 2019 Round 4: GWS 36 Collingwood 27

AFLW 2019 Round 5 COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON Time & Place: Saturday 2nd March, 7:15pm EDT Princes Park TV: 7mate 7.00pm EDT Weather: Min 22 Max 38 Chance of rain 10%: < 1mm Wind: NNE 12kph Betting: Collingwood TBC Carlton TBC

GWS                       4.2.26     4.3.27   5.6.36   5.6.36
COLLINGWOOD      0.0.0     2.1.13   2.1.13   4.3.27

GOALS - Collingwood: Membrey 2, Dargan, Shevlin

BEST - Collingwood: Lambert, Dargan, Bonnici, Livingstone, Membrey

INJURIES - Collingwood: D'Arcy (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Membrey

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 1743 at Morwell Recreation Reserve

What The Pies Coach Said "The first quarter probably cost us. I think we were a little bit slow to react to the breeze … but full credit to our group. At quarter-time, we came in after a bit of a slow start and the next three quarters, I think, were four goals to one, so they worked exceptionally hard in that third quarter when we asked for a special effort to keep us within that three- or four-goal range at quarter-time and we gave ourselves a chance to win but just came up a little bit short. But the last three quarters, the intent, the work-rate and the way they applied themselves, I'm very proud of the group." – Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman

Media Clippings AFL News Greater Western Sydney has thrust itself back into the finals hunt with a nine-point defeat of Collingwood on Sunday, leaving the Magpies as the competition's only winless team. The match-up between the Conference B rivals was desperately important for both if they were to have any hope of qualifying for the post-season. The Giants landed a major blow early and were never seriously threatened despite Collingwood's late rally, going on to post their maiden victory of the season, 5.6 (36) to 4.3 (27). The Age GWS are victors for the first time this AFLW season after holding off winless Collingwood by nine points in blustery conditions at Morwell. ... Collingwood's hopes of reaching the finals for the first time are all but over as they are the only winless team left in the competition ahead of games with Carlton, powerhouses North Melbourne and two-time grand finalists Brisbane. Fox Sports Collingwood’s time in AFLW has gone from bad to worse. The Magpies are the only team without a win in 2019 after Greater Western Sydney kept its finals chances alive by finally getting off the mark in Morwell. ... Greater Western Sydney kicked with the wind in the opening quarter and never looked threatened until the dying minutes when Collingwood had a couple of shots to reduce the margin to less than a kick. But after booting four goals in the opening quarter — and only one after that — the Giants held on to move one win below Brisbane and Geelong at the top of conference B. ... Despite the best efforts of Jaimee Lambert, who had 20 disposals and laid seven tackles, and Sarah Dargan, who picked up 16 touches and six tackles, the Magpies remain winless after the opening month of the season. While it is still mathematically possible, it is extremely unlikely they will still be playing when the whips are cracking next month. Herald Sun Kicking with the wind in the last quarter, the Magpies made a late charge by kicking two majors while keeping GWS scoreless but the early deficit proved too much. ... Former Lion Jordan Membrey was a major threat up forward in her first game for the Magpies, slotting two majors. Jaimee Lambert (20 possessions) was Collingwood’s top ballwinner, while former Australian netballer Sharni Layton showed some good signs in the ruck, including setting up Membrey’s first goal.

LADDER

AFLW 2019 Round 4: The Team

AFLW 2019 Round 4 COLLINGWOOD v GWS Time & Place: Sunday 24th February, 2:05pm EDT Morwell Recreation Reserve TV: Fox Footy 2.00pm EDT Weather: Min 13 Max 26 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: E 28kph Betting: Collingwood $2.35 GWS $1.60

Backs: Jordyn Allen, Sharni Layton, Iilish Ross

Half-backs: Stacey Livingstone, Georgie Parker, Nicole Hildebrand

Centre:  Brittany Bonnici

Half-forwards: Melissa Kuys, Sarah D’Arcy, Maddie Shevlin
   
Forwards: Sarah Rowe, Sophie Alexander, Cecilia McIntosh

Rucks: Eliza Hynes, Stephanie Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert

