Last year’s number 1 draft pick Ash Centra is set to make her highly anticipated AFLW debut on Thursday night when Collingwood face Carlton in the season opener at IKON Park.
The 19-year-old, who missed both pre-season hitouts due to hip awareness, will have her first opportunity to pull on the black and white stripes since hearing her name called at the 2024 AFLW draft.
Alongside Centra is fellow 2024 draftee and father-daughter selection Violet Patterson, who will debut against the same side her father Stephen did over 30 years ago.
It will a special night for Patterson for a multitude of reasons, including the opportunity to debut against her best friend and housemate Poppy Scholz who will make her own AFLW debut for Carlton.
After a strong pre-season, Irish recruit Kellyann Hogan will also play her first official game of Australian football on Thursday night. The Gaelic star was given the news earlier in the week with a surprise visit from her mum and sister, flying from Dublin to watch Hogan.
Thursday night will also give the Magpie Army an opportunity to see long awaited debut of exciting forward Kalinda Howarth.
Howarth, who kicked five goals in her two pre-season games, will play her first game in 712 days after spending her first season at Collingwood on the sidelines while she continued her recovery from an ACL injury sustained while playing for Gold Coast.
Rounding out the debutants is winger and lifelong Collingwood supporter Airlie Runnalls, who joined the Club in the off-season having come across from Fremantle.
Runnalls will provide plenty of experience on the wing in the absence of stalwart Sarah Rowe, who will miss Round 1 while she continues to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in the pre-season practice match against Port Adelaide.
While Thursday night will be a first for the five debutants, it will also be a first for new Captain Ruby Schleicher, who will officially lead the team out for the first time since being appointed last month.
Schleicher, who played in the inaugural AFLW match against Carlton in 2017, will be the third official AFLW captain in the Club’s history to lead the side out.
Schleicher will run out alongside fellow leaders Mikala Cann and Lauren Butler, with the latter set to celebrate her 50th AFLW game.
Butler, a much-loved player who is entering her eighth AFLW season, will start in the backline alongside reigning Best and Fairest runner-up Lucy Cronin, who has overcome shin awareness to feature in the clash.
Collingwood’s clash with Carlton will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network, with first bounce at 7:15pm (AEST).
AFLW Round 1
Carlton v Collingwood
IKON Park, Melbourne – Wurundjeri
7:15pm (AEST)
