Collingwood has named three debutants for Thursday night’s season opener against Carlton at Ikon Park.

The club’s first ever father-daughter pick, Tarni Brown will make her debut in the midfield wearing the number 26 made famous by her Dad, Gavin Brown.

She’ll become the fourth member of her family to put on the stripes as she joins her brothers Callum and Tyler who currently play for the club’s AFL side.

Amelia Velardo and Bella Smith will play their first AFLW game in the forward line alongside club debutant, Aliesha Newman. 

Velardo was picked by the club at pick 25 with only three games of footy under her belt. The 18-year-old made the switch to football from basketball last year where she spent time with the Western Jets. 

Velardo keen to make her mark

Reigning from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, Smith was picked up as a free agent in October’s draft from SANFL side Norwood. In the Pies most recent practice match she showed some exciting signs up forward while also spending time in the ruck.

Newman will not only don the black and white for the first time on Thursday night, she'll run out as the club's first Indigenous AFLW player. Having played 25 games for Melbourne across four seasons, she's gained a reputation as one of the league's best small forwards.     

Draftees Joanna Lin and Abbi Moloney have been named as emergencies for the match.

Not only will the game mark the first occasion Brianna Davey will meet her former teammates, it will also be the first time she’ll lead the Pies as co-captain alongside Steph Chiocci. Sharni Norder (nee Layton) will also run out as the side's vice-captain.

Thursday’s game will be shown on Channel Seven and Fox Footy from 7.00pm ADST.

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AFLW ROUND 1
Carlton v Collingwood
Where: Ikon Park - Royal Parade, Carlton North
When: Thursday 28 January
Gates open: 5:45pm*
First bounce: 7.15pm

Backs: Livingstone, Butler, Schleicher, Allen, Porter 
Midfield: Chiocci, Fowler, Lambert, Bonnici, Davey, Layton
Forward: Molloy, Velardo, Newman, Sheridan, Smith
Interchange: Casey, O'Dea, Brown, Cann, Alexander. 

DEBUTANTS: A.Velardo, B.Smith, T. Brown, A.Newman (club debut)
EMERGENCIES: J.Lin, A.Moloney