Interchange: Sophie Casey, Katie Lynch, Sarah Dargan, Kristy Stratton, Emma Grant

Emergencies: Erica Fowler and Jordan Membrey

In: Grant, Stratton, Kuys, Parker, Layton

Out: Whitford, Gourlay, Cann, Schleicher, Brazill (Injury)

Collingwood News Collingwood midfielder Melissa Kuys will return to the field for the first time this season when the Magpies meet the GWS Giants in Morwell on Sunday. The 31-year-old has been recovering from a tear in her left achilles, which she sustained playing for Hawthorn in the VFL Women’s preliminary final - against Collingwood - late last year. Alongside her, utility player Georgie Parker will also put on the boots for her first game of 2019. Kristy Stratton (broken hand) and Emma Grant (shoulder) will also re-join the team after recovering from injuries. The Pies will be without star Ash Brazill who failed to recover in time after suffering concussion in last week’s match against the Dockers.

Roar Crunch time arrives for both Collingwood and the GWS Giants on Sunday, with both teams the only ones to have not yet registered a win so far this season. The Pies have been the biggest disappointments of the season so far, not only have they lost all three matches, they have been beaten heavily in their past two matches in particular, only managing three goals across their losses to Melbourne and Fremantle. This has left them at the bottom of Conference B with a percentage of 49.5 ahead of the game against the Giants, who were competitive but otherwise let down by poor ball use in their defeat against Carlton last week. The loss saw them fall to an 0-3 record and facing an uphill battle to reach the finals for the first time. If there is one player who will be fired up to face her old club, it is Christina Bernardi. Three games into her career at the Giants and she is already proving her worth, as evidenced by her two third quarter goals against the Blues last week. She and Alicia Eva will be the brains trust the Giants will rely on as they attempt to break their season duck behind enemy lines this Sunday. But I have a feeling that a week of criticism that may be headed the Pies’ way might drive them to their first win in Morwell. Prediction: Collingwood by eight points.

AFLW 2019 Round 3: Fremantle 51 Collingwood 18

AFLW 2019 Round 4 COLLINGWOOD v GWS Time & Place: Sunday 24th February, 2:05pm EDT Morwell Recreation Reserve TV: Fox Footy 2.00pm EDT Weather: Min 10 Max 27 Chance of rain 10%: < 1mm Wind: SE 23kph Betting: Collingwood TBC GWS TBC

FREMANTLE         2.1.13   5.3.33   6.8.44   7.9.51
COLLINGWOOD     0.1.1     0.2.2   1.4.10   2.6.18

GOALS - Collingwood: D'Arcy, Lambert

BEST - Collingwood: D'Arcy, Bonnici, Brazill, Livingstone, Lambert, Dargan

INJURIES - Collingwood: Ash Brazill (concussion), Brittany Bonnici (bruised ribs)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 5443 at Fremantle Oval

What The Pies Coach Said "They got their hands to the ball first, which allowed them to get the ball inside 50. With the new 5-6-5 rules, you can get one-on-ones if the ball comes forward quickly." – Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman

Media Clippings AFL News Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman will be feeling the heat after a third straight 0-3 start, and questions will begin to be asked if he can't engineer a turnaround similar to last year, when the Magpies won three games in the final month of the season. The visitors sorely missed star vice-captain Emma Grant (shoulder) on Saturday but it is their system, rather than talent, that needs to be addressed. There was a glaring inability to string together chains of possession and threaten the Dockers on their home turf. The Age The Magpies, the lowest scoring team of the competition after two rounds, again struggled to find potency in attack and only kicked their first goal of the match midway through the third quarter. Sarah D'Arcy and Ash Brazill, a former West Coast Fever netballer, tried hard for the hapless visitors who had kicked just six goals this season. ... The Magpies played with more purpose in the second half and finally ended their goal drought when D'Arcy converted after receiving a 50-metre penalty, but they never seriously threatened despite outscoring the Dockers in the final term. The Roar Again, the Collingwood ladies failed to put a major on the scoreboard in the first half, and with the deficit at 31 at the main break, things looked ominous for the Pies heading into the third quarter. Sarah D’Arcy put the Pies on the board thanks to two 50-metre penalties, but the celebration was short-lived as the Dockers hit back through Kellie Gibson. The final quarter was Collingwood’s best for the match, however, lacked some class in the forward 50 to convert entries into goals on the scoreboard. Fox Sports Collingwood’s disappointing form to date in the first two and half seasons of the AFLW competition continued in Western Australia. After losing to Geelong by a point in Round 1 and Melbourne by three goals last weekend, the Magpies are coming from a long way back now, staring down the barrel of another poor season.

