Bounce the ball: the 2022 VFLW season kicks off with six matches this weekend

Clubs have named their squads for the 2022 VFLW season that kicks off with six matches this weekend, including a stand-alone battle between Darebin and Williamstown.

Port Melbourne VFLW coach Sean Buncle and co-captains Mel Kuys and Claire Dyett.

It’s been a while since a triumphant team lifted the VFLW premiership cup.

The 2020 season never got off the ground.

The 2021 season got down to the last two teams but was abandoned before Collingwood and Geelong could play in the grand final, Covid again the spoiler.

Hopefully it’s a case of third time lucky for the VFLW, which kicks off on Saturday with the first round of a 14-round home-and-away series.

Twelve teams are lining up and the top six will contest a four-week finals series.

The grand final is scheduled for the weekend of July 2-3.

There are two byes in the fixture – after Round 5 (March 19-20) and Round 8 (April 16-17). There will also be a pre-finals bye on June 4-5.

Collingwood VFLW coach Chloe McMillan was last year’s coach of the year.

For a second season the league will be named the rebel VFLW, with the Australian brand and leading sports retailer continuing its support of the women’s state league.

AFL general manager of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said: “The rebel VFLW competition provides some of the best players in Victoria and the country with the opportunity to play at the highest standard of state league football.

“2022 is such an important year for the game in Victoria after what the state has been through in the past two years, so we are looking forward to a full season of great football and for the VFLW to continue to flourish.

“The competition has made great headway but we can’t take for granted the importance of rebounding strongly this year.

“The recently released AFL Women’s Football Vision reflects our absolute commitment to building and progressing Australian Football at every level of the game for women and girls. VFLW is a significant part of that commitment and we want the competition to be as strong as it can be, while providing opportunities for hundreds of players to play our great game at a very high level.”

Nicole Livingstone.

AFL state league competitions manager Jennie Loughnan said: “After a huge amount of planning and preparation, all clubs are ready for a big year.

“The past two years have been very difficult for many with so much disruption, but the resilience and determination we’ve seen from clubs, players, umpires, partners and all stakeholders involved in the rebel VFLW competition shows how much it means to people. There is a lot of excitement about the year ahead.

“The competition is an important part of the pathway system, with many players progressing from the NAB League and aspiring to reach the elite AFLW level. Having VFLW clubs aligned to AFLW programs ensures a strong connection to the elite level.

“We thank all stakeholders, including the clubs and the players, for their co-operation as we’ve planned for the season and developed the fixture. We may face the need to adapt our fixture because of Covid forcing changes at AFLW level. We will continue to work closely with clubs and we are absolutely committed to completing a full season in 2022.

“The support of rebel and our commercial partners is critical in ensuring the ongoing growth and success of the VFLW competition, and we are grateful for their commitment to women’s football.”

With the grand final unable to be played, Collingwood was recognised as the minor premier for 2021 after its undefeated season.

With the 2020 season cancelled, the last VFLW premiership was won by the Magpies in 2019.

The rebel VFLW competition will run alongside the NAB AFLW season and NAB League Girls, which both started in January.

Entry to all rebel VFLW matches is free.

Of the 12 VFLW clubs, 10 are aligned to AFL/W clubs – Carlton, Casey Demons (Melbourne), Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne (Richmond), Southern Saints (St Kilda) and Western Bulldogs.

Darebin and Williamstown field stand-alone VFLW teams.

