AFLW 2023: All the round 2 teams and expert tips

Fremantle star Kiara Bowers is back, along with Tigers vice-captain Sarah Hosking – but there’s some big outs, too. See the full AFLW round 2 teams, plus expert tips.

Fremantle star Kiara Bowers will play her first game for the season against Collingwood on Sunday in a huge boost for the Dockers ahead of a finals-shaping clash.

Bowers’ inclusion after she missed round 1 with a knee complaint will make the Magpies’ task of bouncing back from their heavy opening game defeat more difficult, as the home side will again be without vice-captain Ruby Schleicher and Lauren Butler.

The important defensive duo will miss again with foot injuries, while it was confirmed earlier this week star forward Eliza James would be sidelined for at least four weeks after an ankle syndesmosis injury against the Demons.

SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL TEAMS AND EXPERT TIPS

Richmond vice-captain Sarah Hosking will play her first game for the season after recovering from a hamstring injury. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Richmond will regain vice-captain Sarah Hosking for Friday night’s clash against Adelaide at Ikon Park, after a hamstring injury kept her out of round 1.

But the Tigers will lose former No. 1 pick Ellie McKenzie to an ankle injury which she suffered in the dying moments of their win over Brisbane.

Adelaide has included enigmatic forward Jess Waterhouse for her third game at the expense of Montana McKinnon.

Hawthorn ruck Lucy Wales is a confirmed starter after she missed round 1 with a thigh injury, with a shift to defence flagged for Tamara Luke despite her impressive performance in the Bombers loss.

Premiership player Megan Fitzsimon will miss Melbourne’s trip to Canberra to play GWS through injury, with Rhi Watt or Gabby Colvin potentially in line for a comeback from respective ACL injuries.

It would be Watt’s first game for Melbourne after crossing over from St Kilda before season seven.

Imogen Mulgrew meets Kangaroos forwards Bella Eddey (left) and Emma King along with Carlton midfielder Abbie McKay at the RCH. Picture: Mark Stewart

Carlton defender Gab Pound will return for the Blues on Sunday against the Kangaroos after missing round 1, while Phoebe McWilliams has been named on the extended bench and is a chance to play her 50th game if she can overcome a calf injury in time.

The Roos will host Carlton in the AFLW’s inaugural SuperClash at Arden Street, with a percentage of proceeds going to the Good Friday Appeal in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Suns suffer cruel blow

– Callum Dick

Gold Coast’s AFLW campaign has been dealt a cruel early season blow after star forward Kalinda Howarth was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.

Howarth went down at training this week and was later sent for scans which confirmed she had ruptured her ACL.

The 2020 All Australian had been flying during pre-season and was one of the Suns’ best in the two-point defeat to Carlton last weekend.

“It’s devastating news for Kalinda who has been an integral member of the Gold Coast Suns since the team’s inception into the AFLW competition and is a graduate of our Suns Academy,” Suns Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago said.

“What’s important now is ensuring Kalinda is provided all the support she needs throughout her rehabilitation and we look forward to seeing her return to the field stronger than ever.”

Considered by many to be the Suns’ best ball user, Howarth’s injury is a crushing blow to a team that believes it could feature in finals for the first time this season.

Gold Coast hosts West Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday in foundation player and inaugural club champion Jamie Stanton’s 50th AFLW appearance.

AFLW ROUND 2 TEAMS

Richmond v Adelaide

Ikon Park, Friday 5.05pm

TIGERS

B: L.McClelland 16 R.Miller 15

HB: E.Sheerin 2 S.D’Arcy 12 M.Shevlin 35

C: J.Hosking 11 G.Egan 1 K.Dempsey 19

HF: K.Cox 17 E.Yassir 27 B.Lynch 20

F: K.Brennan – C 3 C.Greiser 9

Foll: G.Seymour 28 M.Conti 4 M.Macdonald 38

Inter: C.Jones 5 S.Hosking 7 L.Graham 18

P.Kelly 14 S.Reid 25

Emerg: M.Eastman 8 J.Woods 29 C.Wicksteed 24

In: S.Hosking

Out: E.McKenzie (Injured)

