Will also have WARF Radio commentary.
Dreamtime match as referendum results come out…
Richmond’s Beth Lynch has also been handed a one-game suspension.
The defender was charged with kneeing Gold Coast’s Daisy D’Arcy, with the fourth-quarter incident graded as intentional and medium impact.
Video at https://twitter.com/aflwomens/status/1711305949925777457… nasty.
Prince’s Park? Do we need to wear purple?
| Name | Injury | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Jess Wuetschner | Calf | Test |
| Lily-Rose Williamson | Ankle | 3 |
| Brooke Brown | Calf | 3 |
| Jacqui Vogt | Calf | 3 |
| Alana Barba | Ankle (Syndesmosis) | 6-7 |
Georgia last year, Alana this year.
Blitz sponsorship isn’t a curse, is it?
EDIT: Although last year I think sponsorship was in full knowledge Georgia was out for the year. But we’ve so far had 0 AFLW games with a sponsored player.
That’s a shame.
Play Caruso already!
| PLAYER | INJURY | ESTIMATED RETURN |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Hosking | Hamstring | Test |
| Bec Miller | Finger | Test |
| Gabby Seymour | Hamstring | Test |
| Charley Ryan | Glandular fever | TBC |
| Caitlin Greiser | Thumb | TBC |
| Beth Lynch | Suspension | Round eight |
| Amelia Peck | Thigh | 1-2 weeks |
| Sarah D’Arcy | Hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| Ellie McKenzie | Ankle | 3-4 weeks |
| Jess Hosking | Syndesmosis | 4-6 weeks |
| Shelby Knoll | ACL | Season |
Are list sizes still 30? Tigers gonna struggle to field a team at this rate!
Shelby Knoll only did her ACL last week, so has not been replaced yet (like we have Cat Phillips).
Report below has the TBCs of Greiser and Ryan = out versus us, at least.
Saturday night’s AFLW Dreamtime clash is shaping to be season-defining for both Essendon and Richmond.
Coming in at 4-2 off the back of a stirring comeback win over the Cats in Warrnambool, the Bombers are full of confidence with a chance to surpass their win tally from last season.
The Tigers (3-3) will be keen to bounce back after falling to a behind on the siren in last week’s one-point loss to the Suns.
Last time they met
Round four, 2022
Richmond 3.8 (26) d. Essendon 3.6 (24) at ETU Stadium
The inaugural Dreamtime clash last season saw fans treated to a thriller in tough Port Melbourne conditions.
Despite trailing for the majority of the second half, a late rally saw the Bombers come close to a big upset, with a late Amber Clarke goal cutting the margin to just two points.
The Tigers would eventually hold on to secure the win, closing the first chapter in a brewing rivalry between the two clubs at AFLW level.
Unsung Dons leading charge
While the form of star forward Bonnie Toogood has been integral to the Bombers’ strong start to season eight, they’ve also been propelled by some underrated links in recent weeks.
Daria Bannister has been an important presence up forward, booting a critical goal against the Cats and laying seven tackles, while Georgia Nanscawen continued her terrific return campaign with a 25-disposal outing.
A blistering second half saw co-skipper Steph Cain finish with 14 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances, providing some big contests in the Bombers’ surges forward.
Ellyse Gamble and Georgia Clarke combined for nine marks in defence, while a breakout two-goal performance from Amber Clarke saw the 18-year-old receive a Rising Star nomination.
Key matchups
The midfield battle, particularly between Maddy Prespakis and Tigers gun Monique Conti, will go a long way in determining Saturday’s result.
Conti is averaging 26 disposals and seven clearances per game this season, Prespakis similarly dominant with averages of 28 disposals and six clearances.
The presence of Toogood and Katie Brennan in each forward line presents healthy challenges for defenders, so don’t be surprised by a high-scoring encounter on Saturday.
NO CHANGES.
Doonan, Cutting, and Tierney are the emergencies.
Since we last met, we are:
OUT
A Barba
C Phillips
J Vogt
J Wuetschner
J Zanchetta
L-R Williamson
IN
A Radford
K Jacques
B Walker
M van Dyke
G Nanscawen
M Dyke
Since we last met, they are:
OUT
B Lynch
C Wakefield
E McKenzie
J Hosking
M Brancatisano
M Kiely
S Williams
T Lavey
IN
C Greiser
C Jones
C Wicksteed
J Woods
M Eastman
P Kelly
R Miller
S Reid
Ruck Gabby Seymour, defender Rebecca Miller and midfielder Sarah Hosking all return for the marquee match.
Seymour was managed in last Sunday’s game against Gold Coast, while Miller and Hosking are back from respective finger and hamstring injuries.
They replace Meagan Kiely and train-on player Shannon Danckert, both omitted, as well as Beth Lynch, who will miss the game due to suspension.
Kiely and Danckert are emergencies for the clash, alongside train-on player Lauren Caruso.
Speaking to the media at the Swinburne Centre on Thursday afternoon, skipper Katie Brennan said it was “huge advantage” to have the trio return.
“They’re three of our leaders coming in, which is huge for us across all lines,” Brennan said.
"Bec is a general down back, her leadership down there is first-class, and Sarah and Gabby in the middle, they really set the tone for us.”
…
Brennan said it was “a privilege and a great honour” to be part of the annual Dreamtime clash.
“We’re absolutely pumped, it’s going to be an amazing occasion,” she said.
"We’ve also got our own Stephy Williams, who was our first Indigenous player to design the guernsey this year, and such traditions and family history has gone into this design.
"It’s been such a great process to learn more about her story and culture and tradition.”