SO MUCH has happened since Essendon downed Southern Saints to win the 2022 rebel VFLW premiership back in July.

There has been lots of player movement across the competition, while there has also been plenty of moves in the coaching ranks.

Let's bring everyone up to date as we draw closer to the 2023 season.

LEAGUE

White shorts out: The AFL will remove white shorts from on-field uniforms for all teams across the AFLW, VFLW, AFLW U18 National Championships, and any AFL-managed women and girls talent pathways activity in 2023. The historic approach comes following extensive consultation with clubs and female players in addressing in-competition performance anxieties in elite athletes. Removing white shorts is designed to address the global issue sportspeople face while playing in white uniforms during their menstrual cycles.

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Season dates set: The VFLW season will revert to a traditional timeslot in 2023, with the season set to commence on the weekend of March 25-26, aligning with the opening round of the Smithy's VFL season. The 2023 rebel VFLW home and away season will consist of 14 rounds, with a competition bye scheduled for the King’s Birthday weekend.

The Box Hill Hawks are back in the VFLW for the first time since 2017 after their licence was returned by Hawthorn after its elevation to the AFLW. Box Hill took over from foundation club Knox in 2017, winning three of 14 games before Hawthorn took over, picking up 38 wins and two draws in 60 games, including the 2018 premiership.

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THE Hawks have named a host of re-signings over the past couple of months, with some of their most important players on the list as they revert back to the Box Hill name from Hawthorn, while coach Cherie O’Neill, who led her team to second spot after the home and away series before a straight sets exit with a 12-3-1 record, also being reappointed.

Those to recommit to Box Hill City Oval include:Nic Garner, Abbey Holmes, Sarah Humm, Mietta Kendall, Ellie McLinden, Grace McRae, Jordan Mifsud, Kristy Stratton, Jess Trend, Nadia von Bertouch, Sky Wilson and Jade Wise.

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A BIG signing for the Hawks, who have landed former Carlton AFLW player Charlotte Hammans after five games for the Blues at the highest level. Hammans, 21, also played 15 VFLW matches for Carlton over the past two years, including four in 2022.

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TWO more impressive gets at Box Hill City Oval, with ruck Amanda Tessari crossing from Western Bulldogs and Grace Matser signing from Collingwood. Tessari didn’t play a game last season due to injury but brings 48 matches of experience to the Hawks. Matser played 13 of her 17 VFLW games for the Magpies in 2022.

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THE Hawks have been extremely busy in the past week, with Tessari and Matser being joined by Holly Whitford, Bella Gray and Caitlin Thorne. Whitford returns to State league footy having played 34 games for Melbourne University and Collingwood, as well as eight AFLW games for the Magpies and Richmond. Gray and Thorne are defenders who move south from Sydney University in the Sydney AFL and Bond University in the QAFL respectively to add strength to the Hawks’ backline.

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BOX HILL has named the experienced Nic Garner as its captain for this season. Garner, who was the vice-captain and acting captain at times last year, steps into the top job full time, replacing veteran star ruck Tamara Luke. Her vice-captains will be reigning best-and-fairest winner Jordan Mifsud and Nadia von Bertouch.

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THE people at Warragul Industrials will be watching Box Hill Hawks closely this year after young defenders Matilda van Berkel and Chloe Bailey landed contracts at Box Hill City Oval. The pair played 19 and 14 NAB League games for Gippsland Power from 2019-21 respectively.

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A BIG signing for the Hawks, who have landed former Carlton AFLW player Charlotte Hammans after five games for the Blues at the highest level. Hammans, 21, also played 15 VFLW matches for Carlton over the past two years, including four in 2022.

CARLTON has named the experienced Christina Bernardi as its captain for 2023. Bernardi, 32, who crossed to the Blues from Port Melbourne as an AFLW train-on player during Season 7, has played 40 AFLW and 34 VFLW matches, but only four of the latter since 2018. The vice-captain will again be Thomay Nicolaou, 31, who played seven games in her debut season, averaging 12.3 disposals, 3.1 clearances and 3.1 tackles.

