ADELAIDE co-captain Erin Phillips has been named for the crucial Friday night NAB AFL Women’s match against Fremantle in Darwin.
The reigning competition best and fairest missed the second half of last week’s win over Carlton with what the club described as quad “awareness”. The same injury kept her out of the first two matches of the season.
The Crows, still an outside chance to make the Grand Final, are unchanged. The Dockers made two changes, with defender Tayla Bresland and midfielder Tiah Haynes coming in for omitted pair Belinda Smith and Emily McGuire.
AFLW: Latest news, fixture and results here
Greater Western Sydney, also still a chance to reach the March 24 Grand Final, face the in-form Western Bulldogs in Canberra on Saturday with the same 21 that beat Fremantle in Perth last weekend.
The Bulldogs, a game clear on top of the ladder and needing one win from their last two matches to reach the Grand Final, have called on ex-Melbourne forward Deanna Berry to replace Laura Bailey.
Brisbane responded to its first away loss in AFLW competition history (to Melbourne) by making three changes. The Lions, who host Collingwood at Moreton Bay on Saturday, recalled Rising Star nomination Sophie Conway, defender Emma Pittman and midfielder Megan Hunt. Out are youngsters Gabby Collingwood and Jordan Zanchetta (both omitted), while defender Nicole Hildebrand will miss injured.
The Magpies, languishing in last spot, have selected Australian hockey representative Georgie Parker, netballer Ash Brazill and midfielder Kristy Stratton to make their AFLW debuts. Defender Tara Morgan is also in for the trip north.
They lost captain Steph Chiocci to suspension, defender Iilish Ross (foot) and Holly Whitford and Sarah Dargan (both omitted).
Carlton, which has dropped three straight games, made multiple changes for the second week in a row, with Jess Hosking back after being rested last week. Also returning for the game against Melbourne at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon are midfielders Madeline Keryk and Tiahna Cochrane, and defender Laura Attard.
They replace Lauren Brazzale and ex-skipper Lauren Arnell (both injured) and Reni Hicks and Courtney Webb (both rested).
Third-placed Melbourne, which beat Brisbane last weekend, has lost Bianca Jakobsson to injury, but recalled defender Meg Downie.
Watch every NAB AFL Women's match LIVE on AFL.com.au, the AFL Live Official App and the AFLW Official App
Friday, March 9
Adelaide v Fremantle at TIO Stadium (Darwin, Northern Territory), 5.35pm ACST
ADELAIDE
B: S.Thompson 14, S.Allan 39, D.Cox 31
HB: C.Cramey 22, A.Hatchard 33, J.Sedunary 17
C: C.Randall 26
HF: D.Varnhagen 9, J.Hewett 20, A.Foley 3
F: R.Wallace 15, S.Perkins 28, J.McCormick 5
Foll: R.Metcalfe 11, E.Phillips 13, E.Marinoff 10
I/C: M.Rajcic 32, E.Jones 2, R.Lugg 45, J.Mules 23, S.Armitstead 16
Emerg: S.Riley 8, G.Bevan 4
No changes
FREMANTLE
B: A.Williams 9, E.Antonio 12, E.Gooch 8
HB: C.Davidson 33, S.Cain 20, D.Hooker 17
C: K.Donnellan 15
HF: L.Webb 16, A.Lavell 7, M.Caulfield 29
F: T.Bresland 5, S.Barr 10, G.O'Sullivan 22
