All the teams for Round 6 in the rebel VFLW.
Superstars and the VFLW are going hand-in-hand in season 2024, and the Western Bulldogs are the latest to deliver a treat to their supporters with AFLW great Ellie Blackburn set to make her first appearance at State league level in five years when the Bulldogs host Carlton at Mission Whitten Oval on Sunday.
Blackburn is the Bulldogs’ 2018 AFLW premiership captain, triple All-Australian, triple best and fairest winner, leading goalkicker and Victorian State of Origin representative, and also the club’s AFLW games record holder with 68 games.
She hasn’t played in the VFLW since the 2019 elimination final win over Richmond on their way to the Bulldogs’ only Grand Final at the level so far.
But she will line up against a Blues’ team again featuring Darcy Vescio as the Dogs try to regain their spot in the top six, with VFLW games record holder and Essendon 2022 premiership co-captain Mia-Rae Clifford to make her debut for her new club after crossing in the off-season.
Ruck Jorja Borg also returns alongside AFLW-listed debutant Maggie Gorham, Sarah Hartwig, who will play her first VFLW game since 2019 and VFLW star Millie Klingbeil among eight changes, although they will be without Imogen Milford for five weeks with an ankle injury, while Jaimi Tabb has been selected in the Australian Defence Force representative team and Cassidy Mailer, Tallia Pulcino and Isadora McLeay are also sidelined.
Carlton made four changes, losing AFLW trio Mimi Hill, Lila Keck and Marianna Anthony, with Calder Cannon graduate Amy Trindade to make her VFLW debut and former Southern Saint Katie Prendergast to wear the CFC monogram for the first time.
All-Australian ruck Ally Morphett is the big inclusion as Sydney fields a full team of AFLW-listed players against undefeated Box Hill Hawks in the match of the season at Fenjiu Stadium on Sunday.
While the Swans have rested AFLW best-and-fairest winner Laura Gardiner, star youngster Sofia Hurley and defender Annabel Woodward and lost ruck Lexi Hamilton to a four-week suspension, they have been able to name Morphett, who averaged 29.3 hitouts and 17.3 disposals per game in the AFLW last year to be a key factor in their charge to the AFLW finals for the first time.
Former Hawk Lauren Szigeti, Lisa Steane and youngsters Lara Hausegger and Holly Cooper all return to the team that had consecutive 85-point home wins over the past fortnight, with VFLW-listed Brooke Bailey the unlucky omission.
Teagan Bradley will play her first game for the Hawks alongside Tess Cattle, with Gabby Collingwood being unavailable and Cassie Davidson out with a minor knee injury.
Collingwood and Essendon will be almost unrecognisable from last week, making 15 changes between them for their clash at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The Magpies have added five AFLW players – Lucy Cronin, Charlotte Taylor and club debutants Nell Morris-Dalton, Sarah Sansonetti and Tarni White, plus Lambert-Pearce medallist Akayla Peterson back from injury, while Eleri Morris and Amber Schutte were concussed last week and Lauren Brazzale and Meg Ryan are unavailable.
The Bombers have rested superstar midfielder Georgia Nanscawen, Amy Gaylor and Lily-Rose Williamson and will also be without Tayla Hart-Aluni to injury and Bailey Hunt who is unavailable.
But they have been able to call on ball-magnet Amelia Radford, plus Alex Morcom, Ellyse Gamble and Matilda Dyke, plus Ellie Huggard, Marnie Robinson and young rising star Ava Jordan, with Old Scotch’s Emily Tassiopoulos to make her debut.
North Melbourne has a quartet of impressive inclusions for its clash with Geelong at Arden St on Saturday, headed by 2021 best-and-fairest winner Meagan Kiely, who makes her welcome return to the blue and stripes after three seasons in the AFLW at Richmond.
Ex-Sydney ruck recruit Kate Reynolds is back from a four-match suspension and co-captain Jess Jones is also back after missing the loss to Box Hill and Kayla Peake is in for her first game of the year.
