The rebel VFL teams for Round 2.
PORT Melbourne will walk a little taller in its rebel VFLW match of the round against the Box Hill Hawks at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve on Sunday, with premiership hard-luck story Laura Wright to make her long-awaited comeback.
Wright played 11 matches for the Borough in their 2023 flag year but devastatingly injured her knee in the preliminary final over Essendon and missed the Grand Final.
She didn’t play at any level last season as she rehabbed the injury and this game will be her third on the comeback trail after one in the NTFLW with Southern Districts in December and another for Essendon league club Keilor a fortnight ago.
Wright comes into the Port team that beat Essendon last week alongside East Ringwood debutant Nicola Davidson, replacing recruit Paris Gebel-Lamb (ankle) and Meg Buchanan (unavailable), with the Hawks going in unchanged after their big win over Geelong.
Western Bulldogs and Essendon have both rolled out a host of AFLW-listed talent for their games against Darebin and Collingwood respectively, ensuring they will start clear favourites in their games.
The Bulldogs have called on last year’s Debbie Lee Rising Star Keeley Hardingham, Ellie Gavalas, Jasmyn Smith and Analea McKee, while youngsters Kaylee Kimber, Heidi Woodley, Brooke Barwick and Cleo Buttifant will all be on VFLW debut.
The Falcons have Lulu Beatty returning from an AFLW stint at Carlton and two debutants in Lucy Burgess and Amy Duguid, but lose Ella Southgate indefinitely to a back injury and ruck Sarah King to other commitments.
The Bombers have named nine AFLW-listed inclusions, with debuts for Taya Chambers and Sophie Strong alongside fellow draftee Grace Belloni, who played a game for Box Hill last year, while prolific former Geelong player Abbey McDonald will don the sash for the first time alongside Christina Bernardi, Mia Busch, Emily Gough, Amy Gaylor and Matilda Dyke, but Sophie Molan is unwell and Courtney Murphy injured.
Collingwood has lost last week’s debutant best afield Tahlia Sanger to other commitments but has replaced her with former Richmond AFLW player Amelia Peck and youngster Jacinta Baxter.
Sandringham will unveil 2023 Port Melbourne premiership player Izzy Hartog for its clash with Casey Demons at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, while West Australian teen Natasha Entwistle will debut, AFLW player Ella Friend, the experienced Tayla Kearns and Abbey Tregellis will join them in the team.
But the Zebras have lost St Kilda trio Emmalie Fiedler, Charlotte Simpson and Darcy Guttridge, the former for the season with a knee injury and Lambert-Pearce medallist Simpson with a back problem.
The Demons will be without suspended Melbourne pair Ryleigh Wotherspoon and Delany Madigan and injured teammates Gabby Colvin and Maggie Mahony, but they have called on AFLW player Georgia Campbell, experienced trip Ally Kirkwood, Jo Lin and Kasey Phillips and given a debut to Dandenong Stingray Natalie Bancevic-Mills.
Geelong has two debutants for its clash with Carlton at Deakin University, bringing in former Australian volleyballer Caitlin Tipping and North Geelong teen Faith Qoon, but ruck Simone Nalder is out indefinitely with a stomach issue and captain Mel Staunton is away for three weeks
Carlton has lost former Sandringham Dragons captain Scout Howden (foot) for six weeks and Irish returnee Erone Fitzpatrick with injury, calling on AFLW-listed Maddy Hendrie, Danika Di Santo and Whitehorse recruit Roxy Maslin, who plays her first game.
Williamstown has received a boost for its challenging rebel VFLW Anzac Day contest with reigning premier North Melbourne-Werribee, with important defender Lori Stepnell lining up for her first gamer of the season at Arden St.
The 2024 rebel VFLW Team of the Year back pocket is the most experienced player on the Seagulls’ list with 71 games under her belt.
Her return is timely as they try to back up their impressive road win over Western Bulldogs last Sunday against a Kangaroos team coming off an ominous thrashing of Carlton.
