AFLW finals fixtures 2022: Sabrina Frederick on juggling motherhood and a football career
Collingwood AFLW forward Sabrina Frederick opens up on motherhood, finals disappointment and how the support of a fellow Magpie mum has shaped her.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The knowing look often passes across a meeting room or gym session between Collingwood’s Sabrina Frederick and Ash Brazill.
Often through bleary eyes, no less.
It might be a night of a sleep regression, a growth spurt, or just who knows what.
It’s all part of being a parenting Magpie — just 12 weeks into the rest of Frederick’s life.
Frederick, 25, said she had found solace in teammate Brazill — the only other mum on the Magpies’ list which is firmly in the thick of finals.
It’s helped.
“It’s just amazing having her there,” Frederick said.
“It’s one thing people being understanding, but someone actually getting it is a whole different thing.
“They can lean on you for support, they can maybe suggest something to someone that’s not thinking the way that a parent would.
“It’s just good having ‘Braz’ there and we get on like a house on fire, but knowing that she also has my back and fully gets it as a parent as well.”
Frederick and wife, Lili, welcomed Florence Elton — their very own “tiny dancer” — just three months ago.
Born just two days before Collingwood’s pre-season hitout and 10 days before the season proper began, Frederick knows now she spent the early part of the season “running on adrenaline”.
Flying to Sydney 48 hours after Florence arrived for the team’s pre-season trial game, she “ended up ruining” her ankle and creating an issue that carried into her season.
“Things happen, but in hindsight, I probably wouldn’t have done that,” Frederick reflects.
“I wouldn’t change it.
“Not having the sleep … but you have a different sense of purpose. You can push through not having sleep, because your drive of playing is not just for you anymore.”
Florence’s arrival — like that of many children — has changed everything for Sabrina and Lili. “Healthy and happy and content … she’s an absolute angel,” Frederick gushes.
And when the season was brought forward to August from its usual summer slot, their best-laid plans were changed immeasurably, too.
Instead of sitting forward in a Pies final on Sunday, Frederick thought it would be a few months at home once Florence was born.
But league officials had other ideas.
“Obviously with IVF there’s chances that things aren’t going to work out, but you plan for it to,” she said.
“We had a window of opportunity of trying so it fit in (and then the season moved).
“Having a baby, you’re so invested at that point in time and you don’t know when they’re going to come.
“I’m lucky that I’m at a club that was really understanding. I didn’t really have to miss much at all but they were really understanding about timings and stuff – they were really supportive, which made me feel way more comfortable and way more focused. I was just lucky.
“The reality of this season that I had to come to terms with was that not everything is going to go the way I wanted to, but being here (at home) is so important.”
Her second season at Collingwood — her third club — has had its moments, Frederick admits, where “people are going to say what they say”, her goal-drought ending in Round 8 but her contested marking remaining a true asset as the Pies prepare to host the Western Bulldogs at Victoria Park.
It’s been about more than footy.
“I’m never going to get this time back, so yes, there’s things in the season that I would have liked – to have more energy, to have more sleep, there’s lots of things that affected performance, but for me, this is so important to me,” she said.
“This is family and I’m not going to get this time again. The timing wasn’t great but we made it work.”
There’s nappies and tummy time and a nightly bath routine that Frederick takes care of – “anything I can do while I’m here” – for Florence Elton, whose name marks a poignant tribute to famed singer-songwriter Elton John and shared family histories between the Fredericks, who were married in 2021.
“(Tiny Dancer) is for me and Lil a very important song in our life, when we met and the love story and all that sort of stuff,” Frederick said.
“Elton John as well is linked throughout our family a lot. There’s a lot of emotional and thoughtful meaning behind that.
“(Her name) is a good balance between masculine but also feminine approach to it. We wanted meaning behind whatever names we decided.”
Florence made her AFLW debut at the same ground her mum will take to on Sunday as the Pies look to leave last season’s finals heartbreak — which ended amid Covid chaos and a devastating loss on the road — behind.
But it’s not about avenging, according to the 57-game foundation AFLW player.
“I wouldn’t say it’s trying to avenge anything, I think it’s more just we’re a really close group,” she said.
“People throw that around a lot, but we really love and care for each other. It’s more just about giving each other that success. We’ve worked hard for so long – we just want to give each other that gift.”
NO EASY ROAD BUT SCHEER WITHIN REACH OF SECOND FLAG
Chloe Scheer carries the scars of five knee surgeries but no regrets.