The news wasn’t all good, however, with Matilda Zander suffering a calf laceration last week and Tricia Cowan in concussion protocols, while Nic Hales is unavailable.
Geelong has named two 17-year-olds from the Geelong Falcons, with Seisia White and Kiara Woods to make their debuts, while Sammy Gooden and Denby Taylor also come back in.
Former Hawthorn player Zoe Barbakos will play her first game for Southern Saints when they host Casey Demons at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Barbakos was a highly-rated draftee at the Hawks but was delisted at the end of last season and will have a point to prove as she lines up alongside Dakota Mason, who will play her first game since hurting her knee on her debut way back in Round 1 last season and Grace Hodder, who forces her way back in.
Ella Friend and Darcy Guttridge are unavailable for the Saints.
Casey have named Melbourne AFLW recruit Grace Hill for her VFLW debut, with fellow AFLW players Maeve Chaplin and Saraid Taylor also coming in alongside Emma Horne and Indi Makai, but the Demons have lost Jo Lin and Olivia Morris to injury, Sophie Casey and Sammie Johnson (away) and Lily Johnson (rested).
Darebin has named another of its Collingwood recruits for her first game in the famous guernsey, with Amy Kane to debut for the Falcons against Williamstown at DSV Stadium on Saturday.
Kane comes in alongside second-gamer Jess Fitzpatrick, with Sally Lynch having been managed – the same reason in-form Seagull Ash Thorneycroft will miss.
Eloise Freeman and Jazmyn Tweddle-O’Donnell are injured, with Darley’s Ella Tyson to debut and Kiara Leare in for her second game, the same as veteran Coburg ruck Cat O’Bryan, who returns for her second VFLW game after she debuted at 41 earlier this season.
Port Melbourne regains premiership players Lisa Davie and Bella Stutt from ankle and leg injuries respectively against the GWS Giants at ETU Stadium on Saturday, with AFLW player Poppy Kelly to play her first VFLW game since she was at St Kilda in 2021 and Lily Hart in for her second game.
But the Borough have been hit by two big injuries, with star recruit and Lambert-Pearce medallist Jordan Mifsud out for up to two weeks with a quad injury and premiership full-forward Emily Harley sidelined by an ankle problem, again possibly for two matches.
The Giants have lost three AFLW players for the game, including Brisbane Lions premiership player Mikayla Pauga (rested) alongside Eilish O’Dowd, while Courtney Murphy is injured, with Haneen Zreika returning after starring two weeks ago alongside VFLW pair Olivia Edwards and Sophie Kavanagh.
All matches in the 2024 rebel VFLW season will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
SOUTHERN SAINTS vs CASEY DEMONS