Casey Demons pulled off one of the first big off-season signings from another club when they landed Marla Neal from Collingwood. Neal, 24, was a key member of the Magpies’ team over the past two years, playing 30 of a possible 31 matches, and will add steel to the Demons’ line-up.

Neal’s hardness will complement that of Mel Hogg and vice-captain Ally Kirkwood, who will be back in the red yoke. Hogg, 24, played all 17 matches for the Demons last year, averaging a career-high 16.8 disposals, and all going well will reach 50 VFLW games in 2023. Kirkwood, 26, also played every game last year and is a key member of the Casey team.

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Defender Kara Henderson is Casey’s first recruit as she looks to re-establish herself at VFLW level. Henderson, 25, who had been with Hawthorn since it entered the competition. She played just one match last year, in Round 9, for a total of 18.

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Cara McCrossan will return for another season in red and blue. McCrossan, 28, played 15 matches in her debut season last year, averaging 11.2 disposals and earning an AFLW contract with Melbourne.

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Sydney Academy graduate Ella Morris will bring her talents to the VFLW. The midfield hard-nut, who has just turned 20, played for the GWS Academy against Geelong Falcons early last year and is a product of the Pennant Hills footy factory that has produced a number of AFL stars, including Lenny Hayes and the McVeigh and Jack brothers.

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Brooke Borchard and Monica Harasimiuk have recommitted to Casey for 2023. Borchard played 13 of her 17 VFLW games last year and kicked her first three goals. 24-year-old Harasimiuk also played 13 times, for a career tally of 23.

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Caitlin Conroy will be looking for a better run with injury when she returns to Casey Fields this year. Conroy, 28, was restricted to just seven games last year for a total of 17.

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Talented NAB League player India Lehman has joined the Demons. Lehman is a 163cm midfielder/small forward from Queanbeyan, who played 15 NAB League games for Murray Bushrangers and one for GWS, kicking six goals in eight appearances last year.

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Key defender Belinda Woolcock and contested marking specialist Ali Dowler have recommitted to the Demons. Woolcock played 16 of Casey’s 17 matches in her debut VFLW season, locking down on some of the best goalkickers in the competition. Dowler played 12 games in her first year at Casey Fields, having previously done the same in three seasons at Hawthorn.

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Defender Kara Henderson has joined Casey as she looks to re-establish herself at VFLW level. Henderson, 25, who had been with Hawthorn since it entered the competition, played just one match last year.

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Speedy half-back Emma Horne and tackling machine Shree Fairchild will be back in Demons colours in 2023. Horne played 13 games last season, starting her transition onto the ball, and with 30 VFLW matches to her credit already, she will only get better. Gembrook local Fairchild has played 47 VFLW matches, including nine last year. Known as Shaq, she averaged 7.1 tackles per game.

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Eloise O’Connor will return for a second year at Casey Fields after an impressive debut campaign. O’Connor, 27, stepped up from the new Frankston team in the South Eastern league last season and played 16 of the Demons’ 17 matches.

Experienced midfielder Danica Pederson has returned to Williamstown for 2023. Pederson, 28, played seven matches for Collingwood last year. She has also played for the Seagulls, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda Sharks among her 43 VFLW matches. She last played for Williamstown in 2019, when she averaged a career-high 14.3 disposals in 13 matches.

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The dashing Aliesha Newman has followed Pederson back to Williamstown when her Sydney AFLW commitments allow. Newman, 27, has spent the past two VFLW seasons at Collingwood, having crossed from the Seagulls in 2021 after also playing for Casey. She has played 48 AFLW and 23 VFLW games, including nine in the Swans’ debut AFLW season.

