UP to eight players could make their Carlton debuts in Sunday’s Round 1 clash against the Kangaroos.
With AFLW 3.0 to roll around in three days for the Blues, the first squad for the season has been announced, with some fresh faces to don the navy blue for the first time.
Named in the starting line-up, Kirby Bentley (Fremantle), Amelia Mullane (Collingwood), Madison Prespakis (Calder Cannons) and Jayde Van Dyk (Hawthorn VFLW) are confirmed to be playing their first games for the Club.
Chloe Dalton, Jessica Edwards, Brooke Walker and Emerson Woods could join them, with the quartet named on an extended bench alongside Alison Downie, Natalie Plane and Gab Pound.
#GenW is alive & well at Ikon Park!
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) January 30, 2019
Our #AFLW team took these Auskick kids on a special tour before training tonight pic.twitter.com/RiC2S9oFNG
Excitingly for the Blues, 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.
The final team will be announced tomorrow at 5pm.
CARLTON'S ROUND 1 EXTENDED SQUAD | |||
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 | 14. Brooke Walker | |
27. Emerson Woods |
New: Kirby Bentley, Chloe Dalton*, Jessica Edwards*, Amelia Mullane, Madison Prespakis, Jayde Van Dyk, Brooke Walker*, Emerson Woods*
* denotes the player has been named on an extended interchange bench.