ROUND 1

Darebin v Williamstown

Essendon v Western Bulldogs

Geelong v Carlton

North Melbourne v Hawthorn

Collingwood v Southern Saints

Casey Demons v Port Melbourne

2022 VFLW SQUADS

CARLTON

Ally Bild, Caulfield Grammarians (local club)

Jorja Borg, South Croydon

Esther Honybun, Darebin Falcons

Abbey Jordan, Frankston Dolphins

Amelia Klingbeil, Caulfield Grammarians

Stephanie Lawrence, St Mary’s Salesian

Jennifer Lew, West Brunswick

Olivia Madden, Aberfeldie

Nadia Moore, Old Xaverians

Vanessa Murphy, Old Trinity

Thomay Nicolaou, West Brunswick

Laura Robertson, Marcellin

Jessica Stramandinoli, Marcellin

Lauren Suleiman, Coburg Football Club

Ashlee Thorneycroft, Strathmore

Eliza Wood, Montmorency

Teresa Zampaliogne, Fitzroy

Mia Cowan, Old Scotch

Development list

Madeleine Di Cosmo, Marcellin

Lily Goss, Old Scotch

Bryannen Gurr, Caulfield Grammarians

Sarah Ingram, Old Xaverians

Marnie Jarvis, Oak Park

Charli Linssen, Redan

Jasmine Ware, Spotswood

Maddi Wilson, St Bedes Mentone Tigers

Taylah Kolevski, Caroline Springs

CASEY DEMONS

Caitlin Conroy, Caulfield

Tahlia Fellows, Seaford

Alexandra Kirkwood, Caulfield

Shree Fairchild, Beaconsfield

Samantha Johnson, Seaford

Kelly Thompson, Tyabb

Monica Harasimiuk, Hampton Rovers

Melanie Hogg, Aquinas

Stephanie Rummel, Seaford

Alison Dowler, Eastern Devils

Tara Reiter, Blackburn

Bianca Lenarcic, Hampton Rovers

Katie Angelis, Beaconsfield

Rebecca Grant, St Marys Salesian

Amy Laing, Frankston

Eloise O’Connor, Frankston

Chelsie Selleck, Beaconsfield

Zoe Mitchell, Frankston

Development list

Jennifer Macdonald, Devon Meadows

Brooke Borchard, Endeavour Hills

Cara McCrossan, Old Haileybury

Belinda Woolcock, St Marys Salesian

Shanara Notman, Warragul Industrials

Ella Dempster, Frankston

Georgia Byrne, St Kevins

Emma Horne, Monbulk

DAREBIN FALCONS

Angelica Gogos, VU Spurs

Nicole Callinan, Darebin Falcons

Karly McNiece, Darebin Falcons

Katelyn Hazlett, Bendigo Thunder

Naomi Celebre, Melbourne University

Alyssa Mifsud, VU Spurs

Gena Lawson-Tavan, Darebin Falcons

Ashleigh Gunn, VU Spurs

Sophia Padovano, Darebin Falcons

Ellen Buckley, Darebin Falcons

Stephaine Simpson, Darebin Falcons

Mikayla Plunkett, Lower Plenty

Rachel Hibbert, West Brunswick

Georgia Hammond, Darebin Falcons

Sally Lynch, Darebin Falcons

Mikayla Meyer, Darebin Falcons

Paije Kearney, TBC

Stephaine Normington-Dickens, Darebin Falcons

Simone Ruedin, VU Spurs

Alice Caddy, Darebin Falcons

Emma Mackay, West Brunswick

Victoria Blackwood, Darebin Falcons

Trinity Mills, Lower Plenty FC

Rachel Harris, Darebin Falcons

Sabine Cowley Du Parquet, Darebin Falcons

Manaia Huta, Spotswood

Vanja Smiljanic, Darebin Falcons

Tori Snelleksz, Darebin Falcons

Millie Shone, Melbourne Uni

Development list

Julia McArdle, Darebin Falcons

Angelique Reibelt, Darebin Falcons