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Premiership coach Chloe McMillan will lead the Magpies for a fourth season. McMillan, 28, who has also been accepted into the AFL’s Women’s Coach Acceleration Program which will see her work in development with the AFL squad, coached Collingwood to the 2019 VFLW premiership and an undefeated minor premiership in 2021. Her assistant coaches have also been locked in.

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SOUTHERN league Division 2 best-and-fairest winner Evangelia Nikolitsis has landed a contract with the Magpies, according to Code Sports reporter Paul Amy. Nikolitsis kicked 32 goals in 13 games for Clayton last year.

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COLLINGWOOD has named experienced forward Caitlin Bunker as captain for a third season in 2023. Bunker, 29, has played 37 VFLW games for the Magpies, including six last year where she averaged 18 disposals. She will again be assisted by Katelyn Lee and Sarah King, while Western Bulldogs recruit Riley Christgoergl has also been added to the leadership group.

Darebin legend Daisy Pearce has announced her retirement from football, having led Melbourne to the AFLW premiership last November. The VFL Women's best and fairest award is named the Lambert–Pearce Medal in honour of Helen Lambert and Daisy Pearce. Pearce claimed the inaugural VFL Women's best and fairest award in 2016 after previously winning six Helen Lambert Medals in the VWFL while playing for the Falcons.

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The Falcons have named a new-look leadership group for the 2023 rebel VFLW season. Seven-time premiership player Steph Simpson will return as captain. She will be assisted by Ange Gogos, Alyssa Mifsud, Karly McNeice, and Sally Lynch.

Travis Cloke’s rise through the coaching ranks will face a new challenge after he was named to succeed Brendan Major at the helm of the undefeated premiers and champions Essendon. Cloke, 35, coached the Eastern Ranges’ NAB League Boys and Girls programs last year and takes his first open age role as Major steps aside following the remarkable success of the Bombers’ five-year plan.

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VFLW games record holder and premiership captain Mia-Rae Clifford is embarking on a code switch, training with the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby Women’s team. Clifford will continue to play for the Bombers. She played 16 matches last year for a total of 99 for Essendon, Carlton, Geelong and St Kilda Sharks. She finished second on the competition goal-kicking table behind teammate Federica Frew.

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THE reigning premiers have created club history, naming indigenous co-captains for the first time in Mia-Rae Clifford and Courtney Ugle. Premiership co-skipper Clifford, 36, retains the job after last year’s glorious undefeated campaign, in which she played 16 matches, averaging 11.9 disposals, 4.4 marks and 3.3 tackles while kicking 21 goals. Ugle, who was captain in 2019, played all 17 matches for a total of 55, winning 14.5 disposals and 3.4 tackles, and returns to the top job to replace injured VFLW champion Georgia Nanscawen. Their vice-captains are Maddi Wilson and Bella Clarke.

Geelong veteran Elise Coventry will make the transition from playing to coaching after signing as coach of the Cats’ VFLW team. Coventry, 38, a Cats AFLW development coach, played 14 VFLW games during the 2022 season, for a total of 43.

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The Cats have announced that inaugural AFLW player Anna Teague has joined good friend Elise Coventry in the VFLW coaching panel. Teague will take on the role of defence coach

Steph Binder will return as coach for a second year, to be assisted by Nick Devereaux (midfield), Lachlan Walker (forwards), Meg Lawrence (defenders) and Sarah Wright (development).

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THE Kangaroos have revealed a host of VFLW signings as they aim to climb the ladder in 2023. The re-signings and recruits include Essendon VFLW premiership player Marianna Anthony, former Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne AFLW player Brittany Gibson, Jen Guy, former Carlton AFLW player Reni Hicks, Jess Jones, Elisha King, Madisen Maguire, Jess Mourney, Emily Paterno, Annabel Scott and Brooke Slaney.

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AFTER announcing a host of signings last week, the Kangaroos have revealed the returning Jess Jones will be their captain in 2023, replacing Sydney Swans AFLW recruit Molly Eastman. She will be assisted by two vice-captains, with Brooke Slaney returning for her second season in that job and Brittany Gibson joining her. Teagan Bradley, Mietta McDonald and Emily Paterno complete the leadership group.

