AFLW Round 3 teams: Collingwood drops Sharni Layton, Melissa Hickey set to make Geelong debut

Collingwood has given up on former Aussie netball star Sharni Layton for now, while new Geelong captain Melissa Hickey makes her long-awaited return from a serious knee injury. AFLW TEAMS

New Geelong captain Melissa Hickey is set to make her debut for the Cats, while Collingwood has given up on the Sharni Layton experiment for now.

Collingwood has dropped code hopper Sharni Layton while Geelong has named captain Melissa Hickey to make her much anticipated return from an ACL injury on Sunday.

Former Australian netballer Layton has struggled to adapt to the skill and pace of AFLW after being thrown in at the deep end in the first two rounds. The Magpies have included forward Sophie Alexander, defender Nicole Hildebrand as well as midfielders Maddie Shevlin and Holly Whitford as they seek their first win of the season against Fremantle.

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Collingwood has dropped former Aussie netball star Sharni Layton after just one game. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

Hickey must get through training today before she’s cleared to play her first game in blue and white hoops.

Former Dee Rocky Cranston will play her first game for the Cats against the Crows at Norwood Oval, after serving the two-match ban she copped during a practice match.

The Cats will be without ruck Aasta O’Connor, who hurt her knee against Western Bulldogs last week.

Geelong coach Paul Hood said one last strong training session from Hickey would see her play.

“Mel has done a fantastic job in her rehab so far, she has ticked off everything we require,” Hood said.

“Her experience will be invaluable no doubt. Her physical strength as well will help our team, we can use a bit of size around the ball.”

Chelsea Randall returns for the Crows.

Hayley Wildes and Emma Mackie come in for the Bulldogs’ big game against the Kangaroos while North is without Ash Riddell and Sophie Abbatangelo.

Tayla Harris returns for the Blues who take on the Giants at Blacktown.

New Geelong captain Melissa Hickey will make her return from injury. Picture: Ian Currie

Friday, February 15

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, 7.15pm AEDT

NORTH MELBOURNE

B: J.Trend 21, B.Gibson 18, J.Grierson 19

HB: D.Hardiman 31, T.Randall 16, J.Duffin 27

C: E.Kearney (c) 9

HF: K.Ashmore 10, K.Gillespie-Jones 5, D.Bateman 11

F: M.Hope 23, J.Garner 25, C.Munn 13

Foll: Emma King 60, J.Stanton 17, J.Bruton 35

I/C: Elisha King 4, E.Humphries 6, A.Drennan 8, N.Bresnehan 12, C.Haines 29

Emg: T.Mesiti 3, G.Nanscawen 22

In: C.Munn, C.Haines

Out: S.Abbatangelo (Injured), A.Riddell (ankle)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: N.Ferres 16, L.Spark 11, B.Hunt 21

HB: N.Callinan 10, T.Ernst 19, H.Scott 22

C: K.Lamb 27

HF: L.Birch 18, K.Brennan (c) 3, M.Conti 8

F: A.McCarthy 15, E.Mackie 25, A.Utri 23

Foll: K.Rennie 24, A.Gogos 36, E.Blackburn 2

I/C: C.Moody 13, H.Wildes 17, B.Toogood 28, D.Berry 7, B.Smith 12

Emg: E.Brown 9, E.Gamble 14

In: E.Mackie, H.Wildes

Out: K.McLeod, E.Brown

Saturday, February 16

Greater Western Sydney v Carlton at Blacktown International Sportspark, 4.45pm AEDT

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

B: E.Brush 10, R.Tomkins 1, P.Randall 21

HB: A.Farrugia (c), L.Stephenson 12, E.Swanson 17

C: A.Eva 2

HF: R.Beeson 6, J.Barclay 34, Y.Bonner 27

F: C.Bernardi 4, C.Staunton 13, T.Mackrill 32

Foll: E.McKinnon 23, J.Dal Pos 7, C.Gum 26

I/C: M.Collier 14, T.Hetherington 9, E.Bennetts 22, A.Parker 3, J.Hicks 5

Emg: P.Monahan 28, H.Zreika 24

In: R.Tomkins, T.Mackrill, M.Collier, J.Hicks

Out: B.Perry, H.Zreika, P.Monahan, N.Barr (suspension)

