VFLW 2023 Squad

Football Discussion Essendon VFLW
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In theory yes, she would be able to join in the later half of the season.

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This year’s rules haven’t been published (surprise) but there will presumably be:

  1. a limit on how many AFLW players can be added to the VFLW squad
  2. a limit on how many AFLW players can play in any given game
  3. different rules for finals eligibility

But yes, unless things go badly awry, you should expect Georgia to play some VFLW this year. You’ve already seen multiple AFLW players feature who didn’t play (much) in our first season (e.g. Borg, AshleyCooper, Ryan, Sargent, Tierney).

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Drew Ryan is definitely out; signed by Box Hill.

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Teams published on CodeSports (paywalled, but if you hit ‘escape’ at the right time you can see the page)

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/state-leagues/vfl-and-vflw-2023-every-clubs-list-for-this-season/news-story/4f8bf62dbcc7e95151e5c9aaffece093

ESSENDON
41 Courtney Ugle
42 Shelby Meyers
47 Mia-Rae Clifford
55 Eleanor Cornish
57 Natalie MacDonald
60 Jaimee-Lee Morrow
62 Melanie Bateman
66 Maddi Wilson
78 Kendra Heil

Development list
43 Olivia Manfre
44 Grace Dicker
45 Bella Clarke
46 Gloria Elarmaly
48 Madison Gray
49 Tamsin Crook
50 Krystal Russell
51 Leah Spargo
52 Jayda Richardson
56 Manaia Huta
58 Chloe Prpic
59 Tayla Hart-Aluni
63 Lily Bateman
64 Maddy Pearson
65 Caitlin Grech
67 Sophie Ure
68 Scarlett Orritt
72 Reese Sutton
77 Tia Davidge

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So no problem playing our required 5 (?) development players!

Just the one name not already known: Sophie Ure is a 185cm 20yo Queenlander.

From the stats below from her QLD representative game, she is at least a part-time ruck.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/sophie-ure/

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She was in the Gold Coast Academy, so may have crossed paths with Bella Clarke.

AS the postponement of all seasons commenced over the last week, we head back to the pre-season where we chatted to a number of athletes across the country. In a special Question and Answer (Q&A) feature, Draft Central‘s Taylah Melki chatted with Queensland’s Sophie Ure at the state testing day hosted by Rookie Me.

—

TM: Sophie, how did you get into football?
SU: “All my family has been involved in it and I’ve just played it since primary school, so it’s just been a big part of my life.”

You didn’t really have a choice?
“Well I was always there. I thought it looked fun so I may as well join in.”

What is it that you love about footy?
“Just the people around it. Everyone’s so genuine and nice and everyone’s there for each other, trying to make everyone better.”

How are you finding being part of the Gold Coast SUNS Academy?
“I’m really enjoying it. Especially over the summer, it’s helping me to keep on improving my fitness. I’m from up North so it’s a bit smaller up there, but it’s still really good – good coaches.”

How different is it from your experience up North?
“There’s definitely a lot more boys up there, especially from my region so I’m a bit isolated from the girls in the academy sense but it’s still good to see what you’re up against and see how you can improve just from watching the boys.”

How old were you when you started playing?
“(I started at) AusKick when I was about five or six, and then played Under 9s.”

So did you play mostly against boys back then?
“Yes. I played with and against boys until I was 14, then I only played women’s in the last two or three years.”

How have you found that change?
“Playing with boys definitely helped improve my skills more. I had to be better to actually get a kick, so I feel like when I moved over to women’s, it was a bit less about your skills and more about how hard you can hit.”

Is there a particular area you’re looking to improve on this season?
“Probably my tackling and defensive pressure… I’m not the most solid person so I want to try and get a bit more involved with tackling pressure so I have a presence.”

And what do you see as your strengths on the field?
“I don’t reckon my kicking is too bad. But I haven’t really compared it to people down here.”

Do you have any goals for 2020?
“Just to get as far as I can with my footy, whether that’s just the academy, the Under 18 team, or whatever happens.”

How have you been travel-wise over the journey?
“It definitely is a lot balancing all the footy on top of Year 12, but it’s good because I enjoy it, so it’s not a chore.”

Do you have any role models or mentors you look up to at the moment?
“My parents have been pretty good, they’ve always encouraged me so I just want to be as positive as them.”

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As of yesterday, was a Cats supporter.

