On Saturday evening, the AFLW will make history as the AFLW will host their first two games at Marvel Stadium, as Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs all take the stage on Saturday evening at Docklands.
Starting at 4:40pm there will be Collingwood hosting North Melbourne in a game that the Kangaroos must win as the Pies are still searching for their first win of the season. The second game sees the Western Bulldogs taking on Melbourne in a game that the latter must win to keep in touch with North, Adelaide and Fremantle who all sit a win ahead of Melbourne heading into this round.
Usually, I'll post up a match preview of the Western Bulldogs' upcoming game, but this weekend I'm changing things up a little bit. Today is going to be somewhat of a bigger preview, I'll give my pre-game thoughts on both matches – albeit smaller than the usual previews – as I will be attending on Saturday evening. It should be a good night for all involved and I can't wait for it.
Collingwood vs North Melbourne
The first of two matches looks set to be one that is a mismatch on paper. As the Collingwood – who sit in last place of conference B take on a North Melbourne side that tasted defeat for the first time in the AFLW last Saturday when they went down to Adelaide in Werribee. As the Kangaroos sit second in conference A with Fremantle percentage behind and Melbourne also still well and truly in the hunt, they will be eager to bounce back against arguably the worst side in the league.
It has been a pretty forgetful 2019 for the Magpies' AFLW side – having lost many players from their 2017 and 2018 teams through injury and recruitment to other clubs. Speaking of recruitment, this will be the first time that the quartet of Moana Hope, Emma King, Jess Duffin and Jasmine Garner will go head-to-head against their old mob. Perhaps it gives the Pies a bit more fire and make a fist of things in this match.
Last week, they had their chances to put away an inaccurate Carlton side on their home deck at Ikon Park – even leading by 10 points at the final break – but they were unable to get the chocolates as they kicked two goals to nothing in the final quarter to deny Collingwood their first win in 2019. Not intending to put disrespect onto Carlton, but if you can't beat them from 10 points ahead at three-quarter time, then they are a snowball's chance to take down North Melbourne here.
The Teams
Collingwood IN: Sarah D'Arcy, Georgia Gourlay OUT: Melissa Kuys, Sophie Alexander
B: Jordyn Allen, Sophie Casey, Illish Ross HB: Emma Grant, Sophie Livingstone, Ash Brazill MIDS: Eliza Hynes, Steph Chiocci, Jamie Lambert, Brittany Bonnici HF: Darcy Guttridge, Jordan Membrey, Sarah Dargan F: Sarah Rowe, Sarah D'Arcy, Katie Lynch INT: Sharni Layton, Kristy Stratton, Ruby Schleicher, Maddie Shevlin, Georgia Gourlay
EMG: Lauren Butler, Mikala Cann Player To Watch – Darcy Guttridge
A former top-10 draft pick in the 2017 AFLW Draft, Guttridge made her long-awaited debut last Saturday against Carlton after missing all of 2018 with a broken collarbone and looked nice with the ball in hand at times, recording eight disposals and kicking 1.1 on debut playing across half-forward. It looks pretty clear that she does have a good understanding of playing as a forward, after playing across half-back during the TAC Cup in 2017. I look forward to seeing how she plays in her second career game. North Melbourne IN: Daria Bannister, Taylor Mesiti OUT: Courtney Munn, Emma Humphries B: Jasmine Grierson, Danielle Hardiman, Jess Trend HB: Jess Duffin, Tahlia Randall, Brittany Gibson
MIDS: Emma King, Jamie Stanton, Jenna Bruton, Emma Kearney
HF: Kate Gillespie-Jones, Jasmine Garner, Sophie Abbatangelo F: Daria Bannister, Moana Hope, Kaitlyn Ashmore INT: Taylor Mesiti, Elisha King, Alison Drennan, Daisy Bateman, Beth Lynch EMG: Courtney Munn, Chloe Haines
Player To Watch – Daria Bannister
As someone that was really gutted to see her go down with a season-ending knee injury on debut last year, I'm pretty happy to see Daria Bannister lining up for her first game in North Melbourne colours. The former Bulldog is lining up as a forward pocket, which I think suits her well. She impressed as a forward last year in the practice match and in the Bulldogs' round one win over Fremantle before she went down. Her pressure is good and I think she has potential to be a presence as a forward.