Stepnell replaces Bella Gray, who was helped off the field against the Bulldogs in the second quarter after rolling her ankle, in the only change to either team.
The Kangaroos are unchanged for the game.
Teams for all remaining Round 2 matches will be announced on Friday.
BROADCAST AND STREAMING: All matches in the 2025 rebel VFLW season will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE vs WILLIAMSTOWN
Friday 25 April, 10:35am, Arden Street Oval
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE
B: N. Hales (30), T. Boyd (17)
HB: E. Jackson (19), C. Ugle (1), C. Fletcher (27)
C: S. Reid (6), R. Tierney (23), M. Zander (10)
HF: B. Deed (15), N. Dojiok (40), T. Meier (2)
F: Z. Flanigan (16), Z. Savarirayan (35)
R: K. Reynolds (44), A. Barba (11), M. Di Cosmo (12)
INT: T. Ortlepp (34), C. Blair (26), C. Ryan (5), R. Sutton (4), G. Lawson-Tavan (32)
EMG: A. Ling (24), G. Nicholas (9), C. van Der Vlies (33), J. Douglas (13)
No change
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: E. Tyson (21), L. Blue (47)
HB: R. Randell (41), E. Freeman (33), J. Wrigley (7)
C: I. Barker (16), E. Eaves (6), M. Smart (26)
HF: S. Whiting (25), T. Brett (2), G. De Angelis (12)
F: K. Leare (1), L. Stepnell (4)
R: C. O'Bryan (37), M. Williamson (24), R. Mahony (9)
INT: M. D'Agostino (31), K. Trang (46), I. Khoury (3), G. Howes (11), N. Crowley (40)
EMG: C. Lightfoot (48), A. Marino (28), Z. Guss (29), C. Bux (20)
IN: L. Stepnell
OUT: B. Gray (injured)
Head-to-Head: North Melbourne 5-1; At Arden Street Oval: North Melbourne 3-0; Streak: North Melbourne 1; Last time: North Melbourne 8.5 (53) def Williamstown 5.5 (35) Second Semi Final 2024, DSV Stadium
WESTERN BULLDOGS vs DAREBIN FALCONS
Saturday 26 April, 10:05am, Mission Whitten Oval
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: S. Sansonetti (55), T. Crook (30)
HB: C. Buttifant (4), K. Kimber (28), B. Barwick (12)
C: J. Smith (10), S. Asciak (29), E. Bishop (35)
HF: B. McFarlane (58), S. Hartwig (15), H. Woodley (19)
F: A. Mckee (26), R. Saulitis (56)
R: K. Hardingham (33), A. Klingbeil (53), E. Gavalas (25)
INT: E. Ramsay (46), T. Skenderis (34), T. Hurst (45), F. Taylor (48), M. McLeod (31)
EMG: L. Swain (71), M. Sandral (39), I. Milford (64), J. Livingston (40), C. Mailer (60), I. Young (51)
IN: B. Barwick, C. Buttifant, E. Gavalas, K. Hardingham, S. Hartwig, K. Kimber, A. McKee, J. Smith, H. Woodley
OUT: R. Benham, I. Davies, C. Mailer, C. McDermott, E. Nekrep, C. Parnell, M. Sandral, L. Swain, J. Tabb (omitted)
NEW: Brooke Barwick, 19, 159cm, Glenorchy/Tasmania Devils; Cleo Buttifant, 19, 174cm, Turvey Park/Ainslie/Giants Academy; Kaylee Kimber, 21, 174cm, Southport/Suns Academy; Heidi Woodley, 20, 169cm, Kilmore/Diamond Creek/West Preston-Lakeside/Calder Cannons
