This is a double header with the men. You likely get in free if you arrive before halftime for the women.
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Based on the two practice games, here’s a possible team:
| BACK | ||
| Lily Bateman | Isabelle Porter | |
| Grace Azzopardi | Maddison Ford | Scarlett Orritt |
| CENTRE | ||
| Brooke Plummer | El Chaston | Meg Harrison |
| FORWARD | ||
| Maddison Albrecht | Jayda Richardson | Emily Tassiopoulos |
| Christina Bernardi | Tia Davidge | |
| MIDS | ||
| Sienna Hobbs | Abbey McDonald | Sophie Molan |
| INTERCHANGE | ||
| Ashlea Melnikas | Layla Prince | |
| Sam Johnston | Sarah Ford | Kayla Peake |
- That’s 12 carry-overs and 9 new players.
- Melnikas and Porter may not be good to go. Not clear if Bernadi is fit to go; an overseas sojourn, including more community volunteering, may have independently put her out of the two practice matches.
- I didn’t have too much difficulty naming the first 20; Peake was a bit arbitrary for the last spot.
- Jordan and Ryan would be obvious inclusions if some of the above aren’t ready.
- Yes, as with my end-of-last-year team, Lily Bateman forces out Marnie Robinson. Given Molan and Chaston will probably play substantial time at half-back, Marnie is sitting fourth behind Bateman Ford and Molan. Bateman looks to have put on some size this year, too.
- Injured and/or did not play in the practice matches: Chloe Prpic, Tay Hart-Aluni, Eva Harris, Molly Heymanson, Freya Hibberd, Bella Page
It’s not the fastest combo, but having decent kickers like McDonald Plummer Chaston Bernardi and Molan in the middle will make opposition defenders nervous (and give our forwards a chance!)
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The win last year was a very nice upset at a very critical time. Port had us down 0-13 after five minutes, and then we won the rest of the game 39-14.
| When | For | Against | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05 | 27 | 38 | -11 |
| 2022-02 | 79 | 16 | 63 |
| 2023-13 | 19 | 22 | -3 |
| 2023-PF | 11 | 41 | -30 |
| 2024-01 | 0.7.7 | 9.0.54 | -47 |
| 2024-10 | 39 | 27 | 12 |
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Early call, but Port’s INs do not compensate for their OUTs (below doesn’t include the lost AFLW Tiggers).
ARRIVING: Charlie Anderson (Caulfield Grammarians); Jessica Begg (North Ringwood); Mia Caffry (Old Scotch); Alexandra Calogero (Beaumaris); Nicola Davidson (East Ringwood); Georgia Foran (Southern Saints); Paris Gebel-Lamb (East Ringwood); Meg Ginnivan (Southern Saints); Maddison Katerelos (Carlton VFLW); Chloe McDonald (Caulfield Grammarians); Isabella Robson (Williamstown).
DEPARTING: Bella Clarke (Collingwood VFLW); Claire Dyett; Fed Frew; Izzy Hartog (Sandringham); Bianca Lyne (Casey Demons); Georgie Pruden; Tilly Mottram; Chelsea Wilson; Belinda Woolcock.
In the pre-season Port belted Tasmania (but not nearly as thoroughly as Norf Werribee did) and comfortably beat Willy.
(Sandy also comfortably beat Willy.)
Now I gotta go remember who all these new AFLW players are.
ESSENDON
B: M. Ford (42), S. Molan (73)
HB: M. Van Dyke (19), L. Bateman (63), G. Azzopardi (67)
C: B. Plummer (57), E. Chaston (61), H. Ridewood (10)
HF: E. Tassiopoulos (49), M. Albrecht (48), T. Davidge (77)
F: J. Richardson (52), A. Jordan (62)
R: C. Murphy (33), C. Adams (15), A. McDonald (53)
INT: I. Porter (70), L. Prince (44), M. O’Connell (56), M. Robinson (80), L. Thompson (74)
EMG: M. Harrison (54), M. Mifsud (46), S. Hobbs (81), M. Ibrahim (41)
PORT MELBOURNE
B: L. Davie (6), M. Buchanan (33)
HB: O. Barton (1), M. Denahy-Maloney (28), C. Anderson (55)
C: I. Stutt (29), E. Ashley-Cooper (8), L. Hart (30)
HF: C. Bromage (4), G. Foran (14), K. O’Keefe (18)
F: P. Gebel-Lamb (22), J. Mifsud (25)
R: G. Booth (13), L. Caruso (5), A. Seton (36)
INT: K. Adams (7), M. Caffry (9), A. Rabot (27), J. Begg (39), R. Slater (20)
EMG: N. Borg (12), N. Davidson (34), L. Wright (19)
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EFC and VLFW debutant:
- Maggie O’Connell
- Lucy Thompson
- Maddison Albrecht
- Grace Azzopardi
EFC debutant:
- Abbey McDonald
- Layla Prince
- Brooke Plummer
- Holly Ridewood
- Courtney Murphy
VFLW debutant
- Mia van Dyke (was likely going to play in 2024, but injured her ankle during the last VFLW practice session before round 1)
Our comparison since the last game versus Port looks OK:
| OUT | IN | Role | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Gallagher | Jayda Richardson | Fwd/ruck | Plus! |
| Manaia Huta | Grace Azzopardi | HB | Plus! |
| Chloe Prpic | Mia van Dyke | Ute | Plus |
| Sarah Ford | Chloe Adams | Mid | Plus |
| Amy Cariss-Brett | Layla Prince | Wing to ute | Plus |
| Ruby Mahony | Abbey McDonald | Mid | Neutral to plus |
| Tayla Hart-Aluni | Maddison Albrecht | Small forward | Neutral |
| Ashlea Melnikas | Brooke Plummer | Mid | Neutral |
| Drew Ryan | Holly Ridewood | Wing | ? |
| Jaimee-Lee Morrow | Courtney Murphy | Ruck | ? |
| Ellie Huggard | Lucy Thompson | Mid | Minus? |
| Olivia Manfre | Maggie O’Connell | Fwd | Minus |
Note that two of the above are not particularly valid comparisons (Carris-Brett vs Prince, and Huggard to Thompson – the latter because it’s mostly a switch from outside to inside).
Not doing the same detail for Port, but they have lost some very substantial players since that last game, especially down the spine (Clarke Harley McKellar).
| OUT | IN |
|---|---|
| B. Clarke (23) | C. Anderson (55) |
| B. Lyne (3) | G. Foran (14) |
| B. Wilson (16) | I. Stutt (29) |
| B. Woolcock (9) | J. Begg (39) |
| E. Harley (17) | J. Mifsud (25) |
| G. Pruden (22) | K. Adams (7) |
| G. Seymour (53) | M. Buchanan (33) |
| I. Hartog (2) | M. Caffry (9) |
| M. McKellar (10) | P. Gebel-Lamb (22) |
| N. Borg (12) | R. Slater (20) |
Mifsud and Harrison (emergencies) are in this warmup.
And I count only 22 there… so who is missing?
No Abbey?
Faaaaaark.
Club source (Megz) confirms Abbey out ill and Mifsud will replace her.
That’s one extra VFLW debut, then.
Ridewood pretty broad-shouldered.
Ridewood Ridewood Ridewood