After securing some exciting talent in the 2019 draft, Collingwood’s AFLW side is now finalised for the 2020 season.
So what can we expect from the line up?
This season will also see the long-awaited return of the 2018 Rising Star, Chloe Molloy, who was sidelined in 2019 with a lisfranc injury. The 20-year-old impressed in her football return with the Pies’ VFLW side earlier this year and proved most versatile spending time in both the forward and backlines.
The side will also be bolstered with likes of Brianna Davey. The midfielder has spent the past three seasons at Carlton, two of those as the skipper. Since signing with the Pies back in April, the 24-year-old has been heavily involved with the club and was a member of the VFLW premiership side.
View this post on InstagramThe black + white looks good on you, @briannadavey_ Welcome to the Pies#sidebyside
After an outstanding year, Jaimee Lambert is likely to carry through her impressive efforts. The speedy midfielder’s hard work was recognised having been awarded the club’s AFLW and VFLW best and fairest awards in 2019 while also being named the VFL league’s leading goal kicker.
Collingwood VFLW premiership player, Alana Porter will join the senior list. Coming from an athletics background, the 18-year-old went on to play footy with the Oakleigh Chargers this year. The small defender offers impressive speed and is strong in one-on-one contests.
Machaelia Roberts will make the move to the Holden Centre from the Northern Territory. The small forward has made history as the first female player from Groote Eylandt in East Arnhem Land to be drafted to an AFLW team. An NTFL premiership player and four-time club best and fairest winner, Roberts offers exceptional speed on field and applies great pressure around the ball.
The moment Machaelia Roberts found out she was a Magpie! pic.twitter.com/PFYz8KeQIO
— Collingwood AFLW (@CollingwoodAFLW) October 22, 2019
Also due to arrive in Melbourne next week is cross-code rookie, Aishling Sheridan. The 23-year-old has spent the past two seasons playing Gaelic football with Cavan. The half-forward also had a stint with the NT Thunder in the 2019 VFLW season.
Fresh off her recall to the national netball side, the Australian Diamonds, Ash Brazill will again juggle two pre-seasons as she gets to work with Collingwood’s Super Netball team alongside her AFLW commitments.
Guiding the Pies this season is Steve Symonds who will take the reins as senior coach. Symonds made the move from Norwood Football Club, South Australia where he has spent the last three years after establishing its inaugural women’s program. Since arriving in Melbourne, Symonds has spent time getting to know the players and staff and was also heavily involved throughout the club’s VFLW season.
The Pies will be keen to start afresh in 2020 after managing a single victory over Brisbane last season that saw them finish in fifth position on the Conference B ladder.
The team will hit the track for pre-season on Monday 25th November with round one kicking off on February 9th against the West Coast Eagles.
See every AFLW team’s list for 2020 here.