Foll: A.Janz 30, A.Atkins 37, H.Miller 19
I/C: J.de Melo 28, T.Haynes 6, L.Filocamo 4, L.Mascall 14, T.McAuliffe 25
Emerg: B.Smith 18, A.Sharp 1
In: T.Bresland, T.Haynes
Out: B.Smith (omitted), E.McGuire (omitted)
Saturday, March 10
Brisbane v Collingwood at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex (Burpengary, Queensland), 3.35pm AEST
BRISBANE
B: B.Koenen 3, K.Lutkins 13, S.Campbell 20
HB: N.Exon 15, I.Ayre 2, L.Kaslar 11
C: E.Bates 1
HF: S.Conway 12, T.Randall 16, E.Zielke 8
F: J.Wuetschner 23, S.Frederick-Traub 14, K.Ashmore 10
Foll: S.Webb 4, J.Stanton 17, A.Anderson 18
I/C: B.Gibson 25, K.McCarthy 9, A.Clarke 21, E.Pittman 29, M.Hunt 6
Emerg: J.Zanchetta 7, G.Collingwood 28
In: S.Conway, E.Pittman, M.Hunt
Out: N.Hildebrand (injured), G.Collingwood (omitted), J.Zanchetta (omitted)
COLLINGWOOD
B: E.Grant 5, J.Duffin 27, A.Brazill 10
HB: C.Molloy 2, C.McIntosh 20, R.Schleicher 18
C: K.Stratton 41
HF: S.D'Arcy 4, J.Garner 43, C.Bernardi 6
F: M.Hutchins 25, M.Hope 23, C.Edwards 1
Foll: E.King 60, J.Lambert 13, B.Bonnici 8
I/C: G.Parker 19, T.Morgan 26, L.Tesoriero 7, A.Barden 38, M.Kuys 9
Emerg: H.Whitford 28, S.Dargan 46
In: A.Brazill, K.Stratton, G.Parker, T.Morgan
Out: I.Ross (injured), S.Chiocci (suspension), H.Whitford (omitted), S.Dargan (omitted)
Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs at UNSW Canberra Oval (Griffith, Australian Capital Territory), 7.10pm AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: A.Farrugia 18, T.Hetherington 9, P.Monahan 28
HB: N.Barr 8, E.Swanson 17, M.Collier 14
C: A.Eva 2
HF: J.Dal Pos 7, P.McWilliams 3, E.Brush 10
F: J.Barclay 34, C.Staunton 13, R.Beeson 6
Foll: E.McKinnon 23, C.Gum 26, B.Tully 16
I/C: A.Schmidt 11, E.Bennetts 22, R.Tomkins 1, J.Hicks 5, P.Randall 21
Emerg: A.Saundry 4, R.Forth 27
No changes
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: H.Wildes 17, L.Birch 18, N.Callinan 10
HB: H.Scott 22, A.O'Connor 4, A.Gogos 36
C: E.Blackburn 2
HF: B.Lochland 1, L.Spark 11, M.Conti 8
F: J.Bruton 35, B.Toogood 28, K.Rennie 24
Foll: T.Ernst 19, E.Kearney 5, K.Lamb 27
I/C: K.McLeod 6, A.Utri 23, D.Berry 7, N.Ferres 16, E.Mackie 25
Emerg: B.Hunt 21, L.Bailey 13
In: D.Berry
Out: L.Bailey
Sunday, March 11
Carlton v Melbourne at Ikon Park (Carlton, Victoria), 4.35pm AEDT
CARLTON
B: G.Pound 6, K.Gillespie-Jones 5, B.Kennedy 23
HB: M.Gay 8, D.Hardiman 31, T.Lucas-Rodd 18
C: J.Hosking 11
HF: N.Stevens 21, T.Harris 22, M.Keryk 4
F: K.Harrington 9, A.Downie 30, S.Hosking 10
Foll: B.Moody 16, S.Audley 26, D.Vescio 3
I/C: T.Cochrane 15, K.Loynes 2, S.Li 35, L.Attard 14, C.Gee 19
Emerg: N.Plane 32, S.Last 7
In: J.Hosking, M.Keryk, T.Cochrane, L.Attard
Out: R.Hicks (rested), L.Brazzale (injured), L.Arnell (injured), C.Webb (rested)
MELBOURNE
B: A.Guest 17, A.Teague 40, H.Cordner 21
HB: K.Paxman 4, M.Hickey 18, B.Patterson 24
C: E.O'Dea 5
HF: K.Hore 10, R.Cranston 30, L.Mithen 14
F: E.Zanker 29, T.Cunningham 1, S.Scott 12
Foll: L.Pearce 15, D.Pearce 6, K.Smith 13
I/C: M.Downie 2, J.Grierson 19, C.Whitfort 20, A.Newman 16, C.Phillips 35
Emerg: L.Duryea 11, E.Humphries 3
In: M.Downie
Out: B.Jakobsson (injured)
