The AFL is thrilled to announce VU Whitten Oval will host the final AFL Women’s Exhibition Match on Saturday, September 3 at 7.20pm.
The match will be broadcast live nationally on the Seven Network and Telstra via the AFL Live App and PLUS7 applications including Telstra TV, Apple TV, mobile and web.
The Hampson-Hardeman Cup will be the first night match ever hosted by the VU Whitten Oval.
The best female players in Australia will represent Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in primetime on the AFL’s bye weekend between Round 23 and the Toyota AFL Finals Series.
AFL General Manager Game and Market Development Simon Lethlean said the All-Star format will be a feature of the Celebration of Football weekend.
“This stand-alone women’s match is the culmination of 10 women’s exhibition matches this year. It will showcase the best players on the eve of the inaugural national women’s competition,” Mr Lethlean said.
“I encourage all footy fans to attend the match or watch the coverage to see the women’s exciting brand of football. With this in mind, gates will be open free to all fans to enjoy a night at the football under the lights of VU Whitten Oval.”
Lewis Martin, Seven Melbourne managing director said: “Seven was there for the very first historic women’s AFL match on free-to-air television and we’re proud to be involved again with the very best female footballers in Australia. Already in 2016, we’ve celebrated elite women’s sport with coverage of the Matildas and women’s tennis at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and we’re also looking forward to a whole host of top level women’s sport at the Olympics.”
Western Bulldogs chief executive officer David Stevenson said: “We welcome this exciting opportunity to showcase the final game of the 2016 women’s exhibition series at Victoria University Whitten Oval.
“While we are on the eve of the inaugural national women’s league and with plenty of opportunities ahead, we do see this match as the culmination of four years amplifying women’s football alongside Melbourne and the AFL – and we’d like to celebrate it accordingly on September 3.
“We have invested significantly in the upgrade of our facilities to ensure we have elite infrastructure for our three teams, including newly-installed lights. We look forward to seeing it come to life in the first ever night match at the VU Whitten Oval.
Melbourne chief executive officer Peter Jackson said: "The Melbourne Football Club takes great pride in our history of supporting women and girls who play football. This match feature's the very best players from across the country and is a great showpiece for women’s football in the lead up to the national competition starting in 2017."
The Seven Network will air the match live nationally on Channel 7 (Melbourne/Victoria and Adelaide/South Australia), 7Mate (Perth/Western Australia, Sydney/NSW and Brisbane/Queensland) and via its regional affiliates into Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Telstra via the AFL Live App and Channel 7 via Plus7 and 7Live will also stream the match live.
The match will also be broadcast on radio by Crocmedia and streamed on afl.com.au
The VU Whitten Oval will also host the Youth Girls All-Stars match as a curtain-raiser from which the 2016 All-Australian team will be selected and a feature McDonalds AFL9s match during halftime of the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.
Footy fans of all ages will also have the opportunity for kick-to-kick after the Hampson-Hardeman Cup match.
The Melbourne and Western Bulldogs squads of 37 were also released today:
Melbourne
Ebony Antonio Swan Districts WA
Ellie Blackburn Melbourne University VIC
Kiara Bowers Coastal Titans WA
Madeline Boyd Nth Geelong Magpies VIC
Jess Cameron Diamond Creek VIC
Courtney Cramey Morphettville SA
Penny Cula-Reid St Kilda Sharks VIC
Jessica Dal Pos Darebin Falcons VIC
Kara Donnellan Swan Districts WA
Tiarna Ernst Diamond Creek VIC
Alicia Eva Melbourne University VIC
Lara Filacamo Coastal Titans WA
Angela Foley Waratahs NT
Sabrina Frederick-Traub South Fremantle WA
Kellie Gibson Morphettville SA
Kate Gillespie-Jones Seaford Tigers VIC
Brianna Green East Fremantle WA
Ashleigh Guest VU Western Spurs VIC
Tayla Harris Zillmere Eagles QLD
Melissa Hickey Darebin Falcons VIC
Nicole Hildebrand Melbourne University VIC
Breanna Koenen Queensland Uni QLD
Brooke Lochland Melbourne University VIC
Ebony Marinoff Morphettville SA
Cecilia McIntosh Melbourne University VIC
Hayley Miller Coastal Titans WA
Lauren Morecroft Diamond Creek VIC
Elise O'Dea Darebin Falcons VIC
Karen Paxman Darebin Falcons VIC
Daisy Pearce Darebin Falcons VIC
Lauren Pearce Darebin Falcons VIC
Kira Philips Peel Thunderbirds WA
Chelsea Randall Swan Districts WA
Emma Swanson East Fremantle WA
Tayla Thorn St Marys NT
Bree White VU Western Spurs VIC
Hayley Wildes Cranbourne VIC
Western Bulldogs
Lauren Arnell Darebin Falcons VIC
Kaitlyn Ashmore Melbourne University VIC
Nicola Barr Sydney University NSW
Emily Bates Yeronga South QLD
Libby Birch Darebin Falcons VIC
Katie Brennan Darebin Falcons VIC
Tayla Bresland Peel Thunderbirds WA
Nicole Callinan Darebin Falcons VIC
Steph Chiocci Diamond Creek VIC
Maddy Collier UNSW/ES NSW
Richelle Cranston Nth Geelong Magpies VIC
Brianna Davey St Kilda Sharks VIC
Kimberley Ebb Seaford Tigers VIC
Amanda Farrugia Macquarie University NSW
Renee Forth Coastal Titans WA
Elyse Gamble Burnie Dockers TAS
Moana Hope St Kilda Sharks VIC
Emma Humphries Burnie Dockers TAS
Meg Hutchins Eastern Devils VIC
Bianca Jakkobson Cranbourne VIC
Leah Kaslar Coolangatta QLD
Emma Kearney Melbourne University VIC
Beth Kearney Eastern Devils VIC
Maddy Keryk Melbourne University VIC
Emma King Coastal Titans WA
Norieul Kinross Darebin Falcons VIC
Melissa Kuys Knox VIC
Jaimee Lambert Eastern Devils VIC
Rebecca Privitelli Eastern Devils VIC
Pepa Randall Eastern Devils VIC
Tahlia Randall Maroochydore QLD
Hannah Scott Eastern Devils VIC
Nicola Stevens Melbourne University VIC
Jessica Trend Eastern Devils VIC
Darcy Vescio Darebin Falcons VIC
Jess Wuetschner East Fremantle WA
Emma Zielke Queensland Uni QLD
Note the team squads may change with the addition of AFL club marquee players, injury or illness.
The coaching panels are yet to be confirmed.
Further event details scheduled for the Celebration of Football week to be announced in coming weeks.