The Geelong forward, who moved from Adelaide at the end of 2021, could – in another life – have had a cricket bat in hand at this time of year.
But the lure of a promising junior cricket career that could have led her right to the top doesn’t hold a candle to the gruelling recovery of two devastating ACL tears being met with a shot at a second AFL Women’s premiership.
“It definitely hasn’t been an easy road,” Scheer said this week on the eve of her third AFLW finals series.
Under the knife on five occasions, “with the knees I have” to thank, Scheer admits to be within a few wins’ reach of a second AFLW premiership had at times seemed a world away.
Her second ACL tear came on the game’s biggest stage – in front of 53,034 at Adelaide Oval in the 2019 grand final won by her then-team, the Crows.
There was nowhere to hide.
That day, or in her lengthy rehabilitation that had at times seemed insurmountable, particularly given she knew just what would be required having endured the same fate just shy of her planned AFLW draft shot in 2017.
“When you’ve done a knee, you think everything’s finished for you,” Scheer said.
“I remember I had a time after my second knee in the grand final, I didn’t think I could get back.
“You always think about ‘what if I do go back to footy and I do another one and I have to go back through this again’.
“That ran through my mind a few times.
“To be here and playing with the knees that I have is pretty cool. I guess it’s a credit to myself and how much hard work I’ve had to put in, but also the support around me.
“It is a pinch yourself moment when you look back and think how hard it was.”
Cricket may have been easier on the body, no doubt, but Scheer’s teenage call to swap seamers for the Sherrin has paid off.
Selected for an Under 15s national camp, playing women’s first grade SACA and training with the South Australia Scorpions, Scheer would like to think that a national call-up might one day have been in her future.
It might have been kinder to her knees, too, compared with her flying for marks and booming kicks.
But, “sad to give it up”, the call to choose footy is one she now relishes, “and the journey it’s allowed me to take”.
It’s taken her from Gawler to Geelong, and maybe to a second flag if the next month is kind to the Cats.
Her move to Geelong at the end of 2021 was partly for a “fresh start” on the injury front, and has translated into blistering form up forward in the back half of the home and away season, where Scheer – after going goalless for the first four rounds – has booted 13 goals in six games including a bag of four in the final round.
“When you’re thriving and enjoying it, you’re going to play well,” the Cat said.
It’d be nice to have a more forgiving grand final day memory to bank, too, after being lifted on a stretcher last time she played in a decider.
To add to the men’s team’s fresh piece of silverware claimed just weeks ago – with avid Cats fan Scheer right in the thick of the crowd and then the club after-party – is just added motivation for the lifelong supporter.
Nabbing the No. 14 guernsey was a must when Scheer made the shift, having admired then Cats men’s captain Joel Selwood for years.
When she first toured the club, Selwood had already left for the day.
But getting word of what was going down at GMHBA Stadium, he quickly wheeled back to greet Scheer himself, and then welcomed her to the club with a handwritten card once she was signed and sealed.
“I was emotional when he announced his retirement,” the forward recalled.
“That moment when he kicked that goal (in the Grand Final), I kind of knew that was him done. It was emotional and I’m just very thankful that I’ve been able to be at the club when he was there and he’s just such a great guy and on and off the field.
“(When he came back to the club to see me) I was like a little kid – pretty shocked to be honest.
“That just shows you the type of guy he is. He just ours everyone else before him which is really cool.
He wrote me a little card. I’m just proud to wear the number 14 and lucky enough it was available.
“I probably wouldn’t have gone if I hadn’t gotten the 14.
“It just means a lot to me and I’m very privileged.”
AFLW FINALS TEAMS, TIPS: CROWS DELIVER SELECTION STUNNER
Adelaide captain Chelsea Randall has been declared fit to face Melbourne in Friday night’s AFLW qualifying final after making a faster than expected recovery from an ankle injury.
Randall had missed the past two weeks with a sprained ankle but got through main training on Wednesday night to put her handup to lead the Crows into another finals campaign.
“She has worked super hard throughout the rehab process,” Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said.
“It was touch and go for a while there but it’s right on three weeks and she got through training, so she’s available.
“We did a version of a match sim for a brief period and she just ran around and played, so she should be all right.”
Randall has averaged 19 disposals, four clearances and kicked seven goals across her eight games this season after making a move to the forward line.
Randall replaces fellow forward Lisa Whiteley (omitted).
