The AFLW season has kicked off.
On Sunday afternoon the Western Bulldogs and St. Kilda will meet for the very first time at Moorabbin Oval. Not since 1992 has a match been held at Moorabbin for AFL premiership points, but the Saints’ AFLW team will have four games there in 2020. Speaking as someone who lives locally, this is fantastic to have somewhere close by to watch the footy.
There’s little to really know about both the Saints and the Bulldogs here, but you’d think after round one, we’ll have a fair indication of where both sides are heading in season 2020. The Saints are one of four clubs who have joined the league this year, and as you’d expect from a new side heading into their first game, they’re going to be a hard team to dissect before they even have played an official game.
I can only write what I know about their VFLW team. Having watched the Southern Saints (St. Kilda’s affiliate) play in the VFLW last year, they eventually fell a couple of goals short of making it to the Grand Final. However, there was plenty of promise from those that haven’t yet tasted experience in the AFLW, but should do so early this year. I think of players such as Sammie Johnson, Molly McDonald, Caitlin Greiser and Olivia Vesely.
Combine this with the talent that they added in the AFLW Draft, the likes of Georgia Patrikios, Nicola Xenos and Rosie Dillon, the Saints - on paper at least - look an exciting bunch to watch. But as the age-old phrase goes - Paper teams don’t win games and they certainly don’t win premierships. Only time will tell what the Saints are well and truly capable of.
The Bulldogs enter 2020 as somewhat of an unknown entity as well. A new coach in Nathan Burke, several of their established players have moved on to other clubs in the span of two seasons - Emma Kearney, Monique Conti, Katie Brennan headline the exodus of players, but there’s a new breed of players coming in through the side.
There are the fantastic four from last year’s AFLW Draft: Gabby Newton, Gemma Lagioia, Nell Morris-Dalton and Elisabeth Georgostathis. There are also players such as Deanna Berry, Bonnie Toogood, Izzy Huntington, Eleanor Brown, Celine Moody, Ellyse Gamble and Naomi Ferres - all of them are 22 or under. Complemented with the experienced heads of players such as Hannah Scott, Lauren Spark, Nicole Callinan, Brooke Lochland and the captain Ellie Blackburn, it’s a side that has the potential to cause problems for others this year.
Personally, I'm excited to see what both teams can produce not just this weekend, but in 2020
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
NEW: Gabby Newton, Gemma Lagioia, Elisabeth Georgostathis (All AFL Draft), Danielle Marshall, Katy Herron (International Rookie Selections)
B: Angelica Gogos, Lauren Spark HB: Ellyse Gamble, Izzy Huntington, Naomi Ferres C: Bailey Hunt, Kirsty Lamb, Nicole Callinan HF: Gabby Newton, Bonnie Toogood, Kirsten McLeod F: Elisabeth Georgostathis, Deanna Berry FOL: Celine Moody, Ellie Blackburn, Aisling McCarthy INT: Danielle Marshall, Kim Rennie, Gemma Lagioia, Hannah Scott, Katy Herron EMG: Eleanor Brown, Hannah Munyard
The Bulldogs will come into this game with five debutants. Gabby Newton, the number one pick in last year’s AFLW Draft is the headline act, whilst Elisabeth Georgostathis and Gemma Lagioia, who were also first-round picks in the same Draft, have also been named to play. Rounding out the debutants sees two international recruits make their debut.
Katy Herron is 31 in July and comes to the Bulldogs from Ireland, having played Gaelic Football for Donegal. The other is American Danielle Marshall, who is 28 and having previously played Soccer in the US. She played some games for the Dogs’ VFLW team and did some very nice things in the games she did play. I can see both women playing a few roles during the season. St. Kilda
B: Tarni White, Clara Fitzpatrick HB: Hannah Priest, Cat Phillips, Tilly Lucas-Rodd C: Kelly O’Neill, Jess Sedunary, Molly McDonald HF: Nat Exon, Kate McCarthy, Cailtlin Greiser F: Kate Shierlaw, Georgia Patrikios FOL: Rhiannon Watt, Olivia Vesely, Emma Mackie INT: Nadia Von Bertouch, Rosie Dillon, Claudia Whitfort, Nicola Xenos, Alison Brown EMG: Alison Drennan, Poppy Kelly
Out of the 21 that has been named to play in St. Kilda’s first AFLW match on Sunday, there are nine players running out with prior AFLW experience. The trio of Cat Phillips, Rhiannon Watt and Kate Shierlaw will lead the team in 2020, and the likes of Nat Exon, Kate McCarthy, Jess Sedunary and Tilly Lucas-Rodd will be critically important to the team going forward Of those that are set to make their debut, quite a few of them are 21 and under. Among these players include Georgia Patrikios, Tarni White, Nicola Xenos, Molly McDonald, Caitlin Greiser and Olivia Vesely.
The Big Question
Western Bulldogs - Can The Youngsters Impact Straightaway?
I’m not a big fan of putting immediate pressure on the first-year players. Sure, the trio of Newton, Lagioia and Georgostathis are all talented players and I’m sure Nell Morris-Dalton will get her opportunity. But personally, I won’t put any expectations on them or the team team until probably the midway point of the year. I just want to see them get games under their belt. To be honest, I think all of them showed in the practice game against Geelong that they look like they’re more than up for the task. It’s an exciting time to be a Bulldog supporter.
St. Kilda - What Can We Expect?
When you look at this list, the first thing that stands out to me anyway is that they have a list that is littered with quick players. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Saints try to play free-flowing and end-to-end football. But Peta Searle is a highly respected coach who has been coaching footy for more than 20 years. You’d expect after all these years that she’d have other ideas up her sleeve if things start heading south. The list is actually a very good list - balanced with experienced players and good, young talent from both the Draft and the VFLW. They are a team that could literally be anything - don’t tread lightly.
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs - Izzy Huntington
She unfortunately didn’t play in the practice game against Geelong a couple of weeks ago, but she did play a couple of quarters in defence in what is going to be a new role for the former number one pick this year. I like this move - with Lauren Spark and Ellyse Gamble likely to match up on the opposition talls, Huntington can play that third tall defender role. She has great football IQ and has very good marking hands. She’s going to be the one to watch on Sunday.
St. Kilda - Kate McCarthy
Kate McCarthy has always been a dangerous threat up forward during her time at Brisbane. She’s quick, can run up and down the ground relentlessly and she does know where to find the goals. After a great first year which saw her pick up All-Australian honours, her form dipped a bit in 2018 and then went a bit further in 2019 as the Lions struggled. In a new environment at Moorabbin, I think she’s going to have to play a big role if the Saints are to get up on Sunday.
Final Verdict - Western Bulldogs By 13 Points
I’ve always had a hard time predicting games in the opening round of any given season. It makes it harder when it’s a new team coming into the league. I think this will be a very close game from beginning to end that should have more than it’s fair share of good moments throughout the game. But I think the experience from the Bulldogs (sans Lochland) should hold firm and secure the first win of 2020.
I think it’s going to be fascinating to see both Newton and Patrikios go head to head first-up. It gives so many fans a chance to see how two of the best under-18 prospects in 2019 fare in the big league. Overall, I think the age of the Saints list - whilst talented, possess a very young core group of players and might have a hard time this season putting wins on the board this season, especially with Adelaide, Melbourne and Fremantle all to come in the following three weeks.