CROWS

B: Z.Prowse 4 C.Biddell 12

HB: N.Allen 8 C.Randall – C 26 S.Thompson 14

C: N.Kelly 23 A.Hatchard 33 E.Jones 2

HF: D.Ponter 15 Y.Bonner 31 R.Martin 5

F: C.Gould 1 A.Ballard 27

Foll: J.Allan 32 T.Charlton 25 E.Marinoff 10

Inter: J.Waterhouse 19 S.Goodwin 11 B.Tonon 28

K.Mueller 13 M.Newman 17

Emerg: D.Varnhagen 9 L.Whiteley 22 M.McKinnon 21

In: J.Waterhouse

Out: M.McKinnon (Omitted)

GOLD COAST v WEST COAST

Heritage Bank Stadium, Saturday 11.05am

SUNS

B: L.Ahrens 7 M.Girvan 25

HB: C.Fitzpatrick 9 D.D'Arcy 20 G.Clayden 18

C: L.Single 13 C.Whitfort 4 E.Keaney 30

HF: J.Stanton 17 T.Bohanna – C 12 N.McLaughlin 11

F: D.Davies 3 J.Dupuy 27

Foll: L.Bella 2 C.Rowbottom 8 A.Gee 24

Inter: W.Randell 15 A.Bush 19 M.Brancatisano 5

J.Membrey 21 A.Drennan 33

Emerg: J.Smith 1 E.Maurer 10 T.Meyer 34

In: A.Bush

Out: K.Howarth (Injured)

EAGLES

B: J.Sedunary 10 E.Hartill 25

HB: B.Smith 14 S.McDonald 35 C.Thomas 3

C: D.Hooker 17 E.Roberts 4 I.Lewis 6

HF: K.Gibson 2 A.Franklin 19 A.McCarthy 11

F: S.Davison 28 L.Wakfer 1

Foll: S.Lakay 23 M.Western 21 E.Swanson – C 13

Inter: S.Goranova 8 E.Humphries 12 J.Britton 18

E.Elkington 29 C.Rowley 5

Emerg: A.Bushby 15 Z.Wakfer 16 A.Schmidt 7

In: E.Humphries

Out: K.Bartlett (Omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE v BRISBANE

Alberton Oval, Saturday 12.35pm

POWER

B: A.Borg 21 H.Dunn 24

HB: M.MacLachlan 16 J.Cuthbertson 25 C.Hammond 28

C: A.Foley 3 E.Phillips – C 1 E.Boag 17

HF: J.Teakle 15 J.Mules 14 G.Houghton 27

F: A.Saint 8 H.Ewings 12

Foll: M.Scholz 29 A.Dowrick 5 J.Stewart 13

Inter: Y.Duursma 7 A.Ballard 19 S.Syme 20

E.O’Dea 2 I.Tahau 10

Emergencies J.Simmons 32 K.Pope 44 M.Keryk 26

In: S.Syme

Out: O.Levicki (Omitted)

LIONS

B: S.Campbell 20 P.Monahan 11

HB: B.Koenen – C 3 N.Grider 10 J.Ellenger 5

C: O.O’Dwyer 9 C.Svarc 25 S.Conway 12

HF: L.Postlethwaite 6 D.Davidson 14 C.Hodder 21

F: T.Smith 31 R.Svarc 29

Foll: T.Hickie 2 I.Dawes 17 A.Anderson 18

Inter: D.Heslop 23 C.Mullins 28 E.Hampson 7

P.Boltz 15 A.McKee 33

Emerg: E.Smith 26 M.Pauga 27 J.Pregelj 24

In: E.Hampson, P.Boltz

Out: J.Pregelj (Omitted), E.Smith (Omitted)

SYDNEY V GEELONG

North Sydney Oval, Saturday 1.05pm

SWANS

B: T.Kennedy 29 B.Tarrant 20

HB: E.Heads 12 A.Mitchell 8 A.Hamilton 30

C: B.Kennedy 2 L.Gardiner 31 L.Steane 21

HF: R.Privitelli 19 C.Hamilton 10 B.Lochland 1

F: L.McEvoy 9 M.Beruldsen 37

Foll: A.Morphett 7 S.Hurley 25 C.Molloy – C 5

Inter: L.Szigeti 28 R.Sargent-Wilson 6 P.Sheppard 4

J.O’Sullivan 24 A.Newman 16

Emerg: B.Smith 11 J.Anthony 44 A.Whelan 22

In: A.Hamilton

Out: B.Smith (Omitted)

