COLLINGWOOD has dropped a selection bombshell, axing star forward Mo Hope for its NAB AFL Women's clash against Fremantle on Saturday.
She is not the only big name to be dumped after the opening round with Carlton’s Lauren Arnell also omitted.
>> See the full AFLW R1 teams below
Arnell captained Carlton in their inaugural AFLW season, but did not register a disposal against the Pies last week.
Fremantle's Lara Filocamo - who finished fourth in last year’s League best-and-fairest award - was also dropped but she was recalled early Friday when Brianna Green was ruled out with an injury.
The Pies have lost patience with Hope after she struggled to have an impact in the team’s loss to Carlton last Friday night. The 29-year-old, who started in the midfield, finished the match just six disposals and failed to hit the scoreboard.
Forward Jess Duffin, a late out with an adductor injury last week, returns in a boost for Collingwood’s scoring woes.
Sarah D'Arcy will miss after accepting a two-match suspension for kicking Sarah Hosking, while rookie Holly Whitford will debut in front of a sell-out crowd at Optus Stadium.
The Dockers have also dropped Tiah Haynes, with Lisa Webb and Gemma Houghton coming into the side.
Adelaide will again be without All Australian duo Erin Phillips and Courtney Cramey when they take on the Dees on Saturday. Forwards Abbey Holmes and Jenna McCormick return for the Crows.
In good news for the Dees, star midfielder Karen Paxman has been named despite sitting out the majority of Melbourne’s round one win with a back injury.
Along with Arnell, the Blues have swung three changes for their Friday night game against the Giants, omitting Katherine Gillespie-Jones and Natalie Plane while handing 19-year-old Reni Hicks her debut. GWS midfielder Emma Swanson will play after overcoming a foot injury.
Carlton will also be missing coach Damien Keeping due to illness, with assistant Nick Rutley to take over the reins.
In a bitter blow, the Western Bulldogs have lost teenager Daria Bannister for their clash against Brisbane and for the remainder of 2018 after she ruptured her ACL against the Dockers.
Former Blue Nat Exon will make her Lions debut against the Dogs on Sunday.
Friday, February 9
Greater Western Sydney v Carlton at Drummoyne Oval, 7.05pm AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: M.Boyd 25, T.Hetherington 9, P.Randall 21
HB: N.Barr 8, E.Brush 10, R.Forth 27
C: A.Eva 2
HF: J.Dal Pos 7, P.McWilliams 3, A.Farrugia 18
F: J.Barclay 34, C.Staunton 13, R.Beeson 6
Foll: E.McKinnon 23, C.Gum 26, E.Swanson 17
I/C: E.Bennetts 22, R.Tomkins 1, P.Monahan 28, A.Schmidt 11, B.Tully 16
Emg: M.Freckelton 20 R.Privitelli 19
In: E.Swanson, R.Tomkins, P.Monahan, A.Schmidt
Out: L.Stephenson, R.Privitelli, J.Hicks, M.Collier
CARLTON
B: R.Hicks 24, D.Hardiman 31, T.Lucas-Rodd 18
HB: G.Pound 6, A.Downie 30, B.Davey 1
C: S.Audley 26
HF: T.Harris 22, K.Harrington 9, N.Stevens 21