DAREBIN FALCONS
B: R. Christgoergl (5), L. Beatty (4)
HB: B. Gray (24), C. Ryan (36), C. Kodagoda (15)
C: C. Bunker (33), A. Mifsud (9), A. Gogos (1)
HF: N. MacDonald (60), S. Du Parquet (50), P. Kearney (28)
F: M. De Matteo (52), N. Callinan (31)
R: S. Egan (34), O. Storer (18), E. Cornish (32)
INT: L. Burgess (3), T. Tysoe (14), B. Daddo (10), E. Rayment (35), A. Duguid (11)
EMG: X. Allen (39), L. McLennan (40), C. Cococcia (53)
IN: L. Beatty, L. Burgess, A. Duguid, P. Kearney
OUT: S. King (unavailable) E. Southgate (back), C. Cococcia, L. McLennan (omitted)
NEW: Lulu Beatty, 20, 171cm, Carlton AFLW; Lucy Burgess, 24, 172cm, Parkdale; Amy Duguid, 24, 161cm, West Brunswick
Head-to-Head: Western Bulldogs 5-2; At Mission Whitten Oval: 1-1; Streak: Darebin 1; Last time: Darebin Falcons 6.5 (41) def Western Bulldogs 3.5 (23) – Round 12, 2024, Genis Steel Oval
ESSENDON vs COLLINGWOOD
Saturday 26 April, 11:05am, Windy Hill
ESSENDON
B: T. Chambers (13), M. Busch (28)
HB: M. Dyke (16), H. Ridewood (10), M. Ford (42)
C: I. Porter (70), C. Adams (15), M. Van Dyke (19)
HF: G. Belloni (7), S. Strong (18), J. Richardson (52)
F: E. Gough (1), A. McDonald (53)
R: L. Prince (44), C. Bernardi (47), A. Gaylor (23)
INT: B. Plummer (57), E. Chaston (61), M. Albrecht (48), M. Robinson (80), A. Jordan (62)
EMG: M. Mifsud (46), S. Ford (45), S. Hobbs (81), A. Melnikas (64), T. Davidge (77)
IN: G. Belloni, C. Bernardi, M. Busch, T. Chambers, M. Dyke, A. Gaylor, E. Gough, A. McDonald, S. Strong
OUT: S. Molan (illness), C. Murphy (injured), L. Bateman, L. Thompson (unavailable), G. Azzopardi, T. Davidge, M. Mifsud, M. O'Connell, E. Tassiopoulos (omitted)
NEW: Grace Belloni, 18, 173cm, Olinda-Ferny Creek/Eastern Ranges/Box Hill Hawks; Taya Chambers, 18, 176cm, Canning Vale/East Fremantle; Abbey McDonald, 21, 162cm, Geelong AFLW; Sophie Strong, 18, 166cm, North Hobart/Tasmania
COLLINGWOOD
B: B. Clarke (55), C. Hunt (49)
HB: L. Williamson (72), D. Carbone (45), L. Szigeti (63)
C: C. Brewer (40), K. Lennox (47), C. Jones (53)
HF: A. Muir (56), M. Bourne (75), A. Gladman (46)
F: M. Eastman (57), J. Ivey (33)
R: M. Molenberg (37), T. Fellows (73), J. Ramsdale (51)
INT: M. Ellin (39), A. Peck (50), J. Baxter (41), T. Henry (58), J. Anthony (68)
EMG: M. Jarvis (48), L. Leighton (71), S. Courtney (66), D. Sgarbi (67)
IN: J. Baxter, A. Peck
OUT: M. Boyd (omitted), T. Sanger (unavailable)
NEW: Amelia Peck, 25, 183cm, Richmond
Head-to-Head: Collingwood 5-4; At Windy Hill: Collingwood 2-0; Streak: Essendon 1; Last time: Essendon 10.4 (64) def Collingwood 7.5 (47) – Round 6, 2024, Victoria Park
GEELONG CATS vs CARLTON
