Box Hill has named a strong squad ahead of its Round 1 blockbuster clash with Essendon, taking place at The Hangar on Sunday at 11am.
Cherie O'Neill's team is headlined by nine debutants, with Bella Gray, Caitlin Thorne, Macie Gilmour, Maddie Boyd, Grace Matser, Annie Muir, Akayla Peterson, Charlotte Hammans and Amanda Tessari suiting up in the brown and gold for the first time.
In addition, three Hawthorn AFLW players will make their Box Hill debut, with Emily Everist, Sophie Locke and Aine McDonagh featuring in the squad.
Fellow AFLW star Catherine Brown will play for the Hawks VFLW team for the first time since 2021 while Emerson Woods suits up for the first time since 2018.
Rounding out the talented team are returning stars Nadia von Bertouch, Ellie McLinden, Grace McRae, Nicole Garner, Mietta Kendall, Jordan Mifsud and Jess Trend.
Check out the full team below.
ROUND 1 TEAM
Essendon v Box Hill Hawks
Sunday 26 March
11am AEDT, The Hangar
B: 58. N. von Bertouch, 62. B. Gray
HB: 57. E. McLinden, 78. C. Thorne, 42. C. Brown
C: 25. E. Everist, 55. G. McRae, 64. N. Garner
HF: 21. S. Locke, 66. M. Kendall, 13. A. McDonagh
F: 73. M. Gilmour, 77. M. Boyd
R: 60. G. Matser, 54. J. Mifsud, 59. A. Muir
INT: 63. J. Trend, 91. A. Peterson, 75. C. Hammans, 52. E. Woods, 80. A. Tessari
EMG: 86. M Van Berkel, 81. M. Trusler, 93. D. Ryan
AFLW-listed: Catherine Brown, Emily Everist, Sophie Locke, Aine McDonagh
Re-signed VFLW-listed players: Nadia von Bertouch, Ellie McLinden, Grace McRae, Nicole Garner, Mietta Kendall, Jordan Mifsud, Jess Trend
New VFLW-listed players: Bella Gray, Caitlin Thorne, Macie Gilmour, Maddie Boyd, Grace Matser, Annie Muir, Akayla Peterson, Charlotte Hammans, Amanda Tessari, Matilda Van Berkel, Drew Ryan
Returning VFLW-listed players: Emerson Woods, Monique Trusler
