AFLW Round 5 teams, fixtures: All the ins and outs for this week’s matches
Richmond has received a big boost for Sunday’s clash against the Bulldogs with a former No. 1 draft pick named to play her first game for the year. FULL AFLW TEAMS, TIPS
Brisbane’s rivalry with Collingwood is set to reignite on Saturday afternoon as the 2021 preliminary final foes battle it out on the Sunshine Coast.
The Lions managed to win a tight contest at the Gabba last season, defeating the Magpies 7.3 (45) to 6.5(41) to book a spot in the 2021 AFLW Grand Final.
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Collingwood player Brit Bonnici admitted this week the “sting” of the preliminary finals loss at the hands of the Lions still lingered and the team was focused on getting back to their best this week, following last week’s loss to Fremantle.
The Magpies swung two changes ahead of Saturday’s match - bringing in Eloise Chaston and Amelia Velardo for Aliesha Newman and Ebony O’Dea.
The Lions brought in former Brisbane Roar player Lulu Pullar as well as Taylor Smith and Ruby Svarc. They lost Gabrielle Collingwood to injury and dropped Jessica Wuetschner and Sharni Webb.
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Brisbane is coming off a confidence-boosting win over Geelong last weekend and looking to make it three consecutive wins this weekend.
Lions defender Nat Grider said the playing group were preparing for an even contest at Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex.
“We’ve got a really good rivalry against Collingwood given the last few recent occurrences against them, particularly that prelim final,” Grider said.
“They just go hard at the footy and play a similar style of footy as we do in the sense that they use their skills to spread the game open.
“It makes for an entertaining contest because we do have those similarities.”
The Lions game plan in last year’s preliminary final was to shut down star Collingwood forward Chloe Molloy – and it’s a ploy they are aiming to replicate this weekend.
ROUND 5 TEAMS
All times AEDT
Western Bulldogs v Richmond
Sunday, VU Whitten Oval, 1.10pm
Bulldogs
B: N.Ferres 16 K.Lynch 10
HB: I.Grant 3 E.Brown 9 S.Hartwig 15
C: I.Pritchard 20 E.Blackburn - C 2 J.Fitzgerald 23
HF: B.Lochland 1 N.Morris-Dalton 25 B.Gutknecht 18
F: R.Cranston 30 B.Toogood 8
Foll: C.Moody 13 E.Georgostathis 17 K.Lamb 27
I/C: A.Guest 19 B.Hunt 21 A.Edmonds 33 J.Woods 28 E.Snell 26
Emerg: A.Strahan 35 A.Ling 29
In: B.Lochland, N.Morris-Dalton, B.Hunt
Out: G.Lagioia (Injured), E.Bennetts (Injured), A.Strahan (Omitted)
Tigers
B: G.Seymour 28 R.Miller 15
HB: J.Hosking 11 M.Shevlin 35 B.Lynch 32
C: T.Lavey 37 M.Conti 4 K.Dempsey 19
HF: M.Macdonald 38 T.Stahl 24 E.Yassir 27
F: K.Brennan - C 3 S.D’Arcy 12
Foll: P.Kelly 14 S.Hosking 7 M.Brancatisano 5
I/C: S.Sansonetti 18 L.McClelland 16 H.Burchell 9 E.McKenzie 22 K.Jacques 10
Emerg: S.Molan 1 A.Makur Chuot 34
In: M.Macdonald, P.Kelly, L.McClelland, H.Burchell, E.McKenzie
Out: S.Molan (Omitted), S.Reid (Omitted), S.Dargan (Omitted), C.Bernardi (Injured), M.Kiely (Managed)
Carlton v Adelaide
Sunday, Ikon Park, 3.10pm
Blues
B: P.Trudgeon 26 C.Wilson 20
HB: V.Laloifi 8 K.Harrington - C 9 G.Pound 6
C: J.Dal Pos 2 E.O’Dea 46 N.Plane 32
HF: D.Vescio 3 C.Jones 22 N.Stevens 21
F: L.McEvoy 13 B.Walker 7
Foll: J.Good 15 M.Prespakis 4 A.McKay 5
I/C: G.Gee 19 D.Walker 23 M.Hill 10 B.Vickers 24 G.Egan 1
Emerg: M.Guerin 18 C.Hammans 17
In: G.Pound, J.Good, M.Hill, G.Egan
Out: L.Brazzale (Omitted), P.Schaap (Omitted), K.Sherar (Injured), B.Moody (HS Protocol)
Crows
B: N.Gore 7 M.Rajcic 32
HB: S.Thompson 14 S.Allan - C 39 N.Allen 8
