Box Hill has announced its VFLW squad of 27 to take on Geelong at Simonds Stadium in this Saturday’s Round 1 clash.
As the side prepares to make history by being the first , Box Hill Hawks General Manager Daniel Napoli says excitement around the group has reached a crescendo.
“The girls began pre-season in November, so it has been a long wait for them but their time has finally arrived,” Napoli said.
“Senior Coach Patrick Hill has put in a mountain of work to prepare the girls for the season and I think the girls are really encouraged by what they have learnt since arriving at the club.”
Headlining the squad announcement is inaugural Women’s captain, Melissa Kuys, who has been named on the half-back flank.
Having played six games for Collingwood in the AFLW earlier this year, Kuys said that she is looking forward to being able to instil the values and lessons she took from her time at the Magpies into the Box Hill culture.
“Coming out of that experience with Collingwood, I have a completely different way of looking at football, both in my game and also the spectrum of what the game could be in a few years,” Kuys said.
“Behaviours is one thing I really learnt about, I realised that it is all good and well if you’ve got skill but there’s so much more about being in the right headspace.”
Box Hill Women’s list of 40 girls has been compiled from ten different local clubs, and boasts elite athletes from other sports such as SEABL basketballer Chantella Perera, Australian cyclist Emma Mackie, Australian Indoor hockey player Sarah Goode and former Melbourne Kestrels netballer Tamara Luke.
The side will be looking to get their season off to a strong start when they face Geelong on Saturday 2pm at Simonds Stadium.
Read: The full 40-woman VFLW squad revealed
ROUND 1 TEAM
Box Hill vs Geelong
Simonds Stadium
Saturday 6 May, 2.00pm
B: Tamara Luke, Sarah Yule, Chantella Perera
HB: Melissa Kuys, Marinella Salafia, Elizabeth Wardlaw
C: Cassandra Papadopoulos, Joelle Metres, Sarah Goode
HF: Emily McIlvena, Clare O’Donnell, Ebony Nixon
F: Shaylee Taylor, Jaime Head, Chelsea Dyer
R: Abbey Tanner, Emma Mackie, Jayde Van Dyk
INT: Grace Dillon, Brielle Koludrovic, Charlotte Mahoney, Jasmin Harrison, Adriana Piva, Olivia Flanagan, Emily Gilder, Rosie Dillon, Sera Catania
The squad will be trimmed to the 22-woman team at 1pm on Saturday.
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