Airport Toyota Women's Premier Division continues to get stronger with some top-end recruits entering the competition and the depth of the talent pool increasing.
Essendon Doutta Stars earnt promotion and re-join the top flight taking Strathmore's place.
All the action kicks off tomorrow!
ROUND 1 MATCHES
Westmeadows v Moonee Valley at Willowbrook Reserve - 1:50pm
Keilor v Hillside at Joe Brown Oval - 1:50pm
Maribyrnong Park v Essendon Doutta Stars at Walsh Oval - 1:50pm
Oak Park v Aberfeldie at JP Fawkner Reserve - 1:50pm
2023: 1st, runners-up, (13W, 1L, 389.70%)
Coach: Rob Green
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Emily Heaney (Yarraville Seddon Eagles), Lyra Veniegas (Flemington Juniors), Jacqueline Smith (Burnside Heights), India Barker (Maribyrnong Park), Lily Bateman (Maribyrnong Park), Natasha Symons (Spotswood), Amy Trindade (Strathmore), Ashleigh Gunn (Darebin), Breanna Keath (VU Western Spurs), Amelia Wright (Westmeadows), Danielle Angley (Blackwood), Nicole Julian (Strathmore), Danielle Marshall (Essendon), Ruby Mahony (Swan Districts), Laura Blue (Coorparoo), Amelie Taylor-Sands (Yarraville Seddon Eagles) & Emily Smith (North Sunshine).
Out: Ruby Cashmore (Yarraville Seddon Eagles), Elisha Wain (Tullamarine), Annie Evans (Airport West) & Maddy Kelly (Mernda).
EDFL Media Says: It was a dominant 2023 season for Aberfeldie who lost just two games – the final home and away game by a point and the grand final. Despite not jumping the final hurdle, they still established themselves as the best side for most of the season and 2024 should be no different. They've welcomed some handy inclusions but how much they'll play remains to be seen. Regardless, they'll be in a position to go again for the ultimate prize.
Round 1 Fixture: Oak Park (A)
2023: 3rd, Division One premiers, (10W, 3L, 263.52%)
Coach: Marie Napoli
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Lucy Adams (Redan), Amelia Marino (Strathmore), Rita Iocco (Pascoe Vale), Isabelle Porter (Hawthorn), Rebecca Fitton (Surfers Paradise), Elise Korteman (Surfers Paradise), Katherine Jansen (Pascoe Vale), Kirstie Martin (Pascoe Vale) & Yasmin Welsford (Strathmore).
Out: Dakota Salva (Southport), Ella Nickolaus (Anglesea), Steph Pontonio (East Sunbury) & Tayla McKeown (Burnside Heights).
EDFL Media Says: They were the form team heading into the Division One grand final day and Essendon Doutta Stars enjoyed a strong win to earn their spot in the top flight. They'll enter the 2024 season with two sides to assist with their depth in the step up. It won't take long until they test themselves against the reigning premiers in Oak Park when they host the Kangaroos and unfurl their Division One flag at Nipper Jordan Oval in Round 2.
Round 1 Fixture: Maribyrnong Park (A)
2023: 6th (4W, 9L, 50.08%)
Coach: Blaise Ferraro
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Emma Picone (Keilor), Beejay Johnson (Keilor), Chanel Caruso (Greenvale), Emily Haber (Keilor), Jasmine Kincaid (Caroline Springs), Melissa Higgins (Wyndhamvale), Ashlee Thorneycroft (Strathmore), Georgina Rebuffo (Keilor) Amy Hrvatin (Keilor), Patricia Popplewell (Wyndhamvale), Eloise Ettridge (Wyndhamvale), Isabelle Young (Keilor) & Brooke Kerrigan (Keilor).
Out: Alesha Ibrahim (Coburg), Angelina Petaia (Williamstown CYMS), Kiera Leare (Keilor) & Naomi Best (North Brunswick).
EDFL Media Says: It's been a lean couple of seasons after a strong showing in the shortened 2021 season for the Sharks, but under new coach Blaise Ferraro and with a swathe of new recruits, they'll be optimistic they can push their way back up the ladder. They'll have local rivals Keilor first up with recruits from either side facing their old side.
Round 1 Fixture: Keilor (A)
2023: 4th (7W, 7