AFLW AFLW/VFLW 2024 - General Discussion

[Bulldogs85]

Great win from the Girls

Western Bulldogs 5.4.34 defeated Southern Saints 3.6. 24

 

[Bulldogs85]

Bulldogs’ 2024 AFLW fixture revealed

The AFL has confirmed the Club's fixture for the upcoming 2024 AFLW Season.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Back-to-back home games, an inaugural meeting with Essendon and three interstate trips highlight the Western Bulldogs’ 2024 AFLW fixture, as released by the AFL today.

The Bulldogs, led by new coach Tam Hyett, will open their campaign with a trip to Canberra against GWS on Saturday 31 August, before consecutive Mission Whitten Oval matches against Port Adelaide (Friday 6 September) and West Coast (Thursday 12 September).

A mid-week meeting against reigning premier Brisbane in Springfield on Wednesday 18 September will mark the Dogs’ first at the venue as one of two Week 4 games, with Collingwood at Victoria Park on Sunday 22 September.
Games against Sydney at Mission Whitten Oval and North Melbourne at Arden St will follow.

The Dogs will then record another first, coming up against Essendon in an inaugural meeting, for the launch of the league-wide Pride Round on Friday 11 October at the club’s Footscray HQ.

A Thursday night clash against Carlton is set for Round 8, before Indigenous Round encounters with St Kilda (Mars Stadium) and Fremantle (South Fremantle) close out the home-and-away season.

Excitingly, Mission Whitten Oval will also play host to two neutral games as part of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season.
Through the ongoing transformational redevelopment of the Mission Whitten Oval precinct, the venue now boasts first-class training, administration and match-day facilities, making it one of the pre-eminent professional sporting venues in the country.

2024 AFLW fixture – Western Bulldogs​

Round 1 v GWS
Saturday 31 August, 1.05pm AEST
Manuka Oval, Canberra, ACT (Foxtel)

Round 2 v Port Adelaide
Friday 6 September, 5.05pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray (Foxtel)

Round 3 v West Coast
Thursday 12 September, 7.15pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray (Foxtel)

Round 4 v Brisbane*
Wednesday 18 September, 7.15pm AEST
Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield, QLD (Channel 7)

Round 4 v Collingwood*
Sunday 22 September, 3.05pm AEST
Victoria Park, Abbotsford (Channel 7)

Round 5 v Sydney
Friday 27 September, 7.15pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray (Channel 7)

Round 6 v North Melbourne
Saturday 5 October, 1.05pm AEST
Arden St Oval, North Melbourne (Foxtel)

Round 7 v Essendon
Friday 11 October, 7.15pm AEDT
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray (Channel 7)

Round 8 v Carlton
Thursday 17 October, 7.15pm AEDT
IKON Park, Carlton North (Foxtel)

Round 9 v St Kilda
Sunday 27 October, 1.05pm AEDT
Mars Stadium, Ballarat (Channel 7)

Round 10 v Fremantle
TBC date and time
Fremantle Oval, Fremantle, WA

*For the first time, teams will play an 11-game NAB AFLW home-and-away season with an additional game on either a Tuesday or Wednesday. ‘Mid-Week Footy’ will be introduced during a four-week block across weeks four to seven in the draw.

 

[Bulldogs85]

VFLW Team | Round 11

The Bulldogs have made three changes to their Round 11 team ahead of Saturday’s match against Geelong.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs have made three changes to their Round 11 team ahead of Saturday’s VFLW match against Geelong.

Imogen Milford, Ellie Bishop and Chloe Leonard have been recalled, at the expense of Eleanor Cornish, Freya Taylor and Cassidy Mailer.

The VFLW Bulldogs will be looking to extend their five-game winning streak, which sees them currently sitting third on the ladder.
The top six teams will qualify for a four-week finals series, culminating in the VFLW Grand Final on Sunday 21 July.

The first bounce will be at 11am tomorrow morning at Avalon Airport Oval.

The match will be live-streamed via afl.com.au/vflw for those who can’t make it, with game-day updates also available via @BulldogsW on X (Twitter).

VFLW Team | Round 11​

Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 1 June, 11:00am AEST
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee • Bunurong

B: C Leonard (38), T Crook (30)
HB: C Ugle (29), S Asciak (28), C Pickett (59)
C: T Skenderis (34), D Carbone (54), E Bishop (35)
HF: M McLeod (31), I McLeay (73), R Saulitis (56)
F: M Clifford (47), J Tabb (63)
R: K Hardingham (66), S Skinner (62), J Henry (68)
Int: J Livingstone (44), L Ashcroft (42), I Milford (64), M Klingbeil (53), E Ramsay (46)
Emg: F Taylor (48), R Beuzeville (50), E Cornish (55), M Cowan (67), C Mailer (60), J Hutchinson (40)

In: I Milford, E Bishop, C Leonard
Out: E Cornish, F Taylor, C Mailer

 

[weltschmerz]

VFLW Dogs v Cats currently 54-0 our way at three quarter time

 

[Bulldogs85]

Great win by the Girls

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Wow impressive. No AFLW players either.

