Collingwood have come away with a four-point win against West Coast in a come-from-behind victory during their pre-season practice match at Mineral Resources Park.
In an eye-raising magnet shift, new Collingwood leader Lucy Cronin started the match in the middle alongside Airlie Runnalls and reigning Club Best and Fairest winner Brit Bonnici.
Playing on limited minutes, both Bri Davey and Mattea Breed impressed early in their return to action following both midfielders missing the entirety of 2025, with both midfield bulls bringing a physical intensity that the Pies severely missed in last year’s campaign.
Ruck Imogen Barnett laid first strike for the Pies, quickly followed by another major from Eliza James.
Continuing from her impressive match simulation performance against North Melbourne, second-year Pie Violet Patterson continues to show promising sign at half-back flank where she equalled the intercept tally at quarter time with four.
Defender Tarni White also had four intercepts, as too new Pie and former netballer Maisie Nankivell, while White also led the disposal count with nine at the first break.
Swiftly getting the first centre clearance of the second quarter, Cronin sent the ball forward for skipper Ruby Schleicher to successfully compete in a one-on-one before finding former number one pick Ash Centra who found her first of the day.
Nankivell continued to showcase her physicality, as too did her teammates as it quickly became apparent that that’s how AFLW Senior Coach Sam Wright wants his players to play.
After Bonnici went out of the game at half time, former Melbourne father-daughter and off-season recruit Jemma Rigoni was inserted into the midfield, who was quickly able to clear the contest to find Schleicher all alone in the forward 50 to kick her first of the afternoon.
While West Coast held a 14-point lead at three quarter time, Collingwood came out firing in the fourth, kicking three straight goals courtesy of Centra, Breed and Schleicher – who finished the day with two goals from 22 disposals – to steal back the lead in the dying minutes.
Showing maturity beyond their years, the Pies were able to maintain the lead despite multiple forward entry attempts from the Eagles to finish the match out as four-point winners.
WEST COAST: 1.4 4.8 6.10 6.12 (48)
COLLINGWOOD: 2.1 4.1 5.2 8.4 (52)
GOALS:
WEST COAST: Abbygail Bushby, Ella Roberts, Amy Franklin, Jaide Britton, Jovie Skewes-Clinton, Lauren Wakfer
COLLINGWOOD: Ruby Schleicher (2), Ash Centra (2), Eliza James (2), Imogen Barnett, Mattea Breed