Saturday 27 April, 9:45am, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Head-to-Head: Southern Saints 6-3; At WSTBBO: Southern Saints 1-0; Streak: Southern Saints 3; Last Time: Southern Saints 4.7 31 def Casey Demons 3.5 23 (May 27, 2023, RSEA Park)
SOUTHERN SAINTS
B: C. Saultry (6), B. Enno (26)
HB: D. Jolliffe (4), T. Boyd (21), G. Ricardo (44)
C: W. Laing (9), G. Hodder (7), C. Ryan (5)
HF: J. Wrigley (18), S. Phillips (8), Z. Barbakos (47)
F: N. Plane (38), C. Hunt (29)
R: M. Torpey (28), A. Tregellis (12), A. Hynes (16)
INT: G. Foran (37), C. Matthews (36), D. Mason (1), P. Phelan (27), G. De Angelis (39)
EMG: F. Crank (25), Z. McCurdy (11), K. Henry (22), A. Bennett (34), A. Russell (14)
IN: Z. Barbakos, G. Hodder, D. Mason
OUT: E. Friend, D. Guttridge (unavailable), F. Crank
NEW: Zoe Barbakos, 20, 158cm, Hawthorn
CASEY DEMONS
B: D. Madigan (27), S. Taylor (24)
HB: J. Rigoni (34), G. Hill (37), M. Chaplin (40)
C: A. Kirkwood (6), M. Macdonald (18), T. Burn (4)
HF: D. Smith (3), T. Williams (36), E. Horne (26)
F: S. Sheerin (5), G. Gall (49)
R: T. Gillard (43), S. Fairchild (8), N. O'Neill (19)
INT: K. Phillips (31), L. Jatczak (14), Z. Mitchell (21), G. Proy (32), I. Makai (1)
EMG: L. Swain, A. Kasteliotis, E. Layfield
IN: M. Chaplin, G. Hill, E. Horne, I. Makai, S. Taylor
OUT: S. Casey, S. Johnson (unavailable), S. Johnson (AFLW), J. Lin (calf), O. Morris (quad)
NEW: Grace Hill, 25, 178cm, GWS Giants
COLLINGWOOD vs ESSENDON
Saturday 27 April, 11:00am, Victoria Park
Head-to-Head: Collingwood 5-3; At Victoria Park: 2-2; Streak: Collingwood 1; Last Time: Collingwood 3.4 22 def Essendon 2.6 18 (Second semi-final 2023, Victoria Park)
COLLINGWOOD
B: K. Lennox (47), J. Ramsdale (51)
HB: C. Taylor (11), L. Cronin (27), M. Atkinson (10)
C: J. Anthony (68), T. White (29), H. Dyson (59)
HF: E. James (2), S. Sansonetti (16), A. Porter (9)
F: N. Morris-Dalton (17), E. Fowler (15)
R: L. Pearce (41), C. Remmos (40), S. Ingram (38)
INT: A. Peterson (52), C. Granville (42), F. Walsh (54), K. Day (50), S. Degiacomi (65)
EMG: M. Molenberg (37), M. Jarvis (48), M. Ellin (55), N. Watts (62)
IN: L. Cronin, C. Granville, N. Morris-Dalton, A. Peterson, S. Sansonetti, C. Taylor, T. White
OUT: L. Brazzale, M. Ryan (unavailable), E. Morris, A. Schutte (concussion), M. Ellin, M. Jarvis, N. Watts
NEW: Nell Morris-Dalton, 23, 174cm, Collingwood AFLW; Sarah Sansonetti, 22, 172cm, Collingwood AFLW; Tarni White, 23, 170cm, St Kilda/Coorparoo
ESSENDON
B: M. Robinson (80), M. Ford (42)
HB: E. Chaston (61), E. Gamble (9), G. Clarke (17)
C: D. Ryan (51), A. Radford (22), E. Huggard (75)
HF: A. Jordan (62), S. Molan (73), E. Gough (1)
F: T. Davidge (77), J. Richardson (52)
R: M. Dyke (16), A. Morcom (25), R. Mahony (78)
INT: L. Bateman (63), S. Ford (45), I. Porter (70), A. Melnikas (64), E. Tassiopoulos (49)
EMG: M. Huta (56), O. Manfre (43), J. Morrow (60)
IN: M. Dyke, E. Gamble, E. Huggard, A. Jordan, A. Morcom, A. Radford, M. Robinson, E. Tassiopoulos