 

[SPower]

Any forecasts on how we may go in aflw this season?

 

[weltschmerz]

Any forecasts on how we may go in aflw this season?

We have so many unknowns that it’s impossible to say. Lost a few key players, Lamb especially will hurt. I’m expecting bottom 4 but more competitive than last season.

 

[MYOB]

I was just looking at the final 6 format for the VFLW.

Week 1
1v2 QF
3v6 EF
4v5 EF

Week 2
Winner of 1v2 plays Highest place EF winner in a QF (Winner goes to GF)
Loser of 1v2 plays other EF winner

Week 3
Loser of Week 2 QF plays winner of Week 2 EF

Week 4
Winner of Week 2 QF v Winner of Week PF

So the highest place winner of the Week 1 EF ends up in a better position than the loser of Week 1 QF.
In other words, the 5th placed team could get 2 chances of winning a game for a place in a GF, whilst the 1st place team could have to face the 4th team in week 2 in an EF

 

[Bulldogs85]

VFLW Team | Round 12

The Bulldogs have made two changes ahead of Saturday's clash against the Darebin Falcons.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs have made two changes ahead of a Saturday afternoon VFLW clash against Darebin.

Mia Cowan and Jade Hutchinson have been added to the line-up, with Tamsin Crook injured and Caitlin Pickett unavailable.

Dom Carbone and Keeley Hardingham will be keen to keep their run of form going, with the duo sitting in the top five of the VFLW rebel Coaches MVP award.
Courtney Ugle will start at half-back, while Sarah Skinner will start at ruck-rover.

The VFLW Bulldogs will be looking to extend their six-game winning streak when they meet Darebin at Genis Steel Oval from 12.05pm tomorrow afternoon.

Currently sitting a game clear in second, the Bulldogs will need to remain in the top six in order to qualify for finals.

The match will be live-streamed via afl.com.au/vflw for those who can’t make it, with game-day updates also available via @BulldogsW on X (Twitter).

VFLW Team | Round 12​

Darebin v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 8 June, 12.05pm AEST
Genis Steel Oval, Preston • Wurundjeri

B: C Leonard (38), J Livingstone (44)
HB: C Ugle (29), S Asciak (28), J Hutchinson (40)
C: T Skenderis (34), D Carbone (54), E Bishop (35)
HF: M McLeod (31), I McLeay (73), R Saulitis (56)
F: M Clifford (47), J Tabb (63)
R: K Hardingham (66), S Skinner (62), J Henry (68)
Int: M Cowan (67), L Ashcroft (42), I Milford (64), M Klingbeil (53), E Ramsay (46)
Emg: F Taylor (48), R Beuzeville (50), E Cornish (55), M Sandral (39), C Mailer (60), T Hurst (45)

In: M Cowan, J Hutchinson
Out: T Crook, C Pickett

 

[Thunderoad]

VFLW Team | Round 12

The Bulldogs have made two changes ahead of Saturday's clash against the Darebin Falcons.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs have made two changes ahead of a Saturday afternoon VFLW clash against Darebin.

Mia Cowan and Jade Hutchinson have been added to the line-up, with Tamsin Crook injured and Caitlin Pickett unavailable.

Dom Carbone and Keeley Hardingham will be keen to keep their run of form going, with the duo sitting in the top five of the VFLW rebel Coaches MVP award.
Courtney Ugle will start at half-back, while Sarah Skinner will start at ruck-rover.

The VFLW Bulldogs will be looking to extend their six-game winning streak when they meet Darebin at Genis Steel Oval from 12.05pm tomorrow afternoon.

Currently sitting a game clear in second, the Bulldogs will need to remain in the top six in order to qualify for finals.

The match will be live-streamed via afl.com.au/vflw for those who can’t make it, with game-day updates also available via @BulldogsW on X (Twitter).