Final Verdict – North Melbourne By 32 Points
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
The second of the two games will see traditional rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs go head-to-head for the latest instalment of the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, which has been contested since the two sides began those exhibition matches six years ago. Interesting contest looms ahead as the Bulldogs – with nothing but pride to play for now – would love to bump Melbourne out of the Finals equation.
After an overall poor fortnight of football, the Western Bulldogs really took the fight to Fremantle in WA last week before going down by three goals. Getting Brooke Lochland and Izzy Huntington back from long-term injuries and getting them through the game unscathed are massive pluses as they will be important figures to help the Doggies overcome the Demons on Saturday.
Melbourne must keep winning at this stage of the season. They currently sit fourth in conference A and are a win behind all three of Adelaide, North Melbourne and Fremantle. A loss to the Bulldogs will spell curtains for their season and it will be the second-straight year that the Dogs have done so. Last week they dismantled GWS after an even first quarter and they've well and truly proven that they can still be a formidable team without Daisy Pearce all season long.
A win here means that the Demons could potentially jump up to second – providing Fremantle and North Melbourne both lose their games. It's a match that has major ramifications on the Demons – I can't see them dropping this game. Mick Stinear is a quality coach and with the players he's got at his disposal – I think they'll inflict the Bulldogs' fourth loss on the trot – but it won't come without it's challenges.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Bonnie Toogood, Nicole Callinan
OUT: Emma Mackie, Deanna Berry B: Bonnie Toogood, Lauren Spark, Selena Karlson
HB: Libby Birch, Tiarna Ernst, Hannah Scott
MIDS: Kim Rennie, Ellie Blackburn, Monique Conti, Kirsty Lamb
HF: Aisling Utri, Ellyse Gamble, Brooke Lochland F: Aisling McCarthy, Katie Brennan, Izzy Huntington INT: Naomi Ferres, Nicole Callinan, Angelica Gogos, Eleanor Brown, Kirsten McLeod EMG: Kate Bartlett, Emma Mackie
Player To Watch – Monique Conti
Whilst Ellie Blackburn has been early front-runner for the club's best and fairest, it's the last few weeks from the second-year sensation Monique Conti that has her closing in on Blackburn and closing in fast. Her last three weeks have seen her rack up 20 disposals vs Fremantle, 19 vs Brisbane and 16 vs North Melbourne. Not just that, but it's the way she busts her guts out trying to make things happen in the middle with her run and carry. If you didn't believe she was good enough last year, surely you would change your tune if she continues her hot form Saturday.
Melbourne
IN: Shelley Heath OUT: Ashleigh Guest B: Meg Downie, Harriet Cordner, Brooke Patterson HB: Sarah Lampard, Cat Phillips, Chantel Emonson
MIDS: Lauren Pearce, Lily Mithen, Karen Paxman, Elise O'Dea HF: Maddie Gay, Kate Hore, Shelley Scott F: Eden Zanker, Tegan Cunningham, Aliesha Newman INT: Bianca Jakobsson, Tyla Hanks, Maddy Guerin, Shelley Heath, Katherine Smith EMG: Casey Sherriff, Ainslie Kemp
Player To Watch – Tegan Cunningham You think back to the last time that Melbourne and the Bulldogs went head-to-head, Tegan Cunningham was held so well that she didn't even register a disposal, let alone a goal. I think she's more than proven that her best football is capable of tearing up sides and she proved it both last year and this year. She currently leads all players in contested marks, averaging 1.8 per game and has kicked six goals for the season. Her partnership with young gun Eden Zanker is going to be pivotal in this contest.
Final Verdict – Melbourne By 14 Points