Saturday 26 April, 12:05pm, Deakin University
GEELONG CATS
B: M. Sexton (28), A. Duff (53)
HB: L. Marescuk (63), M. Walton (49), E. Cook (80)
C: C. Tyrrell (65), L. Jordan (18), M. Morrissy (57)
HF: B. Pratt (36), J. Woods (56), P. Schaap (35)
F: S. White (31), H. Peck (37)
R: J. Fitzgerald (51), Z. Cowan (50), A. Favell (42)
INT: C. Tipping (4), S. Mahar (40), F. Qoon (70), C. Bryant (81), S. O'Kane (33)
EMG: B. Bailey (58), O. Stewart (34), K. Gray (68)
IN: F. Qoon, M. Sexton, C. Tipping
OUT: S. Nalder (stomach), M. Staunton (unavailable), B. Bailey (omitted)
NEW: Faith Qoon, 19, North Geelong/Geelong Falcons; Caitlin Tipping, 24, 190cm, Volleyball Australia
CARLTON
B: M. Hendrie (49), A. Velardo (1)
HB: L. Field (33), N. von Bertouch (52), S. Demeo (66)
C: A. Trindade (62), B. Vickers (24), H. Bowey (64)
HF: D. Di Santo (76), S. McCarthy (54), T. Plunkett (69)
F: E. Lee (57), L. Burke (74)
R: G. Matser (58), O. Di Donato (51), L. Keck (23)
INT: E. Horne (68), J. Jackson (63), S. Pearce (71), M. Fitzgerald (80), R. Maslin (25)
EMG: T. Bradley (67), S. Damon (59), M. Connell (34)
IN: D. Di Santo, M. Hendrie, R. Maslin
OUT: E. Fitzpatrick (injured), S. Howden (foot), H. Scott
NEW: Roxy Maslin, 19, 163cm, Whitehorse
Head-to-Head: Geelong 5-3; At Deakin University: Geelong 1-0; Streak: Carlton 2; Last time: Carlton 5.3 (33) def Geelong 4.6 (30) – Round 7, 2024, IKON Park
SANDRINGHAM vs CASEY DEMONS
Saturday 26 April, 2:05pm, RSEA Park
SANDRINGHAM
B: I. Hartog (34), N. Plane (52)
HB: E. Morris (11), K. Forbes (60), E. Friend (56)
C: N. Entwistle (32), Z. Besanko (51), H. Stuart (58)
HF: E. Fowler (5), L. Skinner (40), A. Clarke (19)
F: I. Evans (33), C. Baskaran (62)
R: S. Locke (70), J. Anderson (57), L. Brazzale (24)
INT: K. Whiley (54), A. Tregellis (12), G. Hodder (7), T. Kearns (23), E. Shepherd (18)
EMG: A. Hynes (16), D. Jolliffe (4), A. Patton (36)
IN: N. Entwistle, E. Friend, I. Hartog, T. Kearns, A. Tregellis
OUT: E. Feidler (knee), C. Simpson (back), D. Guttridge (unavailable), C. Aughtie, D. Jolliffe (omitted)
NEW: Natasha Entwistle, 18, 170cm, Canning Vale/East Fremantle; Izzy Hartog, 23, 164cm, Port Melbourne
CASEY DEMONS
B: Z. Mitchell (21), K. Phillips (31)
HB: S. Casey (22), S. Taylor (45), M. Williams (28)
C: M. Macdonald (18), O. Morris (13), A. Kirkwood (6)
HF: C. Hammans (17), Z. Klein (3), A. Robinson (19)
F: G. Gall (40), T. Williams (36)
R: G. Campbell (49), M. Fitzsimon (34), A. Dethridge (37)
INT: J. Pacevski (1), L. Jatczak (14), J. Lin (10), E. Morris (27), N. Banjavcic-Mills (12)
EMG: T. Burn (4), A. Vrsecky (24)
IN: N. Banjavcic-Mills, G. Campbell, A. Kirkwood, J. Lin, K. Phillips