AFLW 2019 Round 3: The Team

AFLW 2019 Round 3 COLLINGWOOD  v FREMANTLE Time & Place: Saturday 16th February, 7:15pm EDT Fremantle Oval TV: 7mate 7.00pm EDT Weather: Min 17 Max 28 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 30kph Betting: Collingwood $4.00 Fremantle $1.25

Backs: J.Allen 6, A.Brazill 10, I.Ross 21

Half-backs: S.Livingstone 12, R.Schleicher 18, N.Hildebrand 3

Centre: B.Bonnici 8

Half-forwards: S.Dargan 46, S.D'Arcy 4, K.Lynch 16

Forwards: S.Rowe 7, S.Alexander 24, C.McIntosh 20

Rucks: E.Hynes 11, S.Chiocci (c) 17, J.Lambert 13

Interchange: S.Casey 22, M.Shevlin 35, G.Gourlay 32, M.Cann 25, H.Whitford 28

Emergencies: S.Layton 1, J.Membrey 31

In: N.Hildebrand, S.Alexander, M.Shevlin, H.Whitford
Out: L.Butler, E.Fowler, S.Layton, E.Grant (injured)
Debutants: Maddie Shevlin, Nicole Hildebrand

Collingwood News Collingwood midfielder, Maddie Shevlin will make her AFLW debut when the Pies take on the Dockers in Perth this Saturday. Having been delisted by Melbourne as a rookie early last year, Shevlin had an impressive VFLW season, which saw her awarded the team’s best and fairest. Nicole Hildebrand will also put on the black and white for her first AFLW match since departing Brisbane last season. Whilst Sophie Alexander will re-join the side, Pies’ vice-captain Emma Grant has been ruled out with an injury to her left shoulder sustained in last week’s match.

Roar Fremantle take on the winless Collingwood in the west. The Dockers have kicked the highest score of the round for two weekends straight. They couldn’t have been more impressive in their upset win over the Brisbane Lions last round, and they’ll start favourites to make it three from three when they face a Collingwood side which, despite a star-studded playing list, has underachieved in their two completed seasons. In the first professional Australian Rules football match to be played at Victoria Park since 1999, the Pies failed to kick a goal for three quarters and just avoided the embarrassment of going through a whole match without kicking a major when Sarah Dargan scored with less than five minutes remaining in the final quarter. Their score of 1.3 (9) is the equal-lowest in any AFL Women’s match, matched by the GWS Giants, who could only muster that match against Carlton last year. The trip to Perth is the last thing they would want as they attempt to break their season duck behind enemy lines, and with the Dockers on a roll at the moment, I can’t see the Pies breaking through this weekend. Prediction: Fremantle by 14 points.

AFLW 2019 Round 2: Melbourne 26 Collingwood 9

AFLW 2019 Round 3 COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE Time & Place: Saturday 16th February, 7:15pm EDT Femantle Oval TV: 7mate 7.00pm EDT Weather: Min 18 Max 25 Chance of rain 5%: < 1mm Wind: SSW 26kph Betting: Collingwood TBC Femantle TBC

MELBOURNE         0.2.2   2.4.16    2.5.17   3.8.26
COLLINGWOOD    0.2.2     0.2.2      0.2.2     1.3.9

GOALS - Collingwood: Dargan

BEST - Collingwood: Brazill, McIntosh, Rowe

INJURIES - Collingwood: Emma Grant (shoulder)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 7228 at Victoria Park

What The Pies Coach Said "We're a young team learning and as long as we see some progression each week that we're learning. The ladder for us is irrelevant because if we get what we're doing right and keep improving, then the results will take care of themselves" – Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman

