World Footy News

This weekend’s historic clash between women’s teams representing the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs, the AFL’s first ever official women’s match, kicks off on Saturday at 5:10 pm at the MCG stadium.

As well as the honour of being the winner of the first ever Women’s AFL game, the two teams will play for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup, named in honour of Barb Hampson who played for Ballarat, and Lisa Hardeman, a past VWFL President, state coach and player.

Both of these women were female football pioneers who opened up the doors for today’s generation of women and girls to play the game through the development of the first ever Women’s National Championships, played in 1998.

Meanwhile, back in 2013, the elite players that they inspired are ready to take to the oval at the equally inspiring MCG.

Daisy Pearce will lead out the Melbourne Demons team. She was the women’s draft no. 1 selection and also the captained the Victorian state team to victory last week’s Women’s National Championships in Cairns.

Pearce plays in the midfield and is the current captain of VWFL’s Darebin Falcons. She has been selected to play for Victoria three times and has also been selected for the Women’s All-Australian team five times.

Though the positions of the 18 players and interchanges who will take to the field have not yet been announced, Melbourne FC created a player profile for every player, including favourite position and other stats, on their website: http://bit.ly/11Qz9Ff

Daisy’s Darebin Falcons teammate and fellow Victorian state team representative Aasta O’Connor will captain the Western Bulldogs team. O’Connor was drafted at no. 4. She plays in the ruck for the Falcons and has been selected to represent Victoria twice. She has been picked for the All-Australian team four times.

The Bulldogs have also created a player profile page for their players which can be found here: http://bit.ly/15KaJOH

Though it is not expected that the game will be televised (this is an online petition to get it on TV) there will be a replay which is available to watch around the world from the 30th of June on YouTube: http://bit.ly/10NYaEQ