Katie McAloon, Darebin Falcons

Kiara Camilleri, Kew Bears

Chloe Weston-Sirett, TBC

COLLINGWOOD

Hannah Bowey, TBC

Caitlin Bunker, West Brunswick AFC

Rhiannon Busch, TBC

Shanel Camelleri, Coburg

Monique Dematteo, TBC

Mollie Emond, Kew Rowers

Nic Hales, Diamond Creek

Demi Hallett, TBC

Cahlia Haslam, Kew Rowers

Elisabeth Jackson, Bulleen Templestowe

Sarah King, St Mary’s Salesian

Katie Lee, St Kilda Sharks

Grace Matser, Bass Coast Breakers

Marla Neal, Old Xaverians

Danica Pederson, EDFC

Georgia Ricardo, Seaford

Olivia Storer, Kew Rowers

Ebony Wroe, Beaconsfield

Matilda Zander, Kew Rowers

Development list

Kara Colborne-Veel, Yarra Old Grammarians

Tricia Cowan, Blackburn

Nyakoat Dojiok, Lake Wendouree

Amy Kane, TBC

Neve O’Connor, RMIT Womens Academy

Nicola Weston, Endeavour Hills

ESSENDON

Courtney Ugle, Greenvale

Mikaela Trethowan, Wangaratta Rovers

Sarah Ford, East Coast Eagles

Mia-Rae Clifford, Old Xaverians

Georgia Nanscawen, West Brunswick

Jessie Davies, Western Spurs

Eloise Ashley-Cooper, Keilor

Marianna Anthony, Caulfield Grammerians

Eleanor Cornish, Diamond Creek

Isabel Currenti, Old Geelong

Elizabeth Hosking, Keilor

Danielle Marshall, Aberfeldie

Lauren Caruso, Keilor

Tamsin Crook, Moonee Valley

Federica Frew, Ivanhoe VAFA

Kendra Heil, Caulfield Grammerians

Nicole Julian, Old Xavs

Cecilia McIntosh, Melbourne University

Alex Morcom, Diamond Creek

Natalie MacDonald, Marcellin

Renee Tierney, St Mary’s

Bella Ayre, Bendigo Thunder

Joanne Doonan

Simone Nalder, Diamond Creek

Eloise Gardner, Coburg

Rebecca McDonagh, West Preston

Jordan Zanchetta, Aberfeldie

Grace Dicker, Greenvale

Bella Clarke, Southern Districts FC NTFL

Gloria Elarmaly, Keilor

Development list

Kasey Lennox, Wallan

Olivia Manfre, Keilor

Stephanie Asciak, Caroline Springs

Reese Sutton, Sunbury Lions

Abbey Baillie-McDonald, Sunbury Kangaroos

Scarlett Orritt

Octavia Di Donato

Amelia Radford, Moonee Valley EDFL

GEELONG

Jamie Woolett, North Geelong

Breanna Pratt, Geelong West Giants

Emily Ramsay, Geelong Amateur

Mia Skinner, Geelong West Giants

Isabella Hill, Grovedale

Sachidegia Comi, Geelong Amateur

Madeleine Boyd, Geelong West Giants

Annie Haigh, St Marys

Tamara Smith, Geelong West Giants

Elise Coventry, Geelong Amateur

Sophie Dineen, Barwon Heads

Taylah Nelson, Grovedale

Chloe Leonardi, St Marys

Brooke Wells, Newtown

Paige Sheppard, Geelong West Giants

Breanna Buckley, St Marys

Lujeyn Al-Huneidi, Redan

Analea McKee, Geelong Amateur

Development list

Charlotte Simpson, St Joseph’s

Melissa Bragg, TBC

Ava McKeegan, Geelong Amateur

Mia Featherston, Colac Imperials

Ashvan Loon, St Mary’s

Miavan Dyke, St Mary’s

Lizzie Dowling, St Mary’s

Keeley Hardingham, Colac Imperials

Kalania Scoullar

HAWTHORN

Tamara Luke, Donvale

Nic Garner, Eastern Devils

Kristy Stratton, Pearcedale

Nadia von Bertouch, Melbourne Uni