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Small world, VIC Country vs QLD in 2021:

  • Paige Scott (EFC AFLW)
  • Sophie Ure (EFC VFLW)
  • Tara Slender (EFC VFLW, AFLW-drafted, contract extended AND then retired after one year)

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Zoe Hurrell (who played in our practice match vs Casey) is NOT on that list.

Not on any other VFLW list, either.

Annoying, she was good.

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Bella Clarke gets out of her practice match #15 to keep last year’s #45. Dicker and G.L.O.R.I.A. maintain #44 and #46.

Everyone else… oh, my brain is gonna hurt.

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This is only 28 players. On a quick look (more later), some AFLW-affiliated teams have named many more.

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Number Name Type AGE HEIGHT Games (VFLW) Games (EFC) 2018 2019 2021 2022
41 Courtney Ugle - 26 160 55 55 13 8 17 17
42 Shelby Meyers dev 21 161 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 Olivia Manfre dev 19 168 4 4 0 0 0 4
44 Grace Dicker dev 22 168 24 24 0 0 10 14
45 Bella Clarke dev 21 176 9 9 0 0 0 9
46 Gloria Elarmaly dev 22 176 5 5 0 0 0 5
47 Mia-Rae Clifford - 36 170 99 33 0 0 17 16
48 Madison Gray dev 18 168 4 0 0 0 0 0
49 Tamsin Crook - 20 178 28 28 0 0 13 15
50 Krystal Russell dev 18 180 0 0 0 0 0 0
51 Leah Spargo dev 21 157 0 0 0 0 0 0
52 Jayda Richardson dev 19 174 0 0 0 0 0 0
55 Eleanor Cornish - 23 177 18 18 3 5 2 8
56 Manaia Huta dev 20 160 16 0 0 0 0 0
57 Natalie MacDonald - 24 164 43 43 12 4 17 10
58 Chloe Prpic dev 18 169 0 0 0 0 0 0
59 Tayla Hart-Aluni dev 21 165 5 0 0 0 0 0
60 Jaimee-Lee Morrow - 30 177 13 0 0 0 0 0
62 Melanie Bateman - 25 173 0 0 0 0 0 0
63 Lily Bateman dev 18 169 0 0 0 0 0 0
64 Maddy Pearson dev 20 173 0 0 0 0 0 0
65 Caitlin Grech dev 18 167 0 0 0 0 0 0
66 Maddi Wilson - 23 163 26 0 0 0 0 0
67 Sophie Ure dev 20 185 0 0 0 0 0 0
68 Scarlett Orritt dev 18 169 2 2 0 0 0 2
72 Reese Sutton dev 18 166 0 0 0 0 0 0
77 Tia Davidge dev 18 168 0 0 0 0 0 0
78 Kendra Heil - 35 166 57 57 13 14 17 13
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OK, assuming that article is correct, we’ve done something quite different to everyone else.

There’s no obvious distinction between AFLW-linked and stand-alone clubs.

Team Main List Developmental Total
EFC 9 19 28
Port 13 19 32
Dogs 15 16 31
Cats 16 15 31
FCFC 17 14 31
Darebin 17 12 29
Hawks 18 15 33
Casey 19 15 34
Pies 20 13 33
Saints 20 16 36
North 20 17 37
Willy 24 14 38
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Courtney featured on the first episode of Yokayi Footy for the year.

Should be repeated a few times on NITV FTA this week. Available on demand on Foxtel/Kayo.

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Bendigo won their round one match on the weekend against the Murray Bushrangers by a single point.

Our VFLW-listed Scarlett Orritt scored a very @handypoint amidst 10 disposals and 7 tackles.

However, THE standout was Lila Keck, with 24 disposals, 8 inside fifties, and scoring 2.2

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FWIW, at the least VFLW training today featured Barba, Tierney, and Radford.

Included a joint VFL/VFLW Welcome To Country with Aunty Joy.

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Captains asked to nominate who’s in for a big season:

  • Mia nominates the other Mia, Busch. So that’s one extra AFLW player you can expect to play.
  • Collingwood nominate DeMatteeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooooo…
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It would be apt if she played this week, given she was in the Hawks Academy.

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Mia-Rae features on the first episode of ‘𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲’, the new VFL/VFLW podcast.

EDIT: which is not out yet, just a couple minutes of promo episode. Over-promise and under-deliver, that’s your AwFuL.