North Melbourne secures six Tasmanian players for next AFLW season
Six of the best Tasmanians have signed on with North Melbourne for the next AFLW season. FULL SQUAD >>
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DARIA Bannister has turned down “significant interest” from rival AFLW teams to be one of six Tasmanians to sign on with North Melbourne as it prepares for next season.
North Melbourne AFLW list and performance manager Rhys Harwood said Bannister, who has signed on until the end of the 2023 season, bounced back brilliantly from an injury-interrupted 2020 to remain a valued member of the Kanga crew.
“Daria booted six goals for the season and has turned down significant rival interest to re-commit her future to the Kangaroos,” he said.
Fellow-Tasmanians Ellie Gavalas, Mia King, Brooke Brown, Nicole Bresnehan and Britt Gibson were among the 24 players retained from North Melbourne’s list of 30.
“Elli Gavalas has been a huge improver through the midfield over her two seasons with the Kangaroos, culminating in a top five best-and-fairest finish in 2021,” Harwood said.
“Our primary objective is to keep our core playing group together, and to be able to retain 24 players for the 2022-23 season and beyond is a testament to the environment, connection and feeling at the club.
“The culture we’ve built at North is one the players want to be a part of and the girls are already working hard to best prepare themselves for the upcoming pre-season.”
SFLW rep team to welcome two gun players for A-Stars game
AFTER having their colours lowered by the NWFL in a women’s game in Devonport last weekend, the SFLW vowed to “bring the heat” against the NTFLW at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.
SFLW coach Brad Willis said his team was ambushed by the intensity of the North-West girls and they would not fall into the same trap against the North.
The women’s showcase is a double-header, with the SFLW and NTFLW also clashing in the under-20s.
SFLW senior captain Brie Barwick was one of only two goal kickers for her team along with Jacinta Limbrick, and led her side with style, along with Rachel Archer, Jemma Webster, Meg Phillips as the team’s best players.
Tasmania Devils young gun Perri King and St Kilda player Bella Shannon, who is playing for University, will come in to strengthen the team.
“As with any team, you don’t like to demote people but at the same time we’ve got so many talented young girls in the team who can go back and play in the under-20 team,” Willis said.
Willis said the team learned a lot from Saturday’s loss.
“We were beaten badly at contested footy so we will be much better prepared for this week’s game,” he said.
“We dug in and won the second half.
“We had more uncontested footy, which means our system held up but we’ve just got to get better at winning at the coal face.”
Willis is confident the southern girls will be better for the experience.
“Definitely. We were a bit shell-shocked by the pressure that the North-West girls brought,” Willis said.
“That won’t happen again.”
SFLW team packed with talent for footy showcase
GLENORCHY skipper Brieanna Barwick has been named captain of the SFLW side to play the NWFLW in Devonport on Saturday but the team has copped a double blow ahead of the showcase event.
AFLW star Nicole Bresnehan and Devils young gun Perri King have both been withdrawn from the Women’s Statewide All-Stars Series clash.
North Melbourne did not want Bresnehan to play representative games or for her home club Clarence, even though the Kangaroos’ preseason does not start until October and the next AFLW season is not until 2022.
An AFLW Academy player, who would have played an academy game in Melbourne this weekend had Victoria not been in Covid-19 lockdown, King is a future AFLW player.
With Draft pretesting and the AFLW Draft looming on June 25, AFL Tasmania banned her from his weekend’s match but she will be allowed to play against the NTFAW next weekend.
SFLW coach Brad Willis said Bresnehan’s loss was a surprise.
“It is a big hole because she’s a natural leader and our most high-profile player,” Willis said.
“While it gives someone else an opportunity, when a marquee player isn’t available they are very hard to replace.”
The team includes two SFLW Division 1 captains in Barwick and Clarence’s Grace Mitchell, who is vice-captain of the SFLW team.
Five Devils stars also made the grade – Brooke Barwick, Amy Prokopiec, Claire Ransom, Jemma Webster and Priscilla Odwogo.
“We’ve still got a very strong team, and the NWFLW aren’t going in with everyone available either,” Willis said.
Barwick received her captaincy honour at the jumper presentation after training at University Oval on Wednesday night.
“She’s a fantastic player and a really great leader,” Willis said.
“The way she plays, which is tough but fair, has gained her enormous respect throughout the competition.
“She was the natural choice as captain.”
After Saturday’s game, the NWFLW plays the NTFAW at Penguin on Monday, and the SFLW takes on the NTFAW at North Hobart Oval next Sunday.
SFLW SQUAD:
Grace Mitchell, Jacinta Limbrick, Rachel Archer, Amy Prokopiec (Clarence), Georgie Bailey (Lindisfarne Blues), Thomasa Corrie, Sharni Wylie (Claremont), Brieanna Barwick, Tiarna Ford, Elise Barwick, Jenna Farrow, Sarah Skinner, Macklyn Sutcliffe, Joni Ransley, Jemma Webster, Brooke Barwick (Glenorchy), Meg Phillips, Claire Ransom (North Hobart), Lilly Ellis, Hailee Baldwin, Priscilla Odwogo (Kingborough Tigers), Olivia Hudson (South East Suns), Bella Shannon (University Rainbows), Stacey Fox (Cygnet).
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