CARLTON

B: L.Brazzale 12, K.Harrington 9, J.Hosking 11

HB: N.Stevens 21, J.Van Dyk 36, G.Pound 6

C: B.Davey (c) 1

HF: M.Prespakis 4, T.Harris 7, K.Loynes 2

F: N.Plane 32, D.Vescio 3, J.Edwards 25

Foll: A.Downie 30, A.Mullane 8, B.Moody 16

I/C: K.Bentley 13, C.Dalton 15, G.Gee 19, S.Hosking 10, B.Walker 14

Emg: A.McKay 5, R.Watt 22

In: T.Harris, B.Walker

Out: R.Watt, S.Audley

Fremantle v Collingwood at Fremantle Oval, 4.15pm AWST

FREMANTLE

B: E.Gooch 8, T.Bresland 5, A.Stannett 24

HB: A.Williams 9, E.Antonio 12, S.Cain 20

C: P.Seth 18

HF: K.Gibson 21, G.Houghton 27, L.Pugh 32

F: S.Duffy 6, A.Sharp 1, M.Caulfield 10

Foll: P.Laurie 11, D.Hooker 17, K.Donnellan (c) 15

I/C: H.Miller 19, K.Grieve 13, A.Atkins 37, B.Moyes 55, K.Bowers 2

Emg: L.Mascall 14, C.Stubbs 4

In: L.Pugh, B.Moyes

Out: G.O’Sullivan (suspension), L.Mascall

COLLINGWOOD

B: J.Allen 6, A.Brazill 10, I.Ross 21

HB: S.Livingstone 12, R.Schleicher 18, N.Hildebrand 3

C: B.Bonnici 8

HF: S.Dargan 46, S.D’Arcy 4, K.Lynch 16

F: S.Rowe 7, S.Alexander 24, C.McIntosh 20

Foll: E.Hynes 11, S.Chiocci (c) 17, J.Lambert 13

I/C: S.Casey 22, M.Shevlin 35, G.Gourlay 32, M.Cann 25, H.Whitford 28

Emg: S.Layton 1, J.Membrey 31

In: N.Hildebrand, S.Alexander, M.Shevlin, H.Whitford

Out: L.Butler, E.Fowler, S.Layton, E.Grant (injured)

Sunday, February 17

Adelaide v Geelong at Norwood Oval, 2.05pm ACDT

ADELAIDE

B: D.Cox 31, S.Allan 39, M.Rajcic 32

HB: A.Foley 3, A.Hatchard 33, C.Cramey 22

C: C.Randall 26,

HF: C.Scheer 4, D.Varnhagen 9, E.Jones 2

F: A.Considine, S.Thompson 14, R.Forth 27

Foll: J.Foley 24, E.Marinoff 10, E.Phillips (c) 13

I/C from: H.Martin 6, S.Li 19, S.Perkins 28, J.Mules 23, D.Ponter 15, J.McCormick 5, S.Riley 8

In: C.Randall, J.McCormick, S.Riley

Out: M.Nankivell (managed)

GEELONG

B: A.Teague 40, R.Goring (c) 44, G.Clarke 17

HB: M.Hickey (c), M.McDonald 11, R.Webster 21

C: R.Cranston 30

HF: D.Taylor 28, M.Boyd 26, S.Van De Heuvel 27

F: K.Darby 8, P.McWilliams 23, J.Ivey 5

Foll: E.Hoare 46, J.Crockett-Grills 6, O.Purcell 16

I/C from: D.Orr 2, M.Clifford 7, M.McMahon 24, R.Garing 12, M.Keryk 45, M.Fogas 13, C.Blakeway 4

In: M.Hickey, R.Cranston, M.Fogas

Out: A.O’Connor

Brisbane v Melbourne at Hickey Park, 3.35pm AEST

BRISBANE

B: S.Virgo 5, L.Kaslar (c), L.Arnell 16

S.Webb 4,

HB: S.Campbell 20, K.Lutkins 13, E.Bates 1

C: N.Exon 15

HF: M.Dowrick 33, J.Tawhiao-Wardlaw 30, E.Zielke 8

F: J.Wuetschner 23, S.Frederick-Traub 14, J.Zanchetta 7

Foll: L.Bella 32, B.Koenen 3, A.Anderson 18,

I/C from: G.Collingwood 28, J. Ellenger 29, N.Grider 17, T.Groves-Little 26, P.Parker 10, E.Pittman 19, K.McCarthy 9

In: B.Koenen, G.Collingwood, J.Ellenger, N.Grider

Out: S.Webb (injured), A.Clarke (suspension)

MELBOURNE

B: M.Downie 2, H.Cordner 21, A.Woodland 19

HB: S.Lampard 8, C.Phillips 35, C.Emonson 11

C: E.O’Dea (c) 5

HF: M.Gay 3, S.Scott (c) 12, A.Newman 16

F: E.Zanker 29, T.Cunningham 1, K.Hore 10

Foll: L.Pearce 15, L.Mithen 14, K.Paxman 4

I/C from: B.Jakobsson 7, T.Hanks 28, A.Kemp 36, A.Guest 17, K.Smith 13, S.Heath 30. B.Patterson 24

In: S.Heath, B.Patterson

Out: —

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Originally published as AFLW Round 3 teams: Collingwood drops Sharni Layton, Melissa Hickey set to make Geelong debut