AFLW 2023: All the round 3 teams, selection news and expert tips

It’s been a long journey for Izzy Huntington, who will make her GWS debut on a big weekend for her former club – for other reasons. Get all the round 3 teams and expert tips.

Former top draft pick Izzy Huntington will make her GWS debut 616 days after she last played an AFLW game.

The Giants confirmed the supremely talented forward would play her first game in orange against Richmond on Saturday after an arduous recovery from a third knee reconstruction.

Huntington, who kicked 18 goals in 20 games at the Western Bulldogs after being selected with Pick 1 in the 2017 draft, has not played since the opening round of the first 2022 season.

The 23-year-old will provide an important extra dimension to the Giants’ attack as they pursue their first win of the season following a disappointing loss to Sydney and a heavy defeat to reigning premier Melbourne.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE TEAMS AND EXPERT TIPS

Izzy Huntington will make her GWS debut on Saturday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Huntington was told of her comeback through a quirky video featuring AFL football boss Laura Kane, which she began by speaking about AFLW rule adjustments before congratulating the forward on her selection.

“It’s been a long journey to get cleared to play, I was a bit shook though, it was a nervous wait in the gym after training, I wasn’t really sure when selection was happening,” Huntington said.

“I absolutely love it here, I’ve been close with a lot of the Giants girls for a good while, and then moving up here they really just welcomed me.

“It’s been a bit weird being on the inactive list in your first year at a club, but it was cool coming in with a different perspective and helping coach a little bit.”

The Western Bulldogs have swung the axe ahead of their clash against Melbourne, with two premiership players among the casualties as they look to correct their stuttering start to the season.

Small forward Daisy Bateman has been dropped, along with premiership defenders Bailey Hunt and Naomi Ferres, who took the famous game-saving mark in the dying moments of the 2018 grand final and played her 50th game last week.

The Dogs will turn to youth with Maggie Gorham and Aurora Smith called upon for their second senior games, along with second-year forward Heidi Woodley.

The Demons will regain Paxy Paxman after the star midfielder missed the round 2 clash against GWS through injury. Picture: Michael Klein.

The reigning premier will regain star midfielder Paxy Paxman for the clash at Casey Fields on Saturday, with key defender Charlotte Wilson omitted from the side which belted GWS in Canberra.

Richmond has made two changes as it prepares to battle in 34C heat against the Giants in Blacktown on Saturday, with West Australian midfielder Charli Wicksteed to make her debut after being recruited as an injury replacement player in June.

Young forward duo Poppy Kelly and Stella Reid have been omitted, with the Tigers turning to Molly Eastman for her first game of the season.

Experienced midfielder Nat Exon will make a return for St Kilda, while fellow clearance specialist Rosie Dillon has been named on an extended bench ahead of the Saints’ clash against Port Adelaide at RSEA Park.

North Melbourne will go into a huge Friday twilight clash against Geelong unchanged after a blistering start to the season, while the Cats have brought in ruck Liv Fuller at the expense of teenage defender Abbey McDonald.

Collingwood, which faces Gold Coast at Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon, has lost Imogen Barnett to a serious ankle injury but has brought in Erica Fowler and named key forward Olivia Barber on the bench.

Important Magpies defenders Ruby Schleicher and Lauren Butler remain out indefinitely with foot injuries.

ROUND 3 TEAMS

Geelong v Kangaroos

GMHBA Stadium, Friday 5.05pm

CATS

B: R.Kearns 22 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: O.Fuller 13 Z.Friswell 20 R.Garing 12

M.Bragg 44 J.Crockett-Grills 6

Emerg: I.Houtsma 31 A.McDonald 39 B.Plummer 19

In: O.Fuller

Out: A.McDonald (Omitted)

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: S.Wright 17 L.Pullar 24 T.Craven 5

E.Gavalas 22 R.Tripodi 19

Emerg: A.Considine 27 L.Burke 29 L.McGrath 1

Unchanged.

GWS v Richmond

Blacktown International Sports Park, Saturday 1.05pm

GWS

B: J.Hicks 29 P.Randall 21

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

C: E.Pease 33 A.Parker 3 A.Eva – C 2

HF: Z.Goldsworthy 7 H.Zreika 24 I.Huntington 12

F: G.Garnett 17 B.Mowbray 31

Foll: F.Davies 20 A.Lister 14 N.Barr 8

Inter: K.Smith 4 T.Germech 15 A.Dallaway 30

J.Doyle 5 R.Beeson 6

Emerg: C.McCormick 25 J.Grierson 10 C.Miller 9

In: E.Pease, I.Huntington, A.Lister

Out: C.Miller (Omitted), C.McCormick (Omitted), M.Brazendale (Injured)