Height is invaluable and Beth Wilson will bring hers back to ETU Stadium. The 183cm Wilson played 13 matches last season for a career total of 26, averaging 7.5 disposals.

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October 10 was a huge day for Port Melbourne as it announced the retention of five of its best players. The past two best-and-fairest winners, Kaitlyn O’Keefe and Claire Dyett, captain Mel Kuys, ruck Kate Dudley and forward Emily Harley will all return for 2023. O’Keefe has just turned 21 after a wonderful debut season on the rookie list, playing every match and averaging 14.6 disposals, 3.8 clearances and 7.2 tackles to win her the top award. Star wing Dyett, 25, played nine games either side of injury (15.7 possessions, 3.6 marks) to move to 38. Dudley lined up 13 times (18.5 hitouts) to take her tally to 25. Harley played 10 matches and kicked four goals. Kuys didn’t get on the field due to injury and her 63 games of experience were sorely missed and will be eagerly welcomed back.

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Veteran Western Bulldogs winger Eliza Morrison has dropped the white while retaining red and blue, moving to the Borough for 2023. The former NT Thunder player lined up in 10 games for the Bulldogs during the 2022 season and was a shining light, averaging a career-high 18.1 disposals.

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The Borough has retained developing trio Alice Campbell, Tayissa Gray and Jorja Livingstone for their third season in the VFLW. Eastern Ranges product Livingstone played six matches in her debut season, Murray Bushranger Gray, lined up in four and Hawthorn Amateur Campbel fronted for three.

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Important Port players Kate Adams, Maddi Shaw and Lisa Davie will be back at ETU Stadium. Adams played all 14 matches last year, averaging 9.1 disposals and 4.4 tackles. Shaw lined up 13 times, picking up 10.2 touches and 4.2 tackles. Davie played 11 games, averaging 13.5 possessions, 4.6 marks and 4.6 rebounds.

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The rebel VFLW’s runner-up leading goalkicker will don new stripes in 2023 after crossing from Hawthorn to Port Melbourne. Jessie Williams kicked 21.14 in 15 games for the Hawks and has a total of 31 goals in 29 outings.

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One of Port Melbourne’s most important players will remain in red and blue, with Olivia Barton committing for another season at the club. Barton, 21, played 13 games last year for a total of 24, averaging 17.1 disposals and 5.5 rebounds in defensive 50.

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Rookie-listed youngster Nayely Borg will continue her VFLW development after re-signing for a third season at the Borough. The 20-year-old played 11 games lastyear for a total of 25, averaging career bests in most stat categories, including disposals (10.5).

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The Borough have locked in three young guns for their bid to climb back up the VFLW ladder, with Tilly Mottram arriving from Sandringham Dragons, Keely Byrne returning from WAFLW club West Perth and Maggie McKellar joining from Eastern league club South Croydon. Mottram played five of her 14 NAB League Girls games last year and former Dandenong Stingray Byrne has returned home after 10 WAFL games that yielded 14.8 disposals and 4.2 tackles per game.

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Port Melbourne has farewelled 11 players off its VFLW list, with two of those players – Murray Bushrangers products Sophie Locke and Cassidy Mailer – having been picked up by AFLW clubs. Locke played eight games last year, averaging 16.1 possessions and 5.0 tackles to be picked up by Hawthorn. Mailer was nabbed by North Melbourne after playing three matches, averaging 9.3 disposals and 3.0 tackles. Bridie Winbanks and Akayla Peterson, along with first-year players Jess Joyce, Lauren Atkinson, Mia Briedis, Maddison Gray, Caley Ryan, Georgia Wilson and Keely James have also departed.

