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