TIGERS

B: L.Graham 18 R.Miller 15

HB: E.Sheerin 2 K.Cox 17 M.Shevlin 35

C: J.Hosking 11 S.Hosking 7 K.Dempsey 19

HF: B.Lynch 20 E.Yassir 27 S.D’Arcy 12

F: K.Brennan – C 3 C.Greiser 9

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

Inter: L.McClelland 16 C.Wicksteed 24 G.Egan 1

M.Eastman 8 C.Jones 5

Emerg: S.Reid 25 J.Woods 29 P.Kelly 14

In: C.Wicksteed, M.Eastman

Out: P.Kelly (Omitted), S.Reid (Omitted)

Adelaide v Essendon

Unley Oval, Saturday 3.05pm

CROWS

B: Z.Prowse 4 K.Mueller 13

HB: S.Thompson 14 C.Randall – C 26 C.Biddell 12

C: M.Newman 17 A.Hatchard 33 N.Kelly 23

Half Forwards R.Martin 5 D.Ponter 15 Y.Bonner 31

Forwards J.Allan 32 J.Waterhouse 19

Followers C.Gould 1 E.Marinoff 10 T.Charlton 25

Interchange B.Tonon 28 L.Whiteley 22 E.Jones 2

S.Goodwin 11 A.Ballard 27

Emergencies T.Levy 16 D.Varnhagen 9 M.McKinnon 21

In: L.Whiteley

Out: N.Allen (Injured)

BOMBERS

B: G.Clarke 17 A.Van Loon 26

HB: S.Van De Heuvel 27 E.Gamble 14 B.Walker 9

C: G.Gee 2 S.Cain 20 M.Busch 28

HF: A.Clarke 33 S.Alexander 24 B.Toogood – C 8

F: D.Bannister 3 J.Wuetschner 21

Foll: S.Wales 30 G.Nanscawen 5 M.Prespakis 4

Inter: B.Brown 36 L.Cutting 18 J.Vogt 10

A.Radford 22 P.Scott 32

Emerg: M.Dyke 16 D.Marshall 6 A.Barba 11

In: L.Cutting

Out: K.Jacques (Suspension)

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs

Casey Fields, Saturday 3.05pm

DEMONS

B: L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17

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

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

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

F: E.Zanker 29 K.Hore – C 10

Foll: L.Pearce 15 E.West 11 O.Purcell 2

Inter: M.Chaplin 13 G.Campbell 1 B.Mackin 31

P.Paxman 4 C.Sherriff 18

Emerg: J.Ivey 19 R.Watt 26 C.Wilson 20

In: P.Paxman

Out: C.Wilson (Omitted)

BULLDOGS

B: I.Grant 3 K.Lynch 10

HB: E.Georgostathis 17 K.Coyne 22 M.Gorham 26

C: R.Wilcox 37 K.Lamb 27 I.Pritchard 4

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

F: S.Hartwig 15 D.Berry 7

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

Inter: K.McLeod 6 H.Woodley 19 A.Smith 24

B.McFarlane 58 D.Carruthers 14

Emerg: N.Ferres 16 R.Cranston 30 B.Hunt 21

In: M.Gorham, H.Woodley, A.Smith

Out: N.Ferres (Omitted), D.Bateman (Omitted), B.Hunt (Omitted)

Fremantle v Hawthorn

Fremantle Oval, Saturday 5.05pm

DOCKERS

B: S.Verrier 5 E.O’Driscoll 3

HB: J.Low 30 L.Pugh 32 M.Scanlon 6

C: A.Mulholland 33 M.Kauffman 25 J.Cregg 23

HF: O.Lally 14 A.Tighe 10 A.Hetherington 29

F: E.Antonio 12 A.Stannett 4

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

Inter: S.Wielstra 24 J.Flynn 20 D.East 8

M.Hyde 28 A.Runnalls 22

Emerg: N.Nield 7 S.Gibbs 16 M.Tuhakaraina 13

In: J.Flynn

Out: G.O’Sullivan (Injured)

HAWKS

B: C.Brown 42 M.Eardley 17

HB: E.Everist 25 J.Richardson 11 L.Elliott 20

C: A.Makur Chuot 34 L.Stephenson 12 K.Ashmore 10

HF: S.Locke 21 A.Gilroy 7 G.Bodey 3

F: T.Luke 22 C.Baskaran 9

Foll: L.Wales 31 E.Bates 39 J.Fleming 5

Inter: T.Smith 24 T.Lucas-Rodd – C 18 B.Hipwell 19

K.Stratton 41 A.McDonagh 13

Emerg: M.Breed 4 T.Fellows 8 B.Deed 15

In: T.Smith

Out: M.Breed (Omitted)