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THERE will still be no easy possessions against the Port Melbourne midfield with tackling terrier Courteney Bromage returning to ETU Stadium. Bromage, 23, played 11 matches last year for a total of 52, averaging 11.5 disposals and 8.4 tackles per game.

The Saints haven’t had to look far to find their new VFLW coach, with Michelle Densley stepping up. Densley joined the Saints as an assistant coach last year after coaching Seaford to the 2021 South Eastern league undefeated minor premiership before the season was called off. She replaces Grand Final coach Dale Robinson, who has been promoted onto the St Kilda AFLW coaching staff.

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Foundation Saint Leah Olsen is back at Trevor Barker Oval, this time as an assistant coach. Olsen played 23 VFLW games in defence for the Saints in 2018-19 and will take charge of the backline after coming across from St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy.

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Some fantastic news for the Saints, with stars Ebony Nixon, Georgia McLean, Tayla Kearns, Ali Hynes and Bec Neaves all re-committing. Nixon played 10 matches last year, bringing up her 50^th VFLW game in the process, and averaged 10.2 disposals. Defender McLean also played her 50^th game last season and was vital in shutting down opposition forwards. Kearns kicked 15 goals in her 17 matches, Hynes played all 18 games and picked up an average of 8.1 disposals and 3.6 tackles, while Neaves also played all 18 games to take her career total to 88. She is set to be become one of the first to reach 100 VFLW matches this year.

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THE Saints have announced two impressive new signings with the arrivals of Beth Pinchin and Jemima Wrigley. Pinchin, 26, spent time on the Brisbane Lions AFLW list but is on the comeback trail from an ACL injury suffered on her VFLW debut for the Western Bulldogs in 2021. Wrigley, 22, arrives after being a train-on player for Sydney’s AFLW team and captaining Southern Power in the AFL Sydney women’s competition. She represented NSW-ACT in the 2017 and 2018 national championships.

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FOUR key re-signings for last year’s grand finalists, with Winnie Laing, Mel Bertuna, Tessa Boyd, Nicki Cormack and Ilena Gentile recommitting to the Saints. Laing, 20, played 17 of her 25 VFLW games last year, averaging 15.1 disposals, 3.0 marks and 4.2 tackles. Bertuna, 21, lined up five times for a total of 18, averaging 10.2 touches and 3.8 tackles. Boyd, 25, played five matches in her debut season, grabbing 6.6 possessions. Cormack, 22, picked up 17 of her 38 matches, averaging 11 disposals. Gentile, 28, played all 18 games in her first VFLW season, earning 7.3 touches.

The Bulldogs struggled with an undermanned team last year, but one shining light was veteran winger Eliza Morrison. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Morrison has moved to Port Melbourne for the 2023 season. The former NT Thunder player lined up in 10 games for the Bulldogs in 2022, for an overall tally of 23 VFLW games.

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The task of lifting the Western Bulldogs back up the VFLW ladder has gone to GWV Rebels assistant coach Rhys Cahir. Cahir has a strong background in women’s football, having coached the Rebels’ NAB League Girls team in its own right before the boys and girls programs were merged. Cahir was also an assistant coach of the Victoria Country Under-18s girls at the National Championships.

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The home of the Bulldogs will look very different when it next hosts a match, with the Whitten Oval undergoing a $77 million redevelopment. The old EJ Whitten Stand has been demolished and will be replaced with a state-of-the-art complex and new grandstand, while the oval is also being rebuilt.

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THE Bulldogs have named experienced forward Mary Sandral as captain as they aim to climb back up the ladder in 2023. Sandral, 24, played all 14 matches last year, averaging 8.4 disposals and has a total of 39 VFLW appearances for 19 goals. She will be assisted by Mikayla Barnes and Melanie Freeman. Barnes, 21, lined up 10 times for a total of 16, picking up 10.9 disposals and sticking 6.9 tackles. Freeman, 22, earned 13 games in her debut season, averaging 9.6 disposals.