Media Clippings Collingwood News Melbourne spoiled Collingwood's homecoming with a dominant display in a lopsided contest at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. The Demons controlled the play virtually from ruck Lauren Pearce's first hitout ... To compound the Magpies' party woes, the traditional rivals condemned them to their lowest score, the previous worst being 1.5 (11) against Carlton in the opening game of the inaugural 2017 season. It also equalled the competition's most meagre total, the Pies now sharing that dubious honour with Greater Western Sydney. The crowd was stunned into silence as Collingwood didn't score for two quarters until Sarah Dargan gave them something to cheer by kicking the first goal off the ground midway through the last term. The Age Collingwood narrowly escaped the ignominy of being the first AFLW team to go through a game goalless when Sarah Dargan soccered their first goal at the 11-minute mark of the last quarter. However it was not enough for the Pies to threaten the Demons who thumped them from start to finish ... The Magpies score equalled the lowest score in AFLW history, a mark Greater Western Sydney previously held on their own ... At half-time the Pies had just four of the 16 top possession winners in the game and they were getting obliterated by most other statistical measures too. . The Roar It was a one-women show for the Pies, with Ash Brazill everywhere around the ground, racking up 23 disposals, three tackles, an unsuccessful snap at goal and evening going into the ruck at one point. Steph Chiocci (11 disposals, 5 tackles) tried her best to get things going for her side, while Sarah D’Arcy was influential in her eight disposals taking the game on through half forward. Sarah Dargan scored the Pies’ only goal, it came late in the fourth quarter, but won’t mask the otherwise dull performance by Collingwood. Fox Sports Melbourne has spoiled Collingwood’s homecoming on Saturday. Two decades after the Magpies played their final AFL game at Victoria Park, they played their first AFLW game at their spiritual home. But they were rarely in the game... With gale force winds swirling around Collingwood and Abbotsford, it was far from ideal conditions for football, but Melbourne adjusted to the conditions better than the Magpies. The Herald Sun Collingwood’s happy homecoming became a house of horrors on Saturday after the Pies were held to the equal-lowest score in AFLW history. Returning to Victoria Park for the competition’s historic debut match, Collingwood made some unwelcome history in a 3.8 (26) to 1.3 (9) loss to Melbourne. The Pies’ final score tied the lowest score mark set by Greater Western Sydney in a game in which they were brushed aside by the Demons. Collingwood’s only goal came with four minutes left when Sarah Dargan soccered one through from the goalsquare, sparing the Pies from becoming the only AFLW side to finish a game goalless.

AFLW 2019 Round 2: The Team

AFLW 2019 Round 2 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time & Place: Saturday 9th February, 4:45pm EDT Victoria Park TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 4:30pm EDT Weather: Min 15 Max 21 Chance of rain 70%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 22kph Betting: Collingwood $2.45 Melbourne $1.55

Backs: Jordyn Allen, Ash Brazill, Iilish Ross

Half-backs: Stacey Livingstone, Sophie Casey, Emma Grant

Centre: Eliza Hynes

Half-forwards: Georgia Gourlay, Sarah D’Arcy, Katie Lynch                 

Forwards: Sarah Rowe, Mikala Cann, Cecilia McIntosh

Rucks: Sharni Layton, Stephanie Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert

Interchange: Ruby Schleicher, Lauren Butler, Sarah Dargan, Brittany Bonnici, Erica Fowler.

Emergencies: Holly Whitford, Maddie Shevlin

Ins: Katie Lynch, Eliza Hynes
Outs: Kristy Stratton, Sophie Alexander
Debutant: Katie Lynch

Collingwood News Draftee Katie Lynch will play her first official AFLW game when Collingwood hosts Melbourne at Victoria Park on Saturday. The highly-rated forward was selected by the Pies with pick 11 at the 2018 AFLW draft and impressed in the practice match against the Bulldogs last month. Eliza Hynes will also take to the field for the first time in 2019. As the Pies will be without Kristy Stratton and Sophie Alexander, youngsters Georgia Gourlay and Mikala Cann will move into the forward line.

