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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