Mo Hope will play different role in AFLW 2018 after big off season

COLLINGWOOD gun Steph Chiocci has been voted in as captain again and revealed Mo Hope is in for a new role in AFLW02.

MOANA Hope’s off-season transformation will see her spend time in the midfield in 2018, re-elected Collingwood AFLW captain Steph Chiocci says.

Hope lost 8kg before the pre-season had even started and changed her diet thanks to her girlfriend, model Isabella Carlstrom, who is a vegetarian.

She had a stint in the midfield in a practice match on Friday night as Collingwood dismantled Hawthorn’s VFLW side.

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Chiocci, who was voted in to retain the captaincy by her teammates with youngster Brittany Bonnici and Emma Grant her new deputies, said Hope had returned in great shape.

“It’s pretty evident that she’s worked really hard over the off season,” Chiocci said.

Collingwood women's leadership ... captain Stephanie Chiocci (middle) with new vice-captains Emma Grant, (left) and Brittany Bonnici. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“She’s lean, she’s fit and she’s training through the midfield and keeping up with the mids in terms of the running.

“ ... I’ve no doubt she’ll have a burst in (the midfield) she’s got silky skills and her evasive skills are second to none, I think we’d be silly not to trial her through there.

“But she’s a forward, she’s creative, she brings people into the game.”

The club trialled the new last disposal out of bounds rule on Friday night and Chiocci said it suited her team.

Moana Hope playing State of Origin for Victoria in September. Pic: Michael Klein

“I think it will keep the game open and flowing, which is what the AFL want and that’s what we want as well,” she said.

“I definitely did notice the last touch rule come into play, it just meant the other team gets possession and they get to move it quickly. I reaped the rewards off one of them.”

Chiocci said the Magpies, who lost the first three games last season before coming good, had gone back to basics for 2018.

“The game plan has shifted,” Chiocci said.

“We’re going to work to our strengths this year and not try to overcomplicate it.

“I think we were too complicated last year.”

Collingwood’s leadership group for 2018 also includes All Australian ruck Emma King, netballer turned footballer Ash Brazill and forward Christina Bernardi.