CARLTON will blood six new debutants in Sunday’s opening round clash against the Kangaroos, after the announcement of the final team.
Chloe Dalton and Jess Edwards will join Kirby Bentley, Amelia Mullane, Madison Prespakis and Jayde Van Dyk as those who will be wearing the navy blue for the first time.
Dalton becomes the first Olympic gold medallist to play in the AFLW, and just the second player to feature in a senior football game.
She was part of Australia’s triumphant rugby sevens team in Rio in 2016, before she crossed to Carlton’s VFLW side last year where she won the Blue Bloods values award.
Fitzroy’s Laurie Morgan (1937-1939) was the first - and currently only - player to do so, after two gold medals in the equestrian in 1960.
Dalton and Edwards join Alison Downie, Natalie Plane and Gab Pound on the final bench. Brooke Walker and Emerson Woods have been named as emergencies.
Last night, it was confirmed that captain Brianna Davey will return to the line-up after almost a year on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
After four goals in the practice match against Geelong, Davey — who has been named at full-forward — will join Tayla Harris and Darcy Vescio in a potent front-line.
Reigning best-and-fairest winners Katie Loynes and Breann Moody will assume their customary roles at the coalface, in what will be Carlton’s first home-and-away game under new coach Daniel Harford.
Sunday’s match against the Kangaroos begins at 1:05pm from North Hobart Oval. It will be the inaugural AFLW game in the Apple Isle.
CARLTON'S ROUND 1 FINAL TEAM | |||
Backs: | 21. Nicola Stevens | 12. Lauren Brazzale | |
Half-backs: | 9. Kerryn Harrington | 13. Kirby Bentley | 36. Jayde Van Dyk |
Centreline: | 11. Jess Hosking | 2. Katie Loynes | 10. Sarah Hosking |
Half-forwards: | 4. Madison Prespakis | 7. Tayla Harris | 3. Darcy Vescio |
Forwards: | 18. Tilly Lucas-Rodd | 1. Brianna Davey | |
Followers: | 16. Breann Moody | 26. Shae Audley | 8. Amelia Mullane |
Interchange from: | 15. Chloe Dalton | 30. Alison Downie | 25. Jessica Edwards |
32. Natalie Plane | 6. Gab Pound |
New: Kirby Bentley, Chloe Dalton, Jessica Edwards, Amelia Mullane, Madison Prespakis, Jayde Van Dyk
Emergencies: Brooke Walker, Emerson Woods
* denotes the player has been named on an extended interchange bench.