OUT: A. Gaylor, G. Nanscawen, L. Williamson (AFLW), T. Hart-Aluni (knee), B. Hunt (unavailable), A M. Huta, O. Manfre, J. Morrow
NEW: Emily Tassiopoulos, 20, 172cm, Old Scotch/Oakleigh Chargers
NORTH MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS
Saturday 27 April, 11:00am, Arden Street Oval
Head-to-Head: Geelong 3-1; At Arden St: Geelong 2-0; Streak: Geelong 1; Last Time: Geelong 3.10 28 def North Melbourne 3.4 22 (April 29, 2023, Arden St)
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: M. McSweeney (22), J. Jones (17)
HB: A. Ling (24), Z. Flanigan (16), T. Meier (2)
C: E. Jackson (19), A. Barba (26), A. Rhodes (4)
HF: E. Paterno (21), N. Dojiok (40), A. Xanthos (29)
F: B. Slaney (7), M. Kiely (41)
R: K. Reynolds (44), M. Di Cosmo (12), R. Tierney (34)
INT: B. Sheridan (6), G. McLaughlin (43), A. Scott (23), K. Peake (31), S. King (46)
EMG: S. Hosking (13), K. Delia (20), M. Klaumanns-Moller (14)
IN: J. Jones, M. Kiely, K. Peake, K. Reynolds
OUT: T. Cowan (concussion), N. Hales (unavailable), M. Zander (calf), F. Theodore
NEW: Meagan Kiely, 29, 168cm, Richmond
GEELONG CATS
B: M. Walton (29), B. Aughton (62)
HB: J. Sunderland (52), D. Taylor (28), M. Fuller (31)
C: H. Burchell (57), B. Pratt (36), B. O'Rouke (23)
HF: S. White (65), C. Mason (24), O. Cicolini (53)
F: K. Woods (72), C. Reid (37)
R: S. Gooden (59), P. Schaap (35), L. Jordan (17)
INT: A. McKeegan (27), B. Plummer (19), Z. Cowan (49), S. Mahar (40), C. de Groot (30)
EMG: O. Stewart (34), E. Firth (56), J. McMeel (30), R. Dale (55), Z. Larkins (51)
IN: S. Gooden, D. Taylor, S. White, K. Woods
OUT: R. Dale, E. Firth, Z. Larkins, J. McMeel
NEW: Seisia White, 17, Geelong Falcons; Kiara Woods, 17, Geelong Falcons
PORT MELBOURNE vs GWS GIANTS
Saturday 27 April, 3:05pm, ETU Stadium
Head-to-Head: Never Met
PORT MELBOURNE
B: L. Davie (6), M. McKellar (10)
HB: N. Borg (12), B. Clarke (23), L. Caruso (5)
C: M. Shevlin (68), E. Ashley-Cooper (8), I. Stutt (29)
HF: M. Eastman (38), B. Wilson (16), C. Ryan (46)
F: L. McClelland (61), L. Hart (30)
R: J. Kelly (47), A. Seton (36), J. Williams (26)
INT: K. Adams (7), J. Woods (52), B. Woolcock (9), K. O'Keefe (18), C. Bromage (4)
EMG: M. Mottram (24), I. Hartog (2), R. Slater (20), E. Harley (17)
IN: L. Davie, L. Hart, J. Kelly, I. Stutt
OUT: E. Harley (ankle), J. Mifsud (quad), G. Booth, C. Wicksteed (unavailable)
NEW: Poppy Kelly, 25, 184cm, Richmond AFL/Southern Saints
GWS GIANTS
B: C. McCormick (25), D. Walker (1)
HB: C. Miller (9), T. Evans (18), G. Buchan (40)
C: E. Pease (33), K. Srhoj (14), M. Brazendale (23)
HF: H. Zreika (24), S. Hall (21), G. Garnett (17)
F: J. Doyle (5), Z. Goldsworthy (7)
R: C. Ransom (26), T. Germech (31), C. Fletcher (29)
INT: O. Edwards (35), Z. Hurrell (2), S. Kavanagh (30), S. Tarasenko (32), K. Smith (4)
EMG:
IN: O. Edwards, S. Kavanagh, H. Zreika
OUT: C. Murphy (back), E. O'Dowd, M. Pauga (AFLW)
WESTERN BULLDOGS vs CARLTON
Sunday 28 April, 11:00am, Mission Whitten Oval
Head-to-Head: Carlton 6-1; At Mission Whitten Oval: 1-1; Streak: Carlton 4; Last Time: Carlton 7.1 43 def Western Bulldogs 2.2 14 (June 24, 2023, ETU Stadium)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: A. Snow (57), T. Crook (30)
HB: S. Asciak (28), M. Gorham (6), C. Pickett (59)
C: M. Klingbeil (53), D. Carbone (54), E. Nekrep (41)
HF: E. Blackburn (2), S. Hartwig (15), R. Saulitis (56)
F: J. Borg (16), M. Clifford (47)
R: K. Hardingham (66), E. Bishop (35), D. Carruthers (8)
INT: J. Henry (68), M. McLeod (31), S. Skinner (62), C. Ugle (29), E. Ramsay (46)
EMG: T. Skenderis (34), C. Leonard (38), M. Sandral (39), M. Cowan (67)
IN: E. Blackburn, J. Borg, M. Clifford, M. Gorham, S. Hartwig, M. Klingbeil, M. McLeod, C. Pickett
OUT: C. Mailer (quad), I. McLeay (illness), I. Milford (ankle), T. Pulcino (ankle), J. Tabb (ADF Match), M. Cowan, T. Hurst, C. Leonard
NEW: Maggie Gorham, 22, 175cm, Ainslie; Mia-Rae Clifford, 37, 169cm, Essendon VFLW
CARLTON
B: O. Di Donato (51), G. Lawson-Tavan (27)
HB: L. Prince (58), Y. Duursma (11), S. Demeo (66)
C: D. Vescio (3), M. Robertson (15), H. Bowey (64)
HF: M. Staunton (55), M. Austin (22), I. Khoury (52)
F: S. Mooney (78), S. McCarthy (54)
R: E. Hurley (61), L. Goss (20), K. Sherar (25)
INT: A. Trindade (62), I. Baldwin (70), E. Wood (50), K. Prendergast (77), I. Parnell (59)
EMG: D. Di Santo (76), T. Phipps (74), E. Lee (71), A. Turner-Funk (53)
IN: I. Parnell, K. Prendergast, M. Staunton, A. Trindade
OUT: M. Anthony, M. Hill, L. Keck (unavailable), G. Tait
NEW: Katie Prendergast, 22, 164cm, Southern Saints; Amy Trindade, 18, 160cm, Strathmore/Calder Cannons
WILLIAMSTOWN vs DAREBIN FALCONS
Sunday 28 April, 12:00pm, DSV Stadium
Head-to-Head: Darebin 5-3-1; At DSV Stadium: Darebin 3-1-1; Streak: Williamstown 2; Last Time: Williamstown 11.12 78 def Darebin 0.2 2 (March 23, 2024, La Trobe University)
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: G. Biedenweg-Webster (32), Z. Day (13)
HB: E. Meade (19), L. Stepnell (4), C. Tyrell (11)
C: I. Barker (16), E. Eaves (6), M. Edwards (17)
HF: E. Strafford (18), S. Whiting (25), R. Randell (41)
F: M. Simpson (39), T. Brett (20)
R: C. O'Bryan (37), M. Williamson (24), M. Plunkett (8)
INT: C. Bain (10), E. Tyson (21), K. Leare (1), M. Smart (26), N. Julian (9)
EMG: B. Kennedy (2), P. Chisholm (35), S. Bridgewater (12), N. Crowley (40)
IN: K. Leare, C. O'Bryan, E. Tyson
OUT: E. Freeman (concussed), J. Tweedle-O'Donnell (knee), A. Thorneycroft (managed)
NEW: Ella Tyson, 19, 162cm, Darley/Western Jets
DAREBIN FALCONS
B: A. Gogos (1), K. Lee (43)
HB: S. Ruedin (32), C. Bunker (33), R. Christgoergl (20)
C: E. Rayment (35), O. Storer (21), M. Dematteo (52)