Ainslie Kemp, Melbourne Uni

Kristen Hay, St Kevins

Chloe Bain, West Brunswick

Katelyn Cox, Old Xaverians

Tegan Cunningham, Coburg Lions

Eliza Shannon, St Marys

Abbey Holmes, Eastern Devils

Jenna Richardson, Donvale

Mietta Kendall, Blackburn

Grace McRae, Bass Coast Breakers

Lauren Szgeti, Coburg Lions

Aimee Whelan, VU Western Spurs

Sara Cameron, St Kevins

Sarah Perrott, Newton & Chilwel

Sophie Bolding, Eastern Devils

Kara Henderson, Eastern Devils

Jordan Mifsud, Old Scotch

Lauren Camilieri, VU Western Spurs

Jade Wise, Rowville

Ellie Mclinden, St Kevins

Dom Carbone, Darwin Buffaloes

Emma Humphries, Eastern Devils

Jessie Williams, Eastern Devils

Alessia Francese, Collegians

Development list

Bridget Deed, Mount Evelyn

Izzy Khoury, Rowville Hawks

Cadhla Schmidli, Blackburn

Matilda Hardy, Lysterfield Wolves

Jaide Anthony, Mount Martha

Ruby O’Dwyer, Healesville

Sarah Humm, North Ringwood

Abby Favell, Newton & Chilwel

Montana Beruldsen, Aberfeldie

NORTH MELBOURNE

Molly Eastman, Melbourne University

Reni Hicks, Nathalia

Ellie Macdonald, Eastern Devils

Jess Mourney, Eastern Devils

Brooke Slaney, Eastern Devils

Ciara Fitzgerald, West Preston Lakeside

Sarah Skinner, Glenorchy

Audrey Rhodes, Old Xaverians

Annalise Vine, Mazenod

Dearne Taylor, Launceston

Jennifer Guy, Old Launcestonians

Annabel Scott, Marcellin

Elizabeth McGrath, West Brunswick

Jess Jones, West Brunswick

Emily Paterno, Hillside

Hannah Ibrahim, Hillside

Ashlea Melnikas, Diamond Creek

Mietta Mcdonald, Melbourne University

Taylor Moss, West Brunswick

Lisa Loughnane, Caulfield Grammarians

Development list

Marli Klaumanns-Moller, Melbourne University

Laura Wright, Keilor

Jade Hillas, Devon Meadows

Caitlin Sargent, Hillside

Georgia Nicholas, Melbourne University

Kiara Delia, Greenvale

Teagan Bradley, Coburg

Rachael Burton, Coburg

Madeline Price, Moonee Valley

Kayleigh Murrihy, Melbourne University

PORT MELBOURNE

Olivia Barton, Blackburn

Kate Dudley, Old Collegians

Courteney Bromage, Fitzroy

Lisa Davie, St Mary’s Salesian

Rebecca Niclasen, Caulfield Grammar

Maddy Baldwin, St Mary’s Salesian

Melissa Kuys, Fitzroy

Sophie Locke, Fitzroy

Claire Dyett, Vermont

Beth Wilson, St Mary’s Salesian

Bridie Winbanks, Caulfield Grammar

Akayla Peterson

Zoe McWhinney, Fitzroy

Jessica Joyce, St Kevins

Emily Harley, Blackburn

Isabella Stutt, St Kevins

Sabrine Navarro, Keilor

Development list

Lucy De Gleria Cade, Fitzroy

Hannah Fosbrooke, Old Xaverians

Maddison Shaw

Nayely Borg, Fitzroy

Lucy Grocock, Frankston

Kaitlyn O’Keefe, Keilor

Tara Jasper, Fitzroy

Kate Adams, St Kevins

ChloeLocke

SOUTHERN SAINTS

Sarah Black, Old Haileybury

Tessa Boyd, Old Haileybury

Grace Buchan, Caulfield Grammarians

Madison Capsalis, Old Mentonians

Hannah Dyson, Eastern Devils

Olivia Flanagan, South Belgrave

Ilena Gentile, Caulfield Grammarians