F: G.Gee 19, D.Vescio 3, S.Li 35
Foll: K.Shierlaw 25, S.Hosking 10, L.Brazzale 12
I/C: M.Gay 8, S.Last 7, B.Moody 16, J.Hosking 11, K.Loynes 2
Emg: K.Gillespie-Jones 5, N.Plane 32
In: R.Hicks, T.Lucas-Rodd, S.Last
Out: K.Gillespie-Jones, L.Arnell, N.Plane
Saturday, February 10
Melbourne v Adelaide at Casey Fields, 5.05pm AEDT
MELBOURNE
B: M.Downie 2, L.Duryea 11, B.Jakobsson 7
HB: B.Patterson 24, K.Smith 13, E.O'Dea 5
C: M.Hickey 18
HF: S.Scott 12, K.Hore 10, C.Phillips 35
F: A.Newman 16, T.Cunningham 1, L.Mithen 14
Foll: E.Hoare 46, K.Paxman 4, D.Pearce 6
I/C: R.Cranston 30, E.Humphries 3, A.Guest 17, A.Mifsud 9, L.Pearce 15
Emg: H.Cordner 21, M.Guerin 22
In: A.Mifsud, B.Patterson
Out: M.Guerin, J.Grierson (injured)
ADELAIDE
B: S.Thompson 14, S.Allan 39, D.Cox 31
HB: A.Foley 3, T.Radan 6, A.Holmes 1
C: E.Marinoff 10
HF: R.Lugg 45, J.Sedunary 17, D.Varnhagen 9
F: J.Hewett 20, S.Perkins 28, E.Jones 2
Foll: R.Metcalfe 11, G.Bevan 4, C.Randall 26
I/C: S.Riley 8, J.Allan 25, R.Wallace 15, J.Mules 23, J.McCormick 5
Emg: M.Rajcic 32, S.Armitstead 16
In: A.Holmes, J.McCormick
Out: A.Hatchard (injured), S.Armitstead
Fremantle v Collingwood at Optus Stadium, 4.10pm AWST
FREMANTLE
B: H.Miller 19, A.Williams 9, E.Gooch 8
HB: A.Sharp 1, C.Davidson 33, G.O'Sullivan 22
C: D.Hooker 17
HF: L.Webb 16, A.Lavell 7, E.Antonio 12
F: M.Caulfield 29, S.Barr 10, A.Atkins 37
Foll: A.Janz 30, S.Cain 20, K.Donnellan 15
I/C: B.Smith 18, G.Houghton 27, L.Mascall 14, J.White 11, L.Filocamo 4
Emg: T.Haynes 6, T.McAuliffe 25
In: L.Webb, G.Houghton
Out: T.Haynes, B.Green (injured)
COLLINGWOOD
B: C.McIntosh 20, I.Ross 21, E.Grant 5
HB: C.Molloy 2, S.Livingstone 12, C.Edwards 1
C: B.Bonnici 8
HF: C.Bernardi 6, J.Duffin 27, S.Chiocci - C 17
F: L.Tesoriero 7, J.Garner 43, M.Kuys 9
Foll: E.King 60, J.Lambert 13, A.Barden 38
I/C: H.Whitford 28, E.Hynes 11, S.Casey 22, T.Morgan 26, B.White 33
Emg: R.Schleicher 18, K.Stratton 41
In: J.Duffin, L.Tesoriero, H.Whitford, T.Morgan
Out: M.Hope, S.D'Arcy (suspension), R.Schleicher, S.Dargan
Sunday, February 11
Brisbane v Western Bulldogs, South Pine Sports Complex 3.35pm AEST
BRISBANE
B: N.Hildebrand 22, S.Campbell 20, N.Exon 15
HB: K.Ashmore 10, L.Kaslar 11, B.Koenen 3
C: E.Zielke 8
HF: K.Lutkins 13, T.Randall 16, K.McCarthy 9
F: J.Wuetschner 23, S.Frederick-Traub 14, B.Gibson 25
Foll: S.Webb 4, E.Bates 1, J.Stanton 17
I/C: A.Anderson 18, A.Clarke 21, G.Collingwood 28, S.Conway 12, J.Zanchetta 7
Emg: I.Ayre 2, M.Hunt 6
In: N.Exon
Out: M.Hunt (omitted)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: L.Birch 18, L.Spark 11, N.Callinan 10
HB: H.Scott 22, B.Toogood 28, B.Lochland 1
C: E.Blackburn 2
HF: J.Bruton 35, K.Brennan 3, M.Conti 8
F: D.Berry 7, I.Huntington 9, N.Ferres 16
Foll: A.O'Connor 4, E.Kearney 5, K.Lamb 27
I/C: T.Ernst 19, A.Utri 23, A.Gogos 36, B.Hunt 21, H.Wildes 17
Emg: E.Mackie 25, K.Rennie 24
In: H.Wildes, B.Hunt
Out: E.Mackie (omitted), D.Bannister (knee)