C: J.Mules 23 A.Hatchard 33 H.Button 6
HF: D.Ponter 15 E.Phillips 13 R.Martin 5
F: A.Woodland 24 A.Considine 16
Foll: C.Gould 1 E.Marinoff 10 E.Jones 2
I/C: M.McKinnon 21 H.Munyard 20 C.Biddell 12 M.Newman 17 L.Whiteley 22
Emerg: A.Ballard 27 B.Tonon 28
In: S.Thompson, J.Mules, D.Ponter, H.Munyard
Out: A.Ballard (Omitted), J.Simmons (Omitted), C.Randall (Injured), T.Charlton (HS Protocol)
North Melbourne v Fremantle
Sunday, North Hobart Oval, 5.10pm
Kangaroos
B: J.Ferguson 20 S.Wright 17
HB: B.Brown 36 E.Kearney - C 9 A.Gilroy 8
C: N.Bresnehan 12 M.King 23 I.Eddey 3
HF: D.Bannister 2 E.King 60 J.Bruton 35
F: T.Randall 16 A.O’Loughlin 6
Foll: K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7
I/C: D.Bateman 11 S.Abbatangelo 1 E.Gavalas 22 A.Smith 15 J.Duffin 27
Emerg: G.Campbell 43 T.Craven 5
In: A.Smith
Out: K.Ashmore (Injured)
Dockers
B: T.Toth 33 L.Pugh 32
HB: S.Verrier 5 A.Tighe 10 J.Low 30
C: E.Antonio 12 A.Stannett 4 S.Cain 20
HF: D.East 8 K.Antonio 15 R.Roux 17
F: G.Houghton 27 M.Tuhakaraina 13
Foll: M.Strom 21 H.Miller - C 19 G.O’Sullivan 9
I/C: E.O’Driscoll 3 A.McMahon 25 M.Hyde 28 A.Runnalls 22 M.Morrison 11
Emerg: J.Stewart 7 B.Webb 26
In: A.Tighe, D.East, K.Antonio, M.Tuhakaraina
Out: B.Webb (Omitted), K.Bowers (Suspension), A.Franklin (Injured), M.Sergeant (Injured)
Brisbane v Collingwood
Saturday, February 5, Maroochydore, 4.10pm
Lions
B: I.Tahau, S.Campbell
HB: P.Monahan, B.Koenen (c), N.Grider
C: O.O’Dwyer, A.Anderson, J.Ellenger
HF: E.Bates, D.Davidson, G.Bodey
F: J.Wardlaw, C.Hodder
Foll: T.Hickie, I.Dawes, C.Svarc
Inter: L.Pullar, Z.Farquharson, S.Conway, R.Svarc, T.Smith
Em: M.Moloney, L.Yoshida-Martin
In: L.Pullar, R.Svarc, T.Smith
Out: J.Wuetschner (Omitted), S.Webb (Omitted), G.Collingwood (Injured)
Pies
B: L.Butler, S.Livingstone
HB: E.Fowler, R.Schleicher, A.Porter
C: J.Allen, J.Lambert, S.Chiocci (c)
HF: S.Frederick, C.Molloy, S.Rowe
F: E.James, A.Sheridan
Foll: A.Downie, B.Bonnici, M.Cann
Inter: S.Alexander, E.Chaston, A.Velardo, T.Brown, S.Casey
Em: I.Barnett, E.O’Dea
In: E.Chaston, A.Velardo
Out: A.Newman (Omitted), E.O’Dea (Omitted)
Melbourne v Gold Coast
Saturday, February 5, Casey Fields, 7.10pm
Suns
B: V.Saad, H.Dunn (c)
HB: D.D’Arcy, L.Ahrens, S.Watson
C: E.Keaney, A.Drennan, C.Hammond
HF: K.Howarth, K.Surman, C.Whitfort
F: T.Bohanna, S.Perkins
Foll: L.Bella, C.Rowbottom, J.Stanton
Inter: D.Heslop, S.Danckert, E.Hampson
J.Yorston, J.Dupuy
Em: A.Barba, B.Perry
In: V.Saad, S.Danckert, E.Hampson
Out: A.Bush (Omitted), J.Pregelj (Injured), L.Single (Omitted)
Demons
B: L.Birch, G.Colvin
HB: S.Goldrick, S.Lampard, S.Heath
C: C.Sherriff, L.Mithen, E.McNamara
HF: S.Scott, K.Hore, M.Fitzsimon
For: D.Pearce (c), T.Harris
Foll: L.Pearce, K.Paxman, E.Zanker
Inter: L.Magee, E.West, M.Caris, J.Parry, A.Bannan
Em: A.Brown, B.Tarrant
In: L.Magee, M.Caris
Out: T.Hanks (HS Protocol), M.Gay (Injured)
Geelong Cats vs West Coast Eagles
Friday, February 4, GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm
Cats
Half Backs: C.Emonson M.McDonald (captain) G.Rankin
Centre-line: N.Morrison G.Prespakis S.Van De Heuvel
Half Forwards: J.Crockett-Grills P.McWilliams R.Kearns
Forwards: C.Scheer K.Darby
Followers: O.Fuller R.Webster A.McDonald
Interchange: Z.Friswell G.Featherston A.Johnson
D.Moloney J.Ivey
Emergencies: L.Gardiner C.Gunjaca
In: N.Morrison
Out: M.Maguire (Omitted)
Eagles
Backs: A.Hill B.Smith
Half Backs: A.Gilmore T.Bresland A.McCarthy
Centre-line: C.Thomas E.Swanson (captain) M.Bowen
Half Forwards: S.McDonald A.Schmidt A.Atkins
Forwards: S.Lakay M.Caulfield
Followers: P.Laurie I.Lewis D.Hooker
Interchange: M.Collier C.Guard H.Bullas N.Kelly G.Kelly
