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The Western Bulldogs have escaped with a one-point win in a low-scoring an inaccurate match against the Adelaide Crows.
Final score
Adelaide Crows 1.11.17
Western Bulldogs 2.6.18
Round 1 continues on Saturday evening with the Adelaide Crows hosting reigning premiers’ the Western Bulldogs, at Norwood Oval. Join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 8:40pm AEDT.
The third season of AFLW kicks off this weekend and following the opening clash between Geelong and Collingwood all eyes will turn to Adelaide, where the 2017 premiers and the 2018 premiers will face off.
2019 is going to be a big year for women’s footy with two new clubs joining the competition, but the historic Crows and the Bulldogs – the two most successful teams – are expected to continue to thrive this year.
There are personnel changes galore for these two sides, with Adelaide set to blood seven club debutants, while the Bulldogs have replaced some star power and are missing a few with injury.
In the captain’s predictions Ellie Blackburn is tipped for a big year, while Erin Phillips is tipped to be the leading goal scorer.
Adelaide have seven new players debuting for the club this weekend.
Multi-sport athletes Jessica Foley (basketball) and Maisie Nakivell (netball) will play their first games in the Crows’ colours; Foley is named to start in the ruck at the first bounce, with the Rhiannon Metcalfe (ACL) and Jasmyn Hewett (ankle) ruled out.
Irish recruit Ailish Considine has been named on the interchange, along with Chloe Scheer, while Hannah Martin has been named for her first AFLW match at half-forward.
Sophie Li (Carlton) and Renee Forth (GWS) will also make their club debuts, after signing in the off-season.
The Western Bulldogs have three new players in their squad for this weekend.
Eleanor Brown, the Bulldogs’ first-round selection in 2018, will start on the interchange with off-season rookie signing, Celine Moody.
Delisted from Fremantle at the end of last season, Belinda Smith was snapped up and signed as a free agent by the Western Bulldogs within a week.
After a strong preseason Smith has been rewarded with a start in the centre for the blue, red and white.
The Crows and Bulldogs have met twice in previous seasons, with Adelaide winning on both occasions.
Prediction
The Bulldogs have lost some star-power from their premiership team, but their core is still there and will be confidently led by talented co-captains Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn.
The Crows’ duo Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall will again co-captain their club, and while there are some new faces, the team will continue to gel and perform together as the season gets underway.
Adelaide are on the hunt for more silverware and will open their season with a victory over the Bulldogs.
Adelaide by 11 points.
Join The Roar for all the action with a blog of the match from 8:40pm AEDT.
Venue: Norwood Oval
Time: 8:40pm AEDT
TV: Seven Network, Fox Sports
Betting: Adelaide $1.73, Western Bulldogs $2.12
Adelaide Crows
B: Renee Forth, Sarah Allan, Courtney Cramey
HB: Angela Foley, Chelsea Randall, Stevie-Lee Thompson
C: Ebony Marinoff
HF: Deni Varnhagen, Anne Hatchard, Chloe Scheer
F: Eloise Jones, Marijana Rajcic, Justine Mules
FOL: Justine Foley, E Phillips, D Cox
I/C: Maisie Nankivell, Hannah Martin, Jenna McCormick, Ailish Considine, Sophie Li
Western Bulldogs
B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Bailey Hunt
HB: Nicole Callinan, Tiarna Ernst, Hannah Scott
C: Belinda Smith
HF: Naomi Ferres, Katie Brennan, Monique Conti
F: Kirsten McLeod, Emma Mackie, Aisling Utri
FOL: Kimberley Rennie, Kirsty Lamb, Ellie Blackburn
I/C: Bonnie Toogood, Celine Moody, Eleanor Brown, Angelica Gogos, Deanna Berry
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