World Footy News

The AFL today announced VU Whitten Oval will host the final AFL Women’s Exhibition Match on Saturday, September 3 at 7.20pm.

The match will be broadcast live in Australia on the Seven Network and Telstra via the AFL Live App and PLUS7 applications including Telstra TV, Apple TV, mobile and web.

The Hampson-Hardeman Cup will be the first night match ever hosted by the VU Whitten Oval.

The best female players in Australia will represent Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in primetime on the AFL’s bye weekend between Round 23 and the Toyota AFL Finals Series.

 

AFL General Manager Game and Market Development Simon Lethlean said the All-Star format will be a feature of the Celebration of Football weekend.

“This stand-alone women’s match is the culmination of 10 women’s exhibition matches this year. It will showcase the best players on the eve of the inaugural national women’s competition,” Mr Lethlean said.

“I encourage all footy fans to attend the match or watch the coverage to see the women’s exciting brand of football. With this in mind, gates will be open free to all fans to enjoy a night at the football under the lights of VU Whitten Oval.”

Lewis Martin, Seven Melbourne managing director said: “Seven was there for the very first historic women’s AFL match on free-to-air television and we’re proud to be involved again with the very best female footballers in Australia. Already in 2016, we’ve celebrated elite women’s sport with coverage of the Matildas and women’s tennis at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and we’re also looking forward to a whole host of top level women’s sport at the Olympics.”

Western Bulldogs chief executive officer David Stevenson said: “We welcome this exciting opportunity to showcase the final game of the 2016 women’s exhibition series at Victoria University Whitten Oval.

“While we are on the eve of the inaugural national women’s league and with plenty of opportunities ahead, we do see this match as the culmination of four years amplifying women’s football alongside Melbourne and the AFL – and we’d like to celebrate it accordingly on September 3.

“We have invested significantly in the upgrade of our facilities to ensure we have elite infrastructure for our three teams, including newly-installed lights. We look forward to seeing it come to life in the first ever night match at the VU Whitten Oval.

Melbourne chief executive officer Peter Jackson said: "The Melbourne Football Club takes great pride in our history of supporting women and girls who play football. This match feature's the very best players from across the country and is a great showpiece for women’s football in the lead up to the national competition starting in 2017."

The Seven Network will air the match live nationally on Channel 7 (Melbourne/Victoria and Adelaide/South Australia), 7Mate (Perth/Western Australia, Sydney/NSW and Brisbane/Queensland) and via its regional affiliates into Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Telstra via the AFL Live App and Channel 7 via Plus7 and 7Live will also stream the match live.

The match will also be broadcast on radio by Crocmedia and streamed on afl.com.au

The VU Whitten Oval will also host the Youth Girls All-Stars match as a curtain-raiser from which the 2016 All-Australian team will be selected and a feature McDonalds AFL9s match during halftime of the Hampson-Hardeman Cup.

Footy fans of all ages will also have the opportunity for kick-to-kick after the Hampson-Hardeman Cup match.

The Melbourne and Western Bulldogs squads of 37 were also released today:

Melbourne

Ebony Antonio Swan Districts WA

Ellie Blackburn Melbourne University VIC

Kiara Bowers Coastal Titans WA

Madeline Boyd Nth Geelong Magpies VIC

Jess Cameron Diamond Creek VIC

Courtney Cramey Morphettville SA

Penny Cula-Reid St Kilda Sharks VIC

Jessica Dal Pos Darebin Falcons VIC

Kara Donnellan Swan Districts WA

Tiarna Ernst Diamond Creek VIC

Alicia Eva Melbourne University VIC

Lara Filacamo Coastal Titans WA

Angela Foley Waratahs NT

Sabrina Frederick-Traub South Fremantle WA

Kellie Gibson Morphettville SA

Kate Gillespie-Jones Seaford Tigers VIC

Brianna Green East Fremantle WA

Ashleigh Guest VU Western Spurs VIC

Tayla Harris Zillmere Eagles QLD

Melissa Hickey Darebin Falcons VIC

Nicole Hildebrand Melbourne University VIC

Breanna Koenen Queensland Uni QLD

Brooke Lochland Melbourne University VIC

Ebony Marinoff Morphettville SA

Cecilia McIntosh Melbourne University VIC

Hayley Miller Coastal Titans WA

Lauren Morecroft Diamond Creek VIC

Elise O'Dea Darebin Falcons VIC

Karen Paxman Darebin Falcons VIC

Daisy Pearce Darebin Falcons VIC

Lauren Pearce Darebin Falcons VIC

Kira Philips Peel Thunderbirds WA

Chelsea Randall Swan Districts WA

Emma Swanson East Fremantle WA

Tayla Thorn St Marys NT

Bree White VU Western Spurs VIC

Hayley Wildes Cranbourne VIC

 

 

Western Bulldogs

Lauren Arnell Darebin Falcons VIC

Kaitlyn Ashmore Melbourne University VIC

Nicola Barr Sydney University NSW

Emily Bates Yeronga South QLD

Libby Birch Darebin Falcons VIC

Katie Brennan Darebin Falcons VIC

Tayla Bresland Peel Thunderbirds WA

Nicole Callinan Darebin Falcons VIC

Steph Chiocci Diamond Creek VIC

Maddy Collier UNSW/ES NSW

Richelle Cranston Nth Geelong Magpies VIC

Brianna Davey St Kilda Sharks VIC

Kimberley Ebb Seaford Tigers VIC

Amanda Farrugia Macquarie University NSW

Renee Forth Coastal Titans WA

Elyse Gamble Burnie Dockers TAS

Moana Hope St Kilda Sharks VIC

Emma Humphries Burnie Dockers TAS

Meg Hutchins Eastern Devils VIC

Bianca Jakkobson Cranbourne VIC

Leah Kaslar Coolangatta QLD

Emma Kearney Melbourne University VIC

Beth Kearney Eastern Devils VIC

Maddy Keryk Melbourne University VIC

Emma King Coastal Titans WA

Norieul Kinross Darebin Falcons VIC

Melissa Kuys Knox VIC

Jaimee Lambert Eastern Devils VIC

Rebecca Privitelli Eastern Devils VIC

Pepa Randall Eastern Devils VIC

Tahlia Randall Maroochydore QLD

Hannah Scott Eastern Devils VIC

Nicola Stevens Melbourne University VIC

Jessica Trend Eastern Devils VIC

Darcy Vescio Darebin Falcons VIC

Jess Wuetschner East Fremantle WA

Emma Zielke Queensland Uni QLD

 

Note the team squads may change with the addition of AFL club marquee players, injury or illness.

The coaching panels are yet to be confirmed.

Further event details scheduled for the Celebration of Football week to be announced in coming weeks.