This Sunday, the Brisbane Lions (made up of representatives for the AFL Queensland Female Academy) and the Melbourne Demons (made up of representatives of the AFL Victoria Female Football Academy) will play each other at the MCG.
The Exhibition Match will be a part one of the double header with the Melbourne vs. Brisbane AFL game.
Before you tune into the live coverage on Fox Footy from 10:00am, or the live stream of the game on afl.com.au and the AFL app, get the low down on what to expect.
The focus
The focus for Coach Craig Starcevich is pretty simple this week:
“To be competitive, to measure ourselves against the Victorian squad, and to implement what we’ve been working on all year.”
Brisbane’s game plan
Brisbane has plenty of players that can win the 50/50 ball, so the battle in the midfield will be one to watch. A lot of the Lions’ attacking plans will be centred around winning the ball out of the middle.
When the footy is in hand, it will be about option taking. Changing direction of the footy, carrying it and using the wide expanses of the big ground.
Stopping them
The Melbourne midfield bats very deep. Players like Daisy Pearce, Ellie Blackburn, Elise O’Dea are all stars, so limiting their influence is agenda item 1.
They will need to be put under pressure every time they have the ball, not allowing any clean entries inside 50.
Then Brisbane will try and counter them on the rebound one they take possession.
Who to watch
Sam Virgo: Has been in great form for Yeronga in defence and the midfield. Uses the footy really well, rebounds the footy, but can also play a shut down roll on a small forward.
Kate McCarthy: The quickest player in the team. McCarthy will play on the wing, and the ground will suit her running style with the space out wide. Look for her to take off and break lines at every opportunity.
Delma Gisu: Lighting quick half back flanker, who reads the ball superbly in flight. She will look to take her opponent on at every opportunity. Gisu is the only player in the team who plays outside the QWAFL, coming from Townsville.
Tayla Harris: The x-factor of the game, what can she do next? It was only four days ago that we saw Harris take this screamer in her QWAFL game, so what can she pull out of her bag of tricks this week? Another hanger? A long goal? Who knows!
Match Details
Melbourne vs. Brisbane
Sunday May 22, 10:05am, MCG
Broadcast on the Fox Footy channel
Live stream at www.afl.com/womens or on the AFL app
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