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FORMER captain Riley Christgoergl has left the Bulldogs for Collingwood, where her leadership skills have been quickly recognised by the Magpies adding her to their leadership group.

The Seagulls quickly re-signed two of their most important players, with best-and-fairest winner Ruby Tripodi and captain Erin Meade committing their futures to Point Gellibrand. Williamstown CYMS local Tripodi played 13 games in 2023 for a total of 38 matches, averaging career-highs in disposals (16.6), clearances (5.5) and tackles (6.0). Defender Meade, 26, had an injury-interrupted year, playing seven games for a career total of 40 and will be looking for better luck in 2023.

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Jasmine Kawa has played two 13-match seasons either side of Covid-19 disrupted seasons and will be keen to keep improving in the gold sash after almost doubling her output from 2019 to 2022. The 23-year-old could become a real clearance beast on this trajectory.

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Sharnie Whiting was a key part of the Seagulls’ spine last year and will be back in 2023. Whiting, 22, arrived on the scene as a full-forward but after spending 2021 at West Adelaide came back as an intercept marking star.

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Williamstown moved quickly to lock away last year’s key recruit, with Lori Stepnell returning alongside talented young Sydneysider Emily Eaves. Stepnell, 27, was lured across from Essendon and played 12 matches for a career tally of 39, while Swans Academy graduate Eaves, 21, came down mid-season from Southern Power and earned five appearances in blue and gold.

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Experienced midfielder Danica Pederson has returned to Williamstown. Pederson, 28, played seven matches for Collingwood last year, having also played for the Seagulls, Carlton, Essendon and St Kilda Sharks among her 43 VFLW matches. She last played for Williamstown in 2019, when she averaged a career-high 14.3 disposals in 13 matches.

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Liam Cavanagh is the new coach of Williamstown’s VFLW team. Cavanagh was the inaugural coach of Coburg in the South Eastern Women’s league, going undefeated last season until losing a thrilling Grand Final to former VFLW club Seaford by just one point.

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Impressive rookie Stella Bridgewater will return to Williamstown Oval. The former GWV Rebel played all 14 games for the Seagulls in her debut season, providing plenty of run and carry on the wing while averaging 8.6 disposals and 3.2 tackles.

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Williamstown has gained a couple of impressive signings for at least part of this year, with former players Aliesha Newman and Bridie Kennedy returning to the club between their AFLW commitments with Sydney. Newman, 27, played four games for Williamstown in 2019 and has spent the past two VFLW seasons at Collingwood, having also played for Casey. She has played 48 AFLW and 23 VFLW games, including nine of the Swans’ debut season games. Kennedy, 23, has recommitted to Williamstown after playing nine VFLW games last season, where she averaged career-best numbers for disposals, marks, inside-50s and clearances. She went on to play all 10 AFLW games for Sydney. 

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Three of Coburg’s Southern League Women’s stars will step up to the VFLW, following Cavanagh to Williamstown. Sophie Damon is back for her second VFLW stint after playing nine games for Richmond in 2018-19. Mia Muscat came through the Calder Cannons and finished second in the Lions’ best-and-fairest. Teagan Brett will be at her third club after previously playing two games for Richmond and six for Carlton.

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Williamstown has landed another player from premiership club Essendon, with Nicole Julian crossing to DSV Stadium. She played 12 games for the Bombers last year for a total of 32, averaging 10.7 disposals, but missed the finals campaign and the flag.

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The Seagulls have lured Phoebe Chisholm into the nest from Western Bulldogs. Chisholm, 21, played just one game for the Bulldogs last year and will be hoping for more opportunities. Another former Western Bulldogs player will join her, with Ellie Huggard also crossing to DSV Stadium. Huggard, 28, played three games last year for a total of 10.

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Seagulls assistant coach Nathan Boyd is on the move, securing the NAB League Girls coaching job at Gippsland Power. He was Williamstown’s VFLW midfield coach last year.

REBEL VFLW PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE See it here