The AFLW 2024 season gets underway on Friday night with a double header.
The Swans will take on Collingwood in the season opener in Sydney before a Daisy Pearce-led West Coast attempt to get the AFLW champion’s coaching career off to the perfect start against Richmond.
Sydney have been boosted by the inclusion of star Ally Morphett for their Round 1 clash with the Pies, after the rising ruck passed her fitness test.
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“She’s one of those players that is so important to use that we were prepared to work really hard in rehab,” coach Scott Gowans said.
“But credit to her, in the last four weeks she’s put in a power of work and her ability to tick every box is something that she’s developed this year on her own.”
In the second clash, the Eagles will unveil two top WA netballers in their squad to face Richmond.
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Former Australian Diamond netballer Verity Simmons will be joined by WA State Netball League rep Georgie Cleaver in making their AFLW debuts on Friday night.
The first centre bounce for Sydney-Collingwood is from 7.15pm AEST before West Coast-Richmond is from 9.15pm AEST.
GAME ONE – SYDNEY V COLLINGWOOD
Who else but Swan Chloe Molloy to get us underway in AFLW season 2024?
The Sydney star managed to lose her opponent inside the opening minutes and nail her set shot from just 15m out.
But moments later Grace Campbell had the equaliser in a hot first term.
The Pies had the ball locked in their front half, but weren’t able to convert.
And despite all the territory, a quick transition from the Swans saw Lucy McEvoy convert.
“Collingwood would be pulling their hair out,” commentator Erin Phillips said.
The Pies put themselves in front to start the second while Sabrina Frederick saved her side another blow when she was left alone on the goal line to deny Sydney.
But the Swans wouldn’t be denied seconds later when Montana Beruldsen pinched the footy and snapped truly.
At the main break, scores were level 18-all – but Sydney had three straight goals and the Pies 2.6.
Collingwood’s Brittany Bonnici had a whopping 10 contested disposals to half time – six clear of the best Swans player.
Tempers boiled over in a physical third term as Sydney started to pull away.
Two spot fires broke out in the space of seconds after back to back big Collingwood hits.
Swan Maddy Collier stayed down after Tarni White got her late, before Muireann Atkinson collided with Sydney’s Chloe Molloy.
“Massive bump on Maddy Collier,” Abbey Holmes said.
“She’s walking from the ground in the hands of the doctors.”
Atkinson came off second best after her head clash with Molloy that Fox Footy’s Daniel Harford felt was accidental.
“I think she’s in a bit of trouble Tarni,” he said.
“The same passage of play.. she just runs into Chloe Molloy. It’s just clumsy more than anything else.
“Nothing malicious in that one I don’t think.”
Source Agencies
