Collingwood opens the 2023 NAB AFLW Season with a bang on Friday night when they take on reigning premiers Melbourne at Ikon Park.
The two sides will meet for the first time in over two years.
With the Pies playing in four consecutive finals series under Head Coach Steve Symonds, including a semi-final exit last year, hopes are high that 2023 will see the Pies bring home an inaugural AFLW premiership.
Both fresh and returning faces will take the field on Friday for the Club in what is tipped to be a blockbuster to kick off the season with two of the competition’s strongest sides facing off.
The game will be broadcast live on Seven, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports from 7pm AEDT.
Last time we met
Collingwood 49 d Melbourne 14 (Round 5, 2021)
All the way back in February 2021, the Pies made in five wins in a row to kick off their year with an emphatic 35-point win over Melbourne. New Sydney captain Chloe Molloy was the star of that game for the Pies with three goals, while Brianna Davey kicked two of her own and was one of the best players on the ground in a game that helped her secure the 2021 AFLW Best and Fairest.
Who’s back?
The skipper is back, and so is one of her sidekicks, with both Brianna Davey and Brit Bonnici set to make their returns from long-term knee injuries. Davey was at the peak of her powers when she went down in January last year, with the back-to-back nature of the 2022 seasons meaning she missed out on both. Vice-captain Bonnici went down only a few weeks later, with the pair sharing their rehab journey throughout season seven and in the early stages of 2023. Having recently returned to training with the full group, both are fit and firing ahead of a massive 2023.
Any Debutants?
Mature-age recruit Eleri Morris will make her debut under the Friday night lights of Ikon Park having only been picked up in April’s Supplementary Draft. Morris’ story is unlike most, having spent the past five years on a contract with the Australian Navy as a Marine Engineering Officer, before making the move from Wollongong to Melbourne to pursue her AFLW dream. A key forward who has a knack of finding the goals, Morris will provide a spark in the Pies’ forward half this season.
Missy Higgins is playing?
Not in the game, but in the pre-match she is! The nine-time ARIA Award winner will play at Ikon Park as the pre-match entertainment for the season opener, performing an array of her best hits. Higgins was due to play at the 2018 AFLW Grand Final, however her performance had to be cancelled due to bad weather, meaning she is set to make the most of her time this year.
How can I get to the game and where do I find tickets?
Patrons attending Ikon Park for the NAB AFLW Round 1 Match Melbourne v Collingwood are encouraged to use public transport.
There will be limited public parking available at the ground and limited off-street parking in Royal Parade due to watermain replacement works.
Public Transport Victoria will be proving additional tram services on Royal Parade and Lygon St.
Tram
No. 19 Tram (City-North Coburg) runs from the city to Royal Parade Walker St / Stop 16, then 3 minutes walk to Ikon Park.
Train
Take the Upfield Line to Royal Park Station, then 13 minutes walk to Ikon Park.
Bus
Route 123 Bus to Walker St / Stop 16, then 3 minutes walk from Ikon Park.
Tickets can be found here for Friday night’s clash between Collingwood and Melbourne
NAB AFLW Round One
Melbourne v Collingwood
Friday 1 September, 7:20pm
Ikon Park, Wurundjeri