OUT: D. Madigan, R. Wotherspoon (suspended), G. Colvin, M. Mahony (injured), T. Burn (omitted)
Head-to-Head: Sandringham 7-4; At RSEA Park: Sandringham 2-0; Streak: Sandringham 1; Last time: Southern Saints (Sandringham) 7.8 (50) def Casey Demons 5.4 (34) – Round 14, 2024, Casey Fields
NEW: Natalie Banjavcic-Mills, 17, East Ringwood/Dandenong Stingrays
BOX HILL HAWKS vs PORT MELBOURNE
Sunday 27 April, 2:35pm, Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve
BOX HILL HAWKS
B: M. Kendall (44), M. Van Berkel (63)
HB: E. McLinden (35), N. Exon (19), T. Cattle (94)
C: R. Dillon (43), B. Neaves (25), R. Murdoch (34)
HF: S. Stevenson (9), O. Fogarty (8), A. Cariss-Brett (15)
F: G. Collingwood (21), A. Embleton (48)
R: M. Torpey (77), M. Lee (33), I. Baldwin (12)
INT: P. Price (54), J. Matin (76), M. Zielinski (50), E. Stilve (22), E. Robins (64)
EMG: I. Simmons (16), A. Van Rooyen (11), D. Spamer (1), A. Torcasio (30), M. Bell (39)
No change
PORT MELBOURNE
B: L. Davie (6), J. Begg (39)
HB: O. Barton (1), M. Denahy-Maloney (28), C. Anderson (55)
C: I. Stutt (29), E. Ashley-Cooper (8), K. Adams (7)
HF: C. Bromage (4), G. Foran (14), K. O'Keefe (18)
F: L. Wright (19), J. Mifsud (25)
R: G. Booth (13), L. Caruso (5), A. Seton (36)
INT: L. Hart (30), M. Caffry (9), A. Rabot (27), N. Davidson (34), R. Slater (20)
EMG: S. Kenny (62), I. Robson (24)
IN: N. Davidson, L. Wright
OUT: P. Gebel-Lamb (ankle), M. Buchanan (unavailable)
NEW: Nicola Davidson, 21, 158cm, East Ringwood
Head-to-Head: Level 2-2-1; At Wonthaggi: Never Met; Streak: Port Melbourne 2; Last time: Port Melbourne 7.7 (49) def Box Hill Hawks 4.7 (31) – Elimination Final 2024, Box Hill City Oval
UMPIRES
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE vs WILLIAMSTOWN
FIELD: Doug Haworth, William Ross, Sarah Vanderschoot. BOUNDARY: Lachlan Bezzina, Lachlan Smith. GOAL: Josh Aydin, Sam Polden.
WESTERN BULLDOGS vs DAREBIN FALCONS
FIELD: Henry Buckley, Kaileb Monro, Jye Stannage. BOUNDARY: Darien Blair, Claire Irving, Madeleine Lum. GOAL: Laura Brogan, Tim Wood.
ESSENDON vs COLLINGWOOD
FIELD: Samantha Ritchie, Emma Stark, Sophia Tozer. BOUNDARY: Jenny Alley, Ben McShane, Jesse Wilkie. GOAL: Alex Tomada, Harley Trickey.
GEELONG CATS vs CARLTON
FIELD: Adam Bailes, Kezia Laker, Jack Seymour. BOUNDARY: Cooper Geall, Olivia Grcic. GOAL: Cameron Clune, Sam Rogers.
SANDRINGHAM vs CASEY DEMONS
FIELD: Sam Duewell, Jackson Gillespie, Jai Smith. BOUNDARY: Lucas McIntosh, Tahlia Merrett. GOAL: Jackson Mansell, Courtney Stelling.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs PORT MELBOURNE
FIELD: Liam Clark, Jake Dennerley, Genevieve Devenish. BOUNDARY: Rylan Bell, Ryan Pulley, Jack Stelfox. GOAL: Brady Gutbier, Damon Kelly.