Emergencies: E.Bennett C.Rowley
In: T.Bresland, E.Swanson, A.Atkins, N.Kelly
Out: E.Gooch (Suspension), A.Ward (HS Protocol), K.Gibson (HS Protocol), C.Rowley (HS Protocol)
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
Tuesday 1 February,VU Whitten Oval, 7.10pm
Bulldogs
B: Ferres, Lynch
HB: Grant, Brown, Hartwig
C: Pritchard, Blackburn, Fitzgerald
HF: Lagioia, Gutknecht, Woods
F: Edmonds, Toogood
R: Moody, Bennetts, Lamb
Int: Guest, Georgostathis, Hunt, Cranston, Snell
EMG: Strahan, Ling
Ins: Woods, Snell
Outs: Ling (managed), Morris-Dalton (managed)
Dockers
B: Toth, Stannett
HB: Verrier, O’Driscoll, Low
C: Antonio, Bowers, Cain
HF: Runnalls, Franklin, Roux
F: Houghton, Morrison
Foll: Strom, Miller, O’Sullivan
Int: Pugh, McMahon, Hyde, Webb, Sergeant
EMG: Stewart, East
In: Toth, Franklin, Morrison, Webb, Sergeant
Out: Stewart (Omitted), Tighe (Managed), Antonio (Managed), Tuhakaraina (Managed), East (Managed)
Why Cat is savouring second chance
—Josh Barnes
Every minute on the field is precious for Kate Darby as the Geelong veteran soaks up another chance in the AFLW.
Darby was put on the inactive list for the 2021 season when she became pregnant with her daughter Ella and was then let go by the Cats at the end of that campaign.
But when teammate Renee Garing pulled out of the 2022 season due to her own pregnancy, Darby was given a lifeline and replaced her good friend on the Cats’ list.
The popular tall has played in all four of Geelong’s games this season and was able to briefly soak in the moment when she spotted Ella in the crowd at Maroochydore before a heartbreaking loss to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
“Running out, they were not too far from where we (Geelong) ran out and just seeing (Ella) on my husband Daniel’s shoulders and watching us come out, it gave me some butterflies,” Darby said.
“It just gives me that little it extra … it’s an extra layer knowing she can grow up and look back at photos and memories of this stuff.”
Despite training with the Cats over pre-season before she was added to the list, Darby was almost resigned to her AFLW career being done.
“I would have been very surprised knowing what has happened in the last six months but I am absolutely stoked just to be playing footy,” she said.
“I am just really enjoying it probably an extra amount because I thought I might not ever play again, so I just value every game as if it is something that may not have been. It has been really good and I am having so much fun out there.”
Darby joked that she “might have to help out with some babysitting” for Garing in the future after the midfielder opened up Darby’s second chance at the Cats.
“It is actually funny because she obviously knew before anyone else and she was saying at the time I was training well and she was almost getting excited for me,” Darby said.
“We are good mates and have played together for years so she was pretty happy to hand the spot over for this season and I have no doubt knowing Renee that I wouldn’t put it past her to come back.”
‘Breaks my heart’: Star walks away from Pies to chase dream
—Lauren Wood
Collingwood cross-coder Ash Brazill has walked away from the remainder of the AFLW season as she pursues a Commonwealth Games berth.
Brazill, 32, has juggled her Magpies commitments with international netball duties as a key pillar of the Australian Diamonds.
And with the Birmingham Games just five months away, the defender - who informed her teammates in an emotional meeting on Monday night - has chosen to focus on netball in what she said had been a heartbreaking decision following the recent Quad Series.
