MELBOURNE has announced its 26-player squad for the Women’s All Stars match to be played against the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on Saturday 3 September.
The best female footballers from around Australia will represent the two teams as part of the AFL’s Celebration of Football week in between round 23 and the first week of the finals series.
It will be the final game in the Hampson-Hardeman Cup which was first introduced in 2013.
The game promises to be an exciting preview of the talent which will be on show when the AFL National Women’s League launches next year.
Featured in the squad are captain Daisy Pearce and defender Melissa Hickey, Melbourne’s two marquee players in next year’s competition.
Also included in the side are Tayla Harris, Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Kara Donnellan who have all been named as marquee players in the upcoming women’s league.
The club has also selected Jess Cameron, the goalkicking ace who booted six majors in Melbourne’s 71-point win over the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Exhibition Series in May.
Kiara Bowers and Kirby Bentley, who have appeared for Melbourne in previous matches, have been ruled out due to knee injuries.
Michelle Cowan, Melbourne’s women’s coach through the exhibitions series, will fulfil her final role as coach at this game.
The All Stars game will be televised nationally on the Seven Network on Saturday 3 September at 7.10pm and will also be streamed on AFL.com.au.
The winner of the game will be awarded the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.
Entry to the game will be free.
A youth girls' match will be played as a curtain raiser, while fans can enjoy a kick on the ground after the main game.
Melbourne
Coach: Michelle Cowan
Captain: Daisy Pearce
3 Brianna GREEN East Fremantle WA
4 Karen PAXMAN Darebin Falcons VIC
5 Emma SWANSON East Fremantle WA
6 Kellie GIBSON Morphetteville SA
7 Tayla HARRIS Zillmere Eagles QLD
8 Penny CULA-REID St Kilda VIC
9 Tayla THORN St Mary’s NT
10 Ebony MARINOFF Morphetteville SA
11 Jess CAMERON Diamond Creek VIC
12 Ebony ANTONIO Swan Districts WA
13 Lauren PEARCE Darebin Falcons VIC
14 Alicia EVA Melbourne Uni VIC
15 Kara DONNELLAN Swan Districts WA
16 Sabrina FREDERICK-TRAUB South Fremantle WA
17 Angela FOLEY Waratahs NT
18 Melissa HICKEY Darebin Falcons VIC
19 Hayley MILLER Coastal Titans WA
21 Cecilia MCINTOSH Melbourne Uni VIC
22 Elise O'DEA Darebin Falcons VIC
26 Chelsea RANDALL Swan Districts WA
31 Daisy PEARCE Darebin Falcons VIC
32 Nicole HILDEBRAND Melbourne Uni VIC
33 Bree WHITE VU Western Spurs VIC
Emergencies
1 Sarah HOSKING Seaford VIC
6 Tiarna ERNST Diamond Creek VIC
20 Brooke LOCHLAND Melbourne Uni VIC
Western Bulldogs
Coach: Paul Groves
Captain: Steph Chiocci
1 Darcy VESCIO Darebin Falcons VIC
2 Ellie BLACKBURN Melbourne Uni VIC
3 Katie BRENNAN Darebin Falcons VIC
4 Emma KING Coastal Titans WA
5 Emma KEARNEY Melbourne Uni VIC
6 Nicola BARR Sydney University NSWACT
7 Jaimee LAMBERT Eastern Devils VIC
8 Leah KASLAR Coolangatta QLD
9 Emma HUMPHRIES Burnie Dockers TAS
10 Kaitlyn ASHMORE Melbourne Uni VIC
11 Richelle CRANSTON Geelong VIC
12 Bianca JAKKOBSON Cranbourne VIC
13 Lauren ARNELL Darebin Falcons VIC
14 Maddy KERYK Melbourne Uni VIC
15 Nicola STEVENS Melbourne Uni VIC
16 Maddy COLLIER UNSW/ES NSWACT
17 Steph CHIOCCI Diamond Creek VIC
18 Emily BATES Yeronga South QLD
20 Ellyse GAMBLE Burnie Dockers TAS
22 Hannah SCOTT Eastern Devils VIC
23 Moana HOPE St Kilda Sharks VIC
25 Brianna DAVEY St Kilda Sharks VIC
27 Tahlia RANDALL Wilston Grange QLD
Emergencies
4 Rebecca PRIVITELLI Eastern Devils VIC
28 Jess WUETSCHNER East Fremantle WA
29 Kim EBB Seaford VIC
