Collingwood’s Moana Hope struggling for form, Susan Alberti leaps to goalkicker’s defence

AFTER booting 100 goals in the VFL women’s competition Moana Hope has struggled in the inaugural AFLW season. But she has one passionate defender.

FORMER Western Bulldogs vice-president and women’s football pioneer Susan Alberti has leapt to the defence of Collingwood marquee Moana Hope after criticism of her disappointing start to the AFLW season.

After kicking 100 goals for St Kilda Sharks in the VFL women’s competition last year and booting six goals in the women’s All-Stars exhibition game in September, Hope was widely acknowledged as the best goalkicker in the women’s game.

Susan Alberti and Moana Hope after the All-Stars exhibition game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hope also became one of the faces of the AFLW.

But in three matches for the winless Magpies, Hope has kicked just one goal and managed just 10 disposals.

Fans have been quick to criticise Hope on social media but Alberti, who is a close friend of the 29-year-old, has fired back.

. @DavidFreddo Mo is a great person & footballer. She is doing her best despite some niggling injuries. Go Mo @moanahope @collingwoodAFLW

— Susan Alberti AC (@SusanAlberti1) February 21, 2017

@DavidFreddo @moanahope
Mo's got plenty of bums on seats. Heavily tagged every match so others have to step up-It's a team sport after all!

— Peth (@peth83) February 22, 2017

Why have a crack at @moanahope? She's been tripled teamed & on the end of poor delivery. There's 21 others players & coaches #FairDinkum

— leesa catto ⚫🔴 (@leesacatto) February 19, 2017

@moanahope form is temporary, class is permanent. You are all class. The fans and club will always stand #sidebyside with you

— Ollie Webb (@WebbOllie) February 21, 2017

“Mo is a great person & (sic) footballer. She is doing her best despite some niggling injuries. Go Mo,” Alberti tweeted.

Alberti also retweeted other positive tweets about the Collingwood star.

While some fans acknowledged Hope has been regularly battling against two or three opponents, others haven’t been as kind.

One even called for her to be dropped from the team by coach Wayne Siekman.

@thelistmanager @SENNews Time to drop Moana Hope? Slow, doesn't get involved enough #nohope @aflw

— Jarrod Chipperfield (@Chippa39) February 19, 2017

Hasnt Moana Hope come slamming back down to earth with a thud! Biggest disappointment of #AFLW so far! Needs to worry about footy not media!

— James Dalton (@crusha_32) February 19, 2017

@moanahope Mo, just focus on getting touch and a few possessions, you hung out for a cheap kick today and it didn't work, good luck

— Patrick (@8CentralPat) February 18, 2017

All they talk about is Moana Hope and she has made absolutely zero impact in 3 games. #Hopeless #AFLWLionsPies

— Shayla Chalker (@AussieRoo09) February 18, 2017

Hope battled through Saturday’s narrow loss to the unbeaten Brisbane Lions after suffering a knee injury early in the game.

After receiving treatment the star forward returned to the field but appeared hampered by the injury.

Hope and Collingwood will be hoping to register their first win of the season against the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday night.

Originally published as Collingwood’s Moana Hope struggling for form, Susan Alberti leaps to goalkicker’s defence