“My body didn’t pull up as well as I wanted it to (in) coming home from England and I need to get my body in the best shape possible to try and play for Australia and make that Commonwealth Games team,” Brazill said to her teammates.
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.@ash_braz wants to fulfil a childhood dream at the Commonwealth Games ðŸ‘
— Collingwood AFLW (@CollingwoodAFLW) February 2, 2022
“It breaks my heart as (Collingwood) means the absolute world to me and I know I wouldn’t have this Diamonds opportunity if it wasn’t for you all.”
Brazill, who has 12 Diamonds caps, said it was a dream that required her full attention.
“I remember being a five-year-old kid playing with teddy bears doing signatures pretending I’d won a medal at the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“I really don’t want to let that little five-year-old down. As much as I’m letting you guys down and I feel selfish picking this, I’m not leaving and I’ll still be here for trainings and games cheering you on.”
Collingwood head of women’s football Jess Burger said the star had the club’s full support.
“While both Ash and the club are disappointed to not see her take to the field this season, we understand and support her decision to ensure she can best prepare and manage her body in a Commonwealth Games year,” Burger said.
“We wish her all the best for the upcoming Super Netball season and for the pursuit of future international duties.”
Brazill is contracted to Collingwood in 2023.
AFLW teams: Fixture chaos as five changes rock Rnd 5
— Marc McGowan
The Covid-19-related postponement of Saturday’s GWS Giants-St Kilda clash in Sydney headlines five more changes to the ever-evolving AFLW fixture.
The Giants were already without five players in Friday night’s victory over the Western Bulldogs and the additional absences of multiple footballers and staff triggered the postponement.
Covid Match Rescheduling guidelines state that a game must be rescheduled if a club can’t field a minimum of 16 primary-listed and five top-up players.
Other changes include the Western Bulldogs-Richmond contest being pushed from Saturday to Sunday to grant the Bulldogs a five-day break, while the Melbourne-Gold Coast match was brought forward to Saturday.
The Dogs will take the opportunity to celebrate Pride Round, including wearing specially designed guernseys, after having their round three fixture postponed.
Sunday’s North Melbourne-Fremantle clash is being played four hours later at 5.10pm, and the postponed St Kilda-West Coast Round 4 game will be held on Tuesday, February 8 at Trevor Barker Oval.
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The Saints-Eagles match is considered part of Round 5, as all matches
There were more than 120 fixture changes across the men’s and women’s competition last year but the fear is, there will be double as many in the 2022 seasons.
The AFL’s general manager of competition management, Laura Kane, thanked everyone for their “understanding and commitment” while the pandemic continues to cause issues.
“The fixture remains a week-to-week proposition,” Kane said.
“The AFL will continue to work closely with respective state governments and health authorities on arrangements that both protect the health and safety of the community and allow us to progress the AFLW season.”
Dogs embrace short turnaround
Nathan Burke has welcomed a rapid four-day turnaround for his Western Bulldogs AFLW outfit as the Covid-hit side looks to score a breakthrough win for 2022.
The Bulldogs face unbeaten Fremantle at Whitten Oval on Tuesday night, hoping to bounce back from Friday night’s 22-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at Marrickville.
Burke’s side has played just two games of a season that is now entering Round 5 after it was hit by Covid, with games against Brisbane and Geelong postponed.
Burke said the Bulldogs did not want to dwell on Friday night’s poor showing against the Giants.
“In some ways, when you play a game like that and you lose, one of the worst things to say to yourself is ‘I’ve got to wait seven days before I can atone for that sort of performance’,” Burke said after the loss.
“The good news is we get four days to atone for the performance, and the girls have gone ‘yeah, can’t wait to get back out there again’.
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“Nobody expects us to beat Fremantle. They’re a very, very good side. We get to be the underdogs, we get to go in with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
“Teams are dangerous with that sort of thing.”
The Bulldogs have two fresh ins, debutant Jemima Woods, 18, and Elizabeth Snell for Nell Morris-Dalton and Amanda Ling, while the Dockers made a whopping five changes from the team that thrashed Collingwood on Thursday and have included two debutants of their own in Amy Franklin and Mikayla Morrison.
Burke said the Bulldogs had felt the effects of a disrupted season.
“We started off like we had 20 days away, to be totally honest,” he said.
“We were very rusty. But we worked our way into the game good enough to get the result, but we couldn’t capitalise.
“We never put scoreboard pressure on the Giants. It’s such an important thing in a game like this. We weren’t able to do it.”
Fremantle has defied the difficulties of WA’s hard border closure that has forced them on an extended Victorian road trip, winning all four of its games and sitting atop the AFLW ladder.
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