St Kilda v Port Adelaide

RSEA Park, Sunday 1.05pm

SAINTS

B: N.Plane 32 B.Jakobsson 8

HB: S.Watson 12 G.Kelly 11 M.Boyd 29

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

HF: J.Wardlaw 30 N.Stevens 2 N.Exon 15

F: A.Richards 22 N.Xenos 27

Foll: S.Nalder 34 J.Lambert 9 H.Priest – C 14

Inter (from): R.Dillon 25 O.Vesely 23 D.Guttridge 5

G.Patrikios 21 A.Burke 3 J.Anderson 7 R.Saulitis 13

In: N.Exon, R.Dillon, B.Pinchin, J.Anderson, R.Saulitis

Out: H.Stuart (Injured), E.Friend (Omitted)

POWER

B: A.Borg 21 H.Dunn 24

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

C: A.Foley 3 M.Moloney 9 E.Boag 17

HF: E.Phillips – C 1 J.Mules 14 G.Houghton 27

F: A.Saint 8 H.Ewings 12

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

Inter (from): K.Pope 44 A.Ballard 19 S.Syme 20

E.O’Dea 2 M.Keryk 26 Y.Duursma 7 J.De Melo 11

In: M.Moloney, K.Pope, M.Keryk, J.De Melo

Out: J.Teakle (Injured)

Collingwood v Gold Coast

Victoria Park, Sunday 3.05pm

MAGPIES

B: S.Casey 22 S.Livingstone 12

HB: A.Porter 9 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.Brazill 10

F: N.Morris-Dalton 17 T.Brown 26

Foll: E.Fowler 15 A.Sheridan 14 B.Bonnici 8

Inter (from): E.Smith 33 S.Sansonetti 16 M.Cann 25

S.Frederick 1 O.Barber 19 I.Evans 5 C.Blair 28

SUNS

B: L.Ahrens 7 M.Girvan 25

HB: C.Fitzpatrick 9 G.Clayden 18 N.McLaughlin 11

C: D.D’Arcy 20 C.Whitfort 4 E.Keaney 30

HF: A.Drennan 33 T.Bohanna – C 12 J.Dupuy 27

F: J.Stanton 17 J.Membrey 21

Foll: L.Bella 2 C.Rowbottom 8 M.Brancatisano 5

Inter (from): D.Davies 3 E.Maurer 10 L.Single 13

C.McCrossan 14 A.Bush 19 A.Gee 24 T.Meyer 34

In: E.Maurer, C.McCrossan, T.Meyer

Out: None

West Coast v Carlton

Mineral Resources Park, Sunday 3.05pm

EAGLES

B: J.Sedunary 10 Z.Wakfer 16

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

C: J.Britton 18 A.McCarthy 11 C.Rowley 5

HF: K.Gibson 2 A.Schmidt 7 E.Roberts 4

F: I.Lewis 6 D.Hooker 17

Foll: L.Wakfer 1 M.Western 21 E.Swanson – C 13

Inter (from): E.Smith 22 E.Elkington 29 B.Schilling 30

E.Humphries 12 E.Gooch 31 S.Goranova 8 A.Franklin 19

BLUES

B: J.Dal Pos 2 V.Laloifi 8

HB: K.Skepper 4 H.Cordner 21 G.Pound 6

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

HF: P.McWilliams 37 M.Hendrie 49 B.Moody 16

F: M.Austin 22 D.Vescio 3

Foll: J.Good 12 M.Hill – C 10 B.Vickers 24

Inter: K.Sherar 25 L.Goss 20 T.Ortlepp 34

G.Lawson 27 A.Lee 11 C.Fitzgerald 36 D.Finn 17

In: T.Ortlepp, C.Fitzgerald, D.Finn

Out: None

Brisbane v Sydney

Brighton Homes Arena, Sunday 5.05pm

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 C.Hodder 21 A.McKee 33

F: D.Davidson 14 R.Svarc 29

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

Inter (from): D.Heslop 23 P.Boltz 15 E.Hampson 7

C.Mullins 28 E.Smith 26 M.Pauga 27 C.Wendland 4

In: J.Dunne, E.Smith, M.Pauga, C.Wendland

Out: T.Smith (Injured)

SWANS

B: E.Heads 12 B.Tarrant 20

HB: T.Kennedy 29 J.O’Sullivan 24 L.McEvoy 9

C: A.Whelan 22 L.Gardiner 31 L.Steane 21

HF: R.Privitelli 19 C.Hamilton 10 A.Newman 16

F: B.Lochland 1 M.Beruldsen 37

Foll: A.Morphett 7 P.McCarthy 15 C.Molloy – C 5

Inter (from): M.Ham 18 A.Mitchell 8 S.Hurley 25

B.Smith 11 J.Higgins 17 J.Anthony 44 P.Sheppard 4

In: A.Whelan, P.McCarthy, M.Ham, B.Smith, J.Higgins, J.Anthony

Out: L.Szigeti (Omitted), R.Sargent-Wilson (Omitted), B.Kennedy (Omitted)