AFL Women’s players are used to being flag-bearers and trailblazers for their gender, but on Saturday night they take on another cause.
State of Origin footy.
The state against state, mate against mate format has lied dormant this century but the stars of AFLW will pick it up at Etihad Stadium.
And they couldn’t be more thrilled.
“It’s a huge honour. It’s something footy people speak of and miss on the calendar,” Victorian captain Daisy Pearce said on Thursday.
“To get that opportunity will be great.”
According to Chelsea Randall, skipper of the conglomerate team the Allies, it’s also likely to be the best game of women’s footy ever played.
“I think that’s what you’ll see on the weekend … it’s the best against the best,” she said.
The Victorians will be coached by Melbourne football operations boss Debbie Lee, while super-coach Bec Goddard takes control of the Allies.
Goddard led Adelaide to the maiden AFLW title in March before managing the underdog under-18 Allies to an unbeaten carnival in June.
As with other State of Origin contests, loyalties have shifted.
All eight AFLW clubs have talent lining up on either side of the divide.
Goddard said her club forward Sarah Perkins was being ribbed by Crows teammates after declaring for Victoria, but there’s unlikely to be animosity.
Pearce said player movements among different sides and formats meant players were more focused on enjoying the spectacle rather than settling scores.
“We play against each other in AFLW and back with each other in VFL,” she said.
“Chelsea and I played for Melbourne in the exhibition format and now we’ve got Allies-Vics.
“There’s so many different little byplays and dynamics but what an opportunity. All the banter is light-hearted and coming from a nice place.”
Star players Darcy Vescio (knee) and Erin Phillips (basketball) will be unavailable.
Despite the long break between the summer AFLW season and this match, players will enter the match fully fit after state-level seasons.
The match has been scheduled in between the AFL home-and-away season and finals to give the AFLW another profile boost.
It will be broadcast by Channel Seven and as with the regular AFLW season, admission is free.
Cat
Roar Guru
Congratulations on making up Alt Facts to support your code warring agenda.
BigAl
Guest
Josh ! - word on the street is that you are Fuss's love child ! In all fairness the Roar offers you, here and now, first right of denial !
Josh
Guest
Matildas have sold 22,000 tickets for the match against Brazil in 3 weeks. Thank you AFL for inventing women's sport !
Joe Peters
Guest
Love Women's AFLW but tonight's one sided, so called state of origin, was embarrassing to watch. Allied or All-stars (in men's) has no meaning. True state of origin was the ultimate between WA, SA, VIC
Matto
Guest
Good point. I hope this concept is as successful as the first AFLW season.
Casper
Guest
Agree, but the women's is also different to the men's senior AFL. Maybe in 20 years the WA and SA women won't want to be part of an Allies team.
Matto
Guest
Yes, absolutely. The U18s is a different story all together. As the allies players are from states that are better off grouping together. But in the seniors they group states like SA and WA together. Both have storied state of origin history.
Casper
Guest
The Allies beat Vic Metro at the recent U18 carnival. If you saw that match you would know that the kids were just as passionate about getting the victory, as they would have been playing for their state.
Matto
Guest
This. Just like the last attemps at state of origin is pointless. State of origin would be state vs state. Only the big wigs at VFL house could think anyone could be as passionate playing for "allies/against the vics" as what someone would be playing in their own states guernsey.
I ate pies
Guest
AFLW origin isn't another huge moment for women's sport. It's another cynical construct by the AFL designed to garner support by piggy backing of another footy tradition. It's a slap in the face for all of the people who have tried to resurrect state of origin only to be told that it's not important anymore. I certainly won't be watching it.
Gyfox
Guest
This game also shows that football talent is evenly distributed all around Australia when it comes to the women.