CATS

B: A.Johnson 2 C.Gunjaca 26

HB: C.Emonson 16 M.McDonald – C 11 G.Rankin 10

C: M.Bowen 1 G.Prespakis 41 N.Morrison 9

HF: K.Surman 7 K.Darby 8 J.Parry 5

F: C.Scheer 14 A.Moloney 45

Foll: E.Hoare 46 A.McDonald 3 D.Moloney 4

Inter: A.McDonald 39 Z.Friswell 20 R.Garing 12

M.Bragg 44 J.Crockett-Grills 6

Emerg: R.Kearns 22 O.Fuller 13 B.Plummer 19

WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN

Mars Stadium, Sunday 1.05pm

BULLDOGS

B: I.Grant 3 B.Hunt 21

HB: E.Georgostathis 17 K.Lynch 10 N.Ferres 16

C: D.Bateman 8 D.Carruthers 14 I.Pritchard 4

HF: C.Moody 13 G.Newton 5 G.Lagioia 12

F: S.Hartwig 15 B.McFarlane 58

Foll: A.Edmonds 33 E.Blackburn – C 2 J.Fitzgerald 23

Interchange (from): D.Berry 7 M.Gorham 26 K.Lamb 27

K.McLeod 6 R.Wilcox 37 H.Woodley 19 A.Smith 24

In: D.Berry, R.Wilcox, H.Woodley, A.Smith

Out: E.Bennetts (Injured)

HAWKS

B: J.Richardson 11 T.Luke 22

HB: M.Eardley 17 C.Brown 42 A.McDonagh 13

C: K.Ashmore 10 C.Baskaran 9 L.Stephenson 12

HF: G.Bodey 3 A.Gilroy 7 K.Stratton 41

F: M.Breed 4 B.Hipwell 19

Foll: L.Wales 31 T.Lucas-Rodd -C 18 J.Fleming 5

Inter (from): E.Bates 39 S.Perkins 23 T.Fellows 8

L.Elliott 20 A.Makur Chuot 34 E.Everist 25 B.Deed 15

In: L.Wales, L.Elliott, E.Everist, B.Deed

Out: T.Smith (Suspension)

COLLINGWOOD v FREMANTLE

Victoria Park, Sunday 1.05pm

MAGPIES

B: S.Casey 22 S.Livingstone 12

HB: A.Brazill 10 S.Karlson 20 J.Allen 6

C: S.Rowe 7 B.Davey – C 3 T.White 29

HF: G.Campbell 13 E.Morris 21 A.Sheridan 14

F: N.Morris-Dalton 17 A.Porter 9

Foll: I.Barnett 4 M.Cann 25 B.Bonnici 8

Inter (from) E.Smith 33 T.Brown 26 S.Frederick 1

S.Sansonetti 16 O.Barber 19 I.Evans 5 C.Blair 28

In: I.Barnett, E.Smith, O.Barber, I.Evans, C.Blair

Out: E.James (Injured), E.Fowler (Omitted)

DOCKERS

B: J.Low 30 L.Pugh 32

HB: S.Verrier 5 E.O’Driscoll 3 M.Scanlon 6

C: A.Runnalls 22 G.O’Sullivan 9 E.Antonio 12

HF: A.Mulholland 33 A.Tighe 10 J.Cregg 23

F: S.Wielstra 24 A.Stannett 4

Foll: M.Strom 21 H.Miller – C 19 K.Bowers 2

Inter (from): O.Lally 14 M.Kauffman 25 N.Nield 7

M.Hyde 28 J.Flynn 20 M.Tuhakaraina 13 D.East 8

In: K.Bowers, N.Nield, J.Flynn

Out:

KANGAROOS v CARLTON

Arden Street Oval, Sunday 3.05pm

KANGAROOS

B: J.Ferguson 20 E.Shannon 11

HB: E.Kearney – C 9 N.Bresnehan 12 E.O'Shea 14

C: A.Smith 15 M.King 23 T.Gatt 8

HF: B.Eddey 3 K.Shierlaw 33 A.O'Loughlin 6

F: E.King 60 T.Randall 16

Foll: K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7

Inter (from): S.Wright 17 L.Pullar 24 T.Craven 5

E.Gavalas 22 L.Burke 29 A.Considine 27 L.McGrath 1

In: L.Burke, A.Considine, L.McGrath

Out:

BLUES

B: J.Dal Pos 2 G.Pound 6

HB: M.Hendrie 49 H.Cordner 21 V.Laloifi 8

C: M.Anthony 14 A.McKay 5 A.Velardo 1

HF: M.Hill – C 10 J.Good 12 G.Lawson 27

F: M.Austin 22 D.Vescio 3

Foll: B.Moody 16 K.Skepper 4 B.Vickers 24

Inter (from): K.Sherar 25 L.Goss 20 A.Lee 11

T.Ortlepp 34 P.McWilliams 37 P.Trudgeon 26 D.Finn 17

In: G.Pound, P.McWilliams, P.Trudgeon, D.Finn

Out: D.Walker (Injured)

ESSENDON v ST KILDA

Windy Hill, Sunday 3.05pm

BOMBERS

B: B.Brown 36 E.Gamble 14

HB: K.Jacques 7 S.Van De Heuvel 27 A.Van Loon 26

C: A.Clarke 33 M.Prespakis 4 M.Busch 28

HF: B.Toogood – C 8 G.Gee 2 J.Vogt 10

F: S.Alexander 24 D.Bannister 3

Foll: S.Wales 30 S.Cain 20 P.Scott 32

Inter (from): J.Wuetschner 21 G.Clarke 17 G.Nanscawen 5

A.Radford 22 D.Marshall 6 L.Cutting 18 A.Barba 11

In: D.Marshall, L.Cutting, A.Barba

Out: None

SAINTS

B: N.Plane 32 B.Jakobsson 8

HB: S.Watson 12 G.Kelly 11 E.Friend 16

C: T.Smith 6 M.McDonald 1 S.Chiocci 17

HF: J.Wardlaw 30 N.Stevens 2 H.Stuart 18

F: M.Boyd 29 N.Xenos 27

Foll: S.Nalder 34 J.Lambert 9 G.Patrikios 21

Inter (from): A.Richards 22 O.Vesely 23 B.Pinchin 24

H.Priest – C 14 D.Guttridge 5 D.Jolliffe 4 N.Exon 15

In: D.Guttridge, D.Jolliffe, N.Exon

Out: None

GWS v MELBOURNE

Manuka Oval, Sunday 5.05pm

GIANTS

B: J.Hicks 29 P.Randall 21

HB: C.Dalton 11 G.Hill 19 T.Evans 18

C: J.Doyle 5 N.Barr 8 M.Brazendale 23

HF: Z.Goldsworthy 7 H.Zreika 24 A.Parker 3

F: G.Garnett 17 B.Mowbray 31

Foll: F.Davies 20 A.Lister 14 A.Eva – C 2

Inter (from): C.McCormick 25 K.Smith 4 A.Dallaway 30

C.Miller 9 J.Grierson 10 T.Germech 15 T.Cattle 40

In: C.Miller, J.Grierson, T.Cattle

Out: None

DEMONS

B: L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17

HB: S.Goldrick 23 M.Gay 3 S.Heath 30

C: S.Lampard 8 T.Hanks 5 E.McNamara 22

HF: T.Harris 7 L.Mithen 14 A.Bannan 16

F: E.Zanker 29 K.Hore – C 10

Foll: L.Pearce 15 E.West 11 P.Paxman 4

Inter (from): M.Chaplin 13 G.Campbell 1 O.Purcell 2

B.Mackin 31 G.Colvin 32 C.Wilson 20 R.Watt 26

In: M.Chaplin, G.Colvin, C.Wilson, R.Watt

Out: M.Fitzsimon (Injured)