HF: E. Mackay (39), S. Cowley-Du Parquet (50), M. Shone (60)
F: S. Simpson (17), S.Egan (34)
R: A. Mifsud (9), V. Blackwood (44), S. Baisas (36)
INT: C. Kodagoda (15), A. Kane (42), M. Rudzki (11), G. Wake (37), J. Fitzpatrick (29)
EMG: P. Kearney (28), L. Griss (18), G. Gough (4)
IN: J. Fitzpatrick, A. Kane
OUT: S. Lynch (managed), G. Gough
NEW: Amy Kane, 26, Collingwood VFLW
BOX HILL HAWKS vs SYDNEY SWANS
Sunday 28 April, 3:35pm, Fenjiu Stadium
Never met
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: E. McLinden (35), A. Embelton (61)
HB: A. Kemp (16), T. Bradley (43), E. Everist (25)
C: P. Pavic (63), C. Baskaran (9), M. Williamson (96)
HF: R. Dillon (60), H. McLaughlin (87), S. Locke (21)
F: J. Matin (45), B. Hipwell (19)
R: T. Luke (40), D. Spamer (42), L. Stone (88)
INT: E. Butler (68), C. Thorne (32), T. Canobie (84), M. Van Berkel (38), T. Cattle (48)
EMG: G. Matser (49), E. Robins (80), M. Lee (72), A. Molesworth (73)
IN: T. Bradley, T. Cattle
OUT: G. Collingwood (unavailable), C. Davidson (knee)
NEW: Teagan Bradley, 19, North Melbourne VFLW
SYDNEY SWANS
B: A. Mitchell (8), K. Hillier (3)
HB: R. Sargent Wilson (6), E. Heads (12), P. McCarthy (15)
C: E. Vale (23), P. Sheppard (4), M. Ham (18)
HF: B. Smith (11), C. Hamilton (10), S. Grunden (16)
F: M. Beruldsen (33), G. Davies (20)
R: A. Morphett (7), C. Molloy (5), L. Szigeti (28)
INT: H. Cooper (2), L. Hausseger (26), T. Kennedy (29), L. Steane (21), A. Whelan (22)
EMG: L. Gardiner (31)
IN: H. Cooper (2), L. Hausseger (26), A. Morphett (7), L. Steane (21), L. Szigeti (28)
OUT: L. Hamilton (suspended), L. Gardiner, S. Hurley, A. Woodward (AFLW), B. Bailey
NEW: Ally Morphett, 20, 188cm, Sydney AFLW
UMPIRES
SOUTHERN SAINTS vs CASEY DEMONS
FIELD: Keizia Laker, Sophia Tozer. BOUNDARY: Luke Gonis, Ben Merrick. GOAL: Damon Kelly, Jackson Mansell.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS
FIELD: Josh Hamilton, Jai Smith. BOUNDARY: Shaylee Anderson, Asha Hinton, Ben Tingiri. GOAL: Bridget Saftenberger, Courtney Stelling.
COLLINGWOOD vs ESSENDON
FIELD: Adam Bailes, Harry Warmington. BOUNDARY: Jack Buller, Cooper Geall. GOAL: Laura Brogan, Jenna Green.
PORT MELBOURNE vs GWS GIANTS
FIELD: Arron Knezevic, Brock Reid. BOUNDARY: Ashlee Ball, Finn Horan. GOAL: Connor Petrie, James Rodwell.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v CARLTON
FIELD: Elizabeth Curtolo, Campbell Hymans, Austin Tattersall. BOUNDARY: Ryan Brown, Aidan McDonald. GOAL: Charlie Lodge, Sam Polden.
WILLIAMSTOWN v DAREBIN FALCONS
FIELD: Lisa Compton-Robins, Adam Morrow, Portia Ronsberg. BOUNDARY: Daniel Molino, Ryan Pulley. GOAL: Liam Green, Shaun Meredith.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs SYDNEY SWANS
FIELD: Sam Price, Jack Seymour, Shannon van Boven. BOUNDARY: Mitch Bellingham, Darien Blair. GOAL: Sam Rogers, Harley Trickey.