VFLW Team | Round 12​

Darebin v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 8 June, 12.05pm AEST
Genis Steel Oval, Preston • Wurundjeri

B: C Leonard (38), J Livingstone (44)
HB: C Ugle (29), S Asciak (28), J Hutchinson (40)
C: T Skenderis (34), D Carbone (54), E Bishop (35)
HF: M McLeod (31), I McLeay (73), R Saulitis (56)
F: M Clifford (47), J Tabb (63)
R: K Hardingham (66), S Skinner (62), J Henry (68)
Int: M Cowan (67), L Ashcroft (42), I Milford (64), M Klingbeil (53), E Ramsay (46)
Emg: F Taylor (48), R Beuzeville (50), E Cornish (55), M Sandral (39), C Mailer (60), T Hurst (45)

In: M Cowan, J Hutchinson
Out: T Crook, C Pickett

Kudos to whoever wrote the blurb for using the term 'ruck-rover'.

 

[dogwatch]

Kudos to whoever wrote the blurb for using the term 'ruck-rover'.

Is it retro round?

 

[geoffjennings79]

Kudos to whoever wrote the blurb for using the term 'ruck-rover'.

Is it retro round?

I miss having "Followers" on the team sheet.

Not to mention the rarely used Scanlen's cards position of "Utility". I reckon Bevo loves "Utilities", and I suspect Burkey did to a degree. Certainly more scope for it in AFLW whilst it is still maturing.

 

[MYOB]

1/4 time
Darebin 3.1.19
Dogs 1.0.6

 

[MYOB]

1/2 time
Darebin 3.1.19
Dogs 2.2.14

 

[Bulldogs85]

Not the Girls day

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

I see Paul Groves has joined Essendon’s AFLW program.

 

[Bulldogs85]

VFLW Team | Round 13

The Bulldogs have made five changes for Saturday's meeting with Casey at Mission Whitten Oval.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs have made five changes for their Saturday afternoon VFLW meeting with Casey at Mission Whitten Oval.

Mary Sandral, Ashleigh Snow, Caitlin Pickett, Tallia Pulcino and Tannah Hurst have all been included.

Isadora McLeay and Mia Cowan will miss through injury, while Jade Hutchinson, Chloe Leonard and London Ashcroft also make way.
With two rounds remaining, the Bulldogs will be keen to bounce back this weekend ahead of a four-week finals series beginning on Saturday 29 June.

The top six will qualify for the VFLW finals.

The match will be live-streamed from 3.30pm via afl.com.au/vflw for those who can’t make it, with game-day updates also available via @BulldogsW on X (Twitter).

VFLW Team | Round 13​

Western Bulldogs v Casey
Saturday 15 June, 3.30pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

B: A Snow (57), J Livingstone (44)
HB: C Ugle (29), S Asciak (28), C Pickett (59)
C: T Skenderis (34), D Carbone (54), E Bishop (35)
HF: M McLeod (31), T Pulcino (36), R Saulitis (56)
F: M Clifford (47), J Tabb (63)
R: K Hardingham (66), S Skinner (62), J Henry (68)
Int: T Hurst (45), M Sandral (39), I Milford (64), M Klingbeil (53), E Ramsay (46)
Emg: F Taylor (48), R Beuzeville (50), L Ashcroft (42), J Hutchinson (40), C Leonard (38), J Paten (43)

In: M Sandral, A Snow, C Pickett, T Pulcino, T Hurst
Out: I McLeay (injured), M Cowan (injured), J Hutchinson, C Leonard, L Ashcroft

 

[Bulldogs85]

Great win by the Girls today

 

[Bulldogs85]

AFLW 'evolves' to a national draft ahead of 2025 season

The AFLW competition will move to a fully national draft for the first time.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

THE NAB AFL Women's competition will move to a fully national draft for the first time, transitioning away from the state-based model that has been used in some form in previous years.

As reported by AFL.com.au in April, club bosses had given broad support to the shift to a national draft and the move was signed off by the AFL Commission on Tuesday.

Last year's drafts gave players the option to nominate for either the national pool or choose to be drafted only to clubs in their home state, while the 2022 draft was fully state-based. But a pay increase as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, with increased base pay, the introduction of 12-month contracts and relocation allowances, means the cost of moving interstate is less prohibitive than it may have been in previous years.
Players could theoretically still inform clubs of their preferences in pre-draft interviews. But with 69 per cent of players nominating for the national pool last year, the move to a fully national draft was well supported.

A national pool would theoretically spread talent more evenly, boosting clubs in states like NSW that have previously had a smaller talent pool of local players to choose from.

It will come into effect for this year's Telstra AFLW Draft in December, where players will be recruited for the 2025 season.

"As the league continues to evolve, we're seeing more draftees willing to chase their football dreams by moving interstate," AFL footy boss Laura Kane said.

"An AFLW draftee from this year can earn up to $83,837 in salary and relocation allowances. This transition coincides with an increase of investment in talent pathways, meaning the players coming through the ranks are more prepared for elite-level footy than ever before.