Alexandra Hynes, St Kevins

Deanna Jolliffe, Tyabb

Tayla Kearns, Caulfield Grammarians

Margaret Kershaw

Chloe Leighton, Caulfield Grammarians

Georgia McLean, Eastern Devils

Rebecca Neaves, St Kilda Sharks

Ebony Nixon, South Belgrave

Kayla Ripari, Devon Meadows

Chanelle Slater, Old Haileybury

Hannah Stuart, Old Mentonians

Nicki Wallace, Collegians

Maighan Fogas, Redan

Development list

Melanie Bertuna, Blackburn

Nicki Cormack, South Belgrave

Gabriella De Angelis, Whitehorse Pioneers

Winnie Laing, Old Haileybury

Amelia Peck, Collegians

Chloe Saultry, St Bedes-Mentone Tigers

Hannah Smith, Melbourne Uni

Shannon Nolan, Old Haileybury

Claire Keohane, Old Haileybury

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Ellie Huggard, West Brunswick

Riley Christgoerg, Aquinas Old Collegians

Brooke Hards, Spotswood

Eliza Morrison, Caulfield Grammarians

Mary Sandra, VU Western Spurs

Amanda Tessari, Whitehorse Colts

Katelyn Betts, VU Western Spurs

Molly Denahy Maloney, Aberfeldie

Eliza Vale, Marcellin Old Collegians

Nikita Wright, Hillside

Bridie Kinghorn, Gisborne

Marguerite Purcell, Caulfield Grammarians

Lucy Schneider, Yarra Old Grammarians

Annaleise Xanthos, Marcellin Old Collegians

Melanie Freeman, Spotswood

Mikayla Barnes, Oak Park

Louise Bibby, Bendigo Thunder

Lauren Clymo, Manor Lakes

Madison Lister, Glen Eira

Jaimee-Lee Morrow, South Croydon

Development list

Mara McSweeney, West Brunswick

Trinity Skenderis, Essendon Doutta Stars

Madison Katerelos, Melbourne University

Jemma Webster, Spotswood

Lilli Condon, Darley

Tahlia Meier, Lake Wendouree

WILLIAMSTOWN

Sasha Long, Caulfield Grammarians

Cleo Saxon-Jones, Williamstown CYMS

Ellie Cleland, Caulfield Grammarians

Paige Nash, Edithvale Aspendale

Thalia Wright, Spotswood

Sofi Georgas, Williamstown CYMS

Lana King, St Kevins

Kaitlyn Carew, Eastern Devils

Eliza Straford, St Kevins

Erin Meade, Edithvale Aspendale

Scarlett Dunell, St Kevins

Jasmine Kawa, Redan

Kate Scott, Old Xavier

Bridie Kennedy, Blackrock

Amanda Maginn, Caulfield Grammarians

Payton Ozols, Burnside Heights

Asha Price, Melbourne Univeristy

Elsa Mangan, West Brunswick

Christy Landwehr, Caulfield Grammarians

Lori Stepnell, Redan

Alana Sarec, Old Xavier

Alanna Doherty, Bacchus Marsh

Olivia Woods, West Brunswick

Ella Baxter, Caulfield Grammarians

Tayla Dinnucio, VU Western Spurs

Madison Blackburn, Lyndale

Olivia Purcell, Edithvale Aspendale

Sharnie Whiting, Williamstown CYMS

Development list

Shaneece Stratton, Lyndale

Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster, Williamstown CYMS

Danika Di Santo, Eastern Devils

Ruby Tripodi, Williamstown CYMS

Ruby Barnes, Williamstown CYMS

Sarah Hosking, Pearcedale Baxter

Stella Bridgewater, South Warrnambool Roosters

Sophia McCarthy, St Kevins

Matisse Hunter, Nightcliff (NT)

Cassie McWilliams, Nightcliff (NT)