Melbourne has named an unchanged line-up for the match.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
Melbourne v Adelaide at Ikon Park, 7.10pm AEDT
MELBOURNE
B: L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17
HB: S.Heath 30 M.Gay 3 S.Goldrick 23
C: B.Mackin 31 T.Hanks 5 S.Lampard 8
HF: A.Bannan 16 K.Paxman 4 K.Hore 10
F: D.Pearce – C 6 T.Harris 7
Foll: L.Pearce 15 O.Purcell 2 L.Mithen 14
I/C: M.Chaplin 13 C.Sherriff 18 E.Zanker 29 E.West 11 M.Fitzsimon 24
Emerg: C.Wilson 20 J.Ivey 19 M.Caris 21
In: Nil
Out: Nil
ADELAIDE
B: N.Allen 8 S.Allan 39
HB: C.Biddell 12 C.Randall – C 26 Z.Prowse 4
C: M.Newman 17 A.Hatchard 33 S.Thompson 14
HF: R.Martin 5 D.Ponter 15 E.Jones 2
F: A.Woodland 24 C.Gould 1
Foll: M.McKinnon 21 E.Marinoff 10 T.Charlton 25
I/C: K.Mueller 13 A.Ballard 27 H.Button 6 N.Kelly 23 H.Munyard 20
Emerg: L.Whiteley 22 B.Tonon 28 M.Rajcic 32
In: C.Randall
Out: L.Whiteley (omitted)
FINALS WEEK ONE: WHO THE EXPERTS ARE TIPPING
Glenn McFarlane 73
Melbourne 10
Brisbane Lions 12
Geelong 1
Collingwood 9
Last Week 8
Mark Robinson 73
Melbourne 22
Brisbane Lions 18
North Melbourne 3
Collingwood 12
Last Week 8
Chris Cavanagh 72
Melbourne 12
Brisbane Lions 1
Geelong 1
Western Bulldogs 1
Last Week 8
Matt Turner 72
Melbourne 6
Brisbane Lions 12
Geelong 6
Collingwood 6
Last Week 8
Liz Walsh 71
Melbourne 8
Brisbane Lions 16
Geelong 8
Collingwood 4
Last Week 7
Rebecca Williams 71
Melbourne 6
Brisbane Lions 12
Geelong 5
Collingwood 7
Last Week 8
Lauren Wood 71
Melbourne 9
Brisbane Lions 20
Geelong 7
Collingwood 4
Last Week 8
Ellie Blackburn 70
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Last Week 9
Ebony Marinoff 70
Adelaide
Richmond
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Last Week 9
Sarah Jones 69
Melbourne 12
Brisbane Lions 20
Geelong 2
Collingwood 1
Last Week 8
Kate McCarthy 66
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Geelong
Collingwood
Last Week 7
Chloe Molloy 65
Melbourne
Richmond
North Melbourne
Collingwood
Last Week 7
Aliesha Newman 60
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Geelong
Collingwood
Last Week 7
Gemma Houghton 58
Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Geelong
Collingwood
Last Week 6
Kiss of Death 17
Adelaide 13
Richmond 13
North Melbourne 13
Western Bulldogs 13
Last Week 2
AFLW TEAMS MADE TO WAIT ON GRAND FINAL VENUE
Lauren Wood
The AFL is yet to lock in an AFL Women’s grand final venue despite a looming crunch on ground availability, with the Gabba and Marvel Stadium both still in play.
League women’s football boss Nicole Livingstone said home team hosting rights for the AFLW grand final remained a priority with the league to continue to negotiate with cricket about the use of the Gabba if the Lions win through.
A Sheffield Shield match is scheduled for the Gabba just one week after the AFLW grand final, ahead of Australia’s Test against South Africa in December.
A dance music festival featuring Calvin Harris is locked in at Metricon Stadium — where the ladder-leading Lions will host Richmond this weekend — on November 26.
The Lions’ new facility at Springfield opened last week, but the turf may not be ready, nor the required infrastructure to host the decider, with Moreton Bay Sports Complex the other alternative in Queensland’s southeast.
Key Lions officials have been hopeful that a potential home grand final could just sneak in at the Gabba before final pitch preparations are made, but it has been reported that Queensland cricket officials had strongly resisted a suggestion to water down the pitch to cater to AFLW.
“Clearly, the Lions have a beautiful facility (at Springfield) that’s just opened as well … we’ll continue to work with all stakeholders,” Livingstone said.
“We have a great relationship with cricket, so we’ll continue to talk to cricket and also talk to the Queensland Government.
“But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. It may be another team that ends up hosting the grand final.”
Lions forward Zimmorlei Farquharson said that the team was maintaining an “anywhere, anytime” philosophy.