Roar Katie Lynch (left) with fellow 2018 draftee Jordyn Allen Two first-up losers from round one will be desperate to get on the board when Collingwood and Melbourne face off in what will be the first professional Australian rules football match to be played at Victoria Park for two decades. The last such match played at the venue saw the Collingwood men’s team lose to the Brisbane Lions by 42 points, a result which saw them finish on the bottom of the ladder for just the second time in their history. This Saturday night, their women’s team will be out to avoid the same fate when they face a Melbourne side which wasted a 14-point three-quarter-time lead to lose by four points. The Dees had kicked five goals in a row in the third quarter with the aid of a strong breeze, but, even at this early point in the season, suffered yet another narrow loss which could cruel their chances of reaching the finals, which has been revamped to include preliminary finals for the first time. Further souring their defeat was the knee injury suffered by debutant Shae Sloane (sister of Adelaide Crows co-captain Rory Sloane), which has ruled her out for the season. Meantime, the Pies are coming off a rather frustrating one-point loss to the Geelong Cats, which means they have never won a round one clash since the inaugural season. Things had started brightly for Wayne Siekman’s side, with Sophie Alexander kicking the first goal of the match only to see her day ended when she copped a stray forearm from teammate (and former netballer Sharni Layton) later on. Despite their best efforts, the Pies were then left to rue a scoreless final term, which has already put their season on the back foot. In the end, this contest will come down to whichever side is the more desperate and more willing. Prediction: Collingwood by six points.

AFLW 2019 Round 1: Geelong 24 Collingwood 23

AFLW 2019 Round 2 COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE Time & Place: Saturday 9th February, 4:45pm EDT Victoria Park TV: 7mate 4.00pm EDT Weather: Min 14 Max 22 Chance of rain 80%: < 1mm Wind: WSW 18kph Betting: Collingwood TBC Melbourne TBC

GEELONG                 1.2.8    3.2.20    3.4.22    3.6.24
COLLINGWOOD       1.3.9     1.3.9     3.5.23    3.5.23

GOALS - Collingwood: Alexander, D'Arcy, Lambert

BEST - Collingwood: Lambert, Brazill, Bonnici, Alexander, Grant

INJURIES - Collingwood: Alexander (concussion), Lambert (right ankle)

REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil

OFFICIAL CROWD - 18,429 at Kardinia

What The Pies Coach Said "The last 60 seconds of the last quarter, and the whole second quarter (was where the game was lost). I thought the first 15 to 16 minutes of the first quarter we were completely on top, completely dominated the opposition. It just shows the importance of kicking goals and kicking straight. The biggest thing is we lost the contest by minus 22 in contested possession." – Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman

Media Clippings Collingwood News The match was on tenterhooks for the final few minutes after Morrison missed a set shot, but the Cats prevailed to win 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night. It means the Pies are yet to win a first-round match, after losing both season-openers to Carlton in 2017 and 2018. Sophie Alexander was a revelation up forward for Collingwood. Promoted from the club's VFLW team, the 25-year-old kicked the opening goal of the match, a 45-metre set shot. She also kicked two behinds in the opening term. But Alexander's night ended early after a collision with teammate Sharni Layton when a stray arm collected her in the head. She was taken from the ground on a stretcher and later diagnosed with concussion, but was alert and talking in the rooms. Collingwood missed the target she presented up forward, with a scoreless last term. The Age Jaimee Lambert’s third-quarter goal for Collingwood came only a few minutes after she had appeared to suffer a bad knee injury in a heavy collision. But not only did she come back on the ground, Lambert hit up Sarah D’Arcy with a short pass, ran on for the give-and-go play, and from 40 metres out under extreme pressure, threaded through a Daicosian dribbler. It put the Magpies back in front in what was a titanic struggle all night. The Roar Collingwood looked like they were in serious trouble at the start of the third quarter when Sophie Alexander went off the ground not to be seen again with a possible concussion. But just when we were questioning where they’d find goals from, Sarah D’Arcy jumped up and put through their second. D’Arcy then just a few minutes later passed one off to Jaimee Lambert, who scrubbed through a miracle goal along the ground which was the highlight of the match. That was particularly remarkable as Lambert herself had been off the ground with concerns over her ankle just minutes prior. The Magpies lead the match by a single point at the final change, and a disappointing miss by Geelong’s Jordan Ivy early in the final term left scores level. While there wasn’t a goal in the final term, it was a tight and thrilling tussle that went down to the final seconds as Morrison’s poster and Geelong’s determined defence ultimately thwarted Collingwood’s attempts to snatch the win. The Guardian Geelong’s defence put on a good show, while it was Collingwood’s forwards that kept them in control for much of the game. But despite a last-minute attempt at goal, the Pies couldn’t bring it home. They’ll be especially disappointed as it means for the third consecutive year, they’ve failed to win their round one match. The West Australian Collingwood player Sophie Alexander was taken from the field with a suspected concussion after an ugly collision with teammate Sharni Layton in Saturday’s AFLW season opener. The Magpies pair were competing in a marking contest when Layton’s arm and shoulder made contact with Alexander’s head. Alexander hit the ground hard and was worked on by medical staff for several minutes.

AFLW 2019 Round 1: The Team

AFLW 2019 Round 1 COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG Time & Place: Saturday 2nd February, 6:45pm EDT Kardinia Park, Geelong TV: 7mate 6.30pm EDT Weather: Min 15 Max 34 Chance of rain 10%: < 1mm Wind: ENE 15kph Betting: Collingwood $1.70 Geelong $2.16

Backs: Jordyn Allen, Ash Braill, Iilish Ross

Half-backs: Stacey Livingstone, Sophie Casey, Emma Grant

Centre: Brittany Bonnici

Half-forwards: Lauren Butler, Sarah D’Arcy, Mikala Cann

Forwards: Sarah Rowe, Sophie Alexander, Cecilia McIntosh

Rucks: Sharni Layton, Stephanie Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert

Interchange: Ruby Schleicher, Georgia Gourlay, Sarah Dargan, Kristy Stratton, Erica Fowler

Emergencies: Holly Whitford, Katie Lynch

Debutants: Sharni Layton (1), Jordyn Allen (6), Sarah Rowe (7), Erica Fowler (15) Lauren Bulter (23), Sophie Alexander (24),  Mikala Cann (25), Georgia Gourlay (32)

Collingwood News Dreams will become a reality for eight Collingwood players who will make their AFL Women’s debuts in Saturday night’s historic match against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. Gaelic footballer Sarah Rowe, who has impressed throughout the pre-season program and was the team’s leading goal kicker in the recent practice match against the Bulldogs, is among the new players. Rowe has been named in a forward pocket. Former Australian netballer Sharni Layton has been named in the ruck. Collingwood's first draft pick, Jordyn Allen, who was captain of the 2018 under-18 women’s Vic Country side, will line up in a back pocket.

Roar The season kicks off on Saturday night with one of the two new clubs, the Geelong Cats, hosting Collingwood in what promises to be a genuine blockbuster at Kardinia Park. The Cats built their playing list by recruiting several of Melbourne’s best – Richelle Cranston, Erin Hoare, Anna Teague and Melissa Hickey, who has been named the club’s captain – while they also drafted most of their players locally as well. Cranston will, however, be missing from their Round 1 line-up after being suspended for two matches for a careless tackle on Carlton’s Sarah Hosking during a recent practice match, which the Cats won by two points. They’ll also be without Elise Coventry for the whole season after she suffered a season-ending knee injury before quarter-time in the same practice match. The former netballer played 55 games for the Cats in the VFL before being drafted with pick 55 in last year’s draft. Meantime, the Pies will be keen to move forward after a disappointing first two seasons in which they finished fifth and sixth respectively. They have lost Moana Hope and Christina Bernardi to North Melbourne and the GWS Giants respectively, while Chloe Molloy will work with the coaching staff after she suffered a serious foot injury last September which has ruled her out for the whole 2019 season. Steph Chiocci will again lead the side as they attempt to climb up the ladder, and facing the Cats on their home turf is a challenge they will welcome. Spurred on by the home-ground advantage and a potentially curious crowd, the Cats should begin life in AFL Women’s with a win. Prediction: Geelong Cats by 14 points.

Collingwood Squad

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