"This will allow our rising stars to be more equally spread across the league, fast tracking the improvement of developing sides and strengthening the competitive balance of the competition.

"I'd like to thank the AFLPA and our clubs for their support of this important next step for the NAB AFLW Competition."

The new CBA signed last year means only a handful of players at each club still hold a full-time job outside of football, with the majority of those players being over 30.
Sixteen players per side sit in the tier four payment band – the base pay into which most draftees will fall – and the salary for that group will rise from $56,077 to $67,337 in 2025, $70,030 in 2026 and $72,373 at the end of the CBA in 2027.

As set out by the CBA, first-year players are also entitled to a relocation allowance if moving interstate (including costs of moving belongings), and a living allowance of up to $16,500 for purchase of household items, rent or other relocation expenses (by approval of the club's player development manager in accordance to AFL guidelines).

AFLW first-year players can also claim six return economy flights and four nights' accommodation at their new location for family, to both assist with their move and allow for help and visits throughout the year.

The 2024 AFL season will start on August 30, in the bye week before the men's finals, and conclude with the Grand Final on November 30.

The trade and draft periods will be held in December.

 

[Bulldogs85]

By the numbers: What digits our AFLW squad will wear in 2024

The Bulldogs’ new AFLW recruits have been handed their guernsey numbers.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs’ 11 new recruits have been handed their red, white and blue guernsey numbers, while two returning Bulldogs have changed digits ahead of the 2024 AFLW season.

Draftees Elaine Grigg (5), Brooke Barwick (12), Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (13) and Cleo Buttifant (20) will start their AFLW careers in numbers 5, 12, 13 and 20 respectively, while Jorja Borg takes on Dom Carruthers’ #14. Carruthers has moved up to #8, while Maggie Gorham has also swapped from #26 to #6.
Jasmyn Smith will wear the number 10, Zimmorlei Farquharson has assumed #21, Analea McKee is now #26 and Lauren Ahrens will occupy the number 27.

Former VFLW Bulldogs Ellie Gavalas and Mua Laloifi will take numbers 25 and 32 respectively.

2024 AFLW Playing Numbers
​

#​	Player​
1	Elizabeth Snell
2	Ellie Blackburn
3	Isabella Grant
4	Isabelle Pritchard
5	Elaine Grigg
6	Maggie Gorham
7	Deanna Berry
8	Dom Carruthers
9	Eleanor Brown
10	Jasmyn Smith
11	Elle Bennetts
12	Brooke Barwick
13	Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner
14	Jorja Borg
15	Sarah Hartwig
16	Naomi Ferres
17	Elisabeth Georgostathis
18	Britney Gutknecht
19	Heidi Woodley
20	Cleo Buttifant
21	Zimmorlei Farquharson
22	Keely Coyne
23	Jess Fitzgerald
24	Aurora Smith
25	Elle Gavalas
26	Analea McKee
27	Lauren Ahrens
32	Mua Laloifi
33	Alice Edmonds
37	Rylie Wilcox
58	Brianna McFarlane

 

[maddog37]

 

[Bulldogs85]

VFLW Team | Round 14

The Bulldogs have made one change for their Saturday afternoon clash against North Melbourne.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

The Western Bulldogs have made one change for their Saturday afternoon VFLW meeting with North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval.

Tamsin Crook returns at the expense of Jorja Livingstone.

The Bulldogs currently sit 2nd on the ladder, while the Kangaroos sit 4th.
A win for the red, white and blue would all but secure a top-two finish ahead of the VFLW finals series - which would see them qualify for the first time since 2019.

The match will be live-streamed from 2pm via afl.com.au/vflw for those who can’t make it, with game-day updates also available via @BulldogsW on X (Twitter).

VFLW Team | Round 14​

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs

Saturday 22 June, 2pm AEST
Arden Street Oval, North Melbourne • Wurundjeri

B: Ashleigh Snow, Tamsin Crook
HB: Courtney Ugle, Steph Asciak, Caitlin Pickett
C: Trinity Skenderis, Dom Carbone, Ellie Bishop
HF: Mali McLeod, Talia Pulcino, Renee Saulitis
F: Mia-Rae Clifford, Jaimi Tabb
FOLL: Keeley Hardingham, Sarah Skinner, Jaime Henry

INT: Tannah Hurst, Mary Sandral, Imogen Milford, Millie Klingbeil, Emily Ramsay

EMG: Freya Taylor, Roxy Beuzeville, London Ashcroft, Jade Hutchinson, Chloe Leonard, Jorja Livingstone

In: Crook
Out: Livingstone

 

[weltschmerz]

Roxy Beuzeville is a hell of a name.

 

[MYOB]

1/2 time

Nth 22
Dogs 26