Should a Victorian team – of which six are in the top eight – earn hosting rights, Livingstone said that both Ikon Park and Marvel Stadium will be front of mind, with the latter now available following the postponement of a Justin Bieber concert.
“(Marvel Stadium) does have a history with women’s football, so we’ll continue to see who will be the hosts of the finals games and also the grand final to make those determinations,” Livingstone said.
“We have one that hosts 14,000 people at Ikon Park and we’ve got another one here that has a much bigger capacity. Both equally have a great deck and would be a great choice for the AFLW grand final, should it be in Victoria.
“We’ll hold that decision until closer to the grand final when we’ll make some announcements.”
CATS YOUNG GUN FACES TEST TO GET UP FOR DO-OR-DIE FINAL
– Rebecca Williams
Geelong is optimistic young gun Georgie Prespakis will be available for Saturday night’s AFLW elimination final against North Melbourne after being cleared of serious damage to her ankle.
The Cats confirmed on Tuesday Prespakis had suffered a “lateral ankle sprain” in the Cats’ big final-round win over Sydney.
Geelong’s head AFLW physiotherapist Erin Nelson said the 19-year-old would have to pass fitness tests during the week to prove herself for the sudden-death GMHBA Stadium final.
But the Cats were hopeful she would be able to clear the necessary hurdles to be passed fit to play against the Kangaroos.
“Georgie Prespakis suffered a lateral ankle sprain on the weekend,” Nelson said.
“Her availability for Saturday’s final will depend on her passing functional tests during the week.
“We are hopeful she will be available.”
Prespakis rolled her right ankle early in the last quarter of the Cat’s 75-point final-round demolition of Sydney after landing awkwardly attempting a shot at goal.
She is one of the Cats most important players and a potential matchwinner.
WHY EIGHT-TEAM AFLW FINALS SERIES WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE
Melbourne will host the Adelaide Crows in the opening clash of the AFLW finals series at Ikon Park on Friday night as Collingwood gets set to do battle at its traditional home.
The AFL confirmed the fixture for the first week of the AFLW finals series after the top-eight was finalised when Richmond secured fourth place and the double chance with a thrilling draw against North Melbourne at Arden St on Sunday.
The Demons will host Adelaide in a season six grand final rematch at Ikon Park on Friday night in the second qualifying final at 7.10pm, while minor premiers Brisbane will host the Tigers at Metricon Stadium for the first qualifying final on Saturday afternoon at 4.10pm.
The Lions have been forced to play their home final away from the Gabba, which is being used for the T20 cricket world cup.
After being nudged out of the top four following Richmond’s draw, Geelong will host North Melbourne in the first elimination final at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night at 7.10pm.
Collingwood will play the Western Bulldogs at the Magpies’ traditional home ground Victoria Park in the second elimination final on Sunday at 3.10pm.
Richmond will play in its first AFLW finals series.
The AFLW series will feature eight teams in a four-week finals format for the first time after the league expanded to a full 18-team competition in 2022.
AFL executive general manager clubs, finance and broadcasting Travis Auld said the finals series would cap off an “exceptional” AFLW season.
“Season Seven was the first time we had all 18 clubs and the standard of football has been exceptional, capped off with a terrific final round,” Auld said.
“The games across round 10 were a testament to the competitiveness of the top eight, with a thrilling draw and first and second place determined by .3 percentage points. We’re set for an exciting finals series with the best eight teams vying for the ultimate success — the AFLW premiership.”
The AFL said Casey Fields wasn’t used as a venue for the Demons’ game as the facilities are currently undergoing redevelopment.
Tickets for week one of the AFLW finals series will go on sale on Monday at 2pm local time for members and at 4pm local time for the general public.
Ticket prices for weeks one to three of the finals series will be $10 for adult/concession, while children under 18 can attend for free.
AFL general manager of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the expanded competition in 2022 had been a success.
“The inaugural AFLW season in 2017 had 28 home and away matches and one final; This season, we’ve completed 90 matches and are about to embark on nine finals,” Livingstone said.
“Now, we have eight teams with one dream — lifting the premiership cup on the last weekend of November.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFLW finals fixtures 2022: Sabrina Frederick on juggling motherhood and a football career
Injury-hit Demons stun Crows in Norwood thriller
Struck down by a host of injuries across their team, the Dees have managed to keep their AFLW season alive by pulling off a thrilling victory over the Crows.
AFLW players in ‘push’ for major change
A leading broadcaster says AFLW players are lobbying the league for a radical overhaul of the competition.