On the Pioneer Party…
“It’s very exciting. Mission Whitten Oval puts on a great spectacle, so Saturday night will be really good.
“With two inaugural clubs which really pioneered the women’s game from 2013 – the first exhibition game – it’s really exciting to be part of that this Saturday night.”
On 2024 v 2025…
“We had a lot of new last year, so it was a really big discovery year.
“This year we’re looking to consolidate (what we learnt)…there are some core metrics that we want to improve on, and we think we’ve done some good work towards that this pre-season.
“I think we’ll be ultra-competitive.”
On De Berry’s involvement while injured…
“She’ll be ready around Round 4-5 with her hamstring, but she’s got a real wealth of knowledge in the football area.
“She’ll sit in the (coaches’) box with us for the first couple of weeks until she comes back. She’ll assist with the midfield stuff.
“She’ll be handy in our coaches’ box.”
On what’s changed 10 seasons in…
“(The biggest gain has) probably been seen in the skill level, but also the fitness.
“I think initially it was almost a community game, but now seeing the girls spend more time at the club, they’re on 12-month contracts now – seeing the appetite from them to get better in the off-season as well has grown.
“I can only speak from the (point of view) of our players, but the self-investment that they’ve put in to be better in the off-season allows us to add layers (to our game) which we’re seeing…which has enhanced the growth of the game.
On the latest crop of draftees…
“What we’re seeing now is the girls who were drafted last year, have grown up playing football.
“The natural evolution is that the depth is going to improve in our game. The skill level is natural to them, so teaching them the fundamentals and that – they’ve grown up with a footy in hand.
“I know that our girls will be probably exposed to a fair few games which will only add value to our team.”
On Ellie Blackburn…
“She had a really significant foot injury which she needed to have two surgeries on it.
“She’s been amazing though – just really attacked and diligent with her rehab. It’s pretty nice to be able to welcome a player of her experience but also her football acquisitions back into the team this Saturday night.”
Celebrate 10 seasons of AFLW and the trailblazers who made it all possible at our Pioneer Party this Saturday night!
For just $15, enjoy a pre-game show from Tigerlily & Nat Sax before the bounce ahead of an exciting Hampson-Hardeman Cup clash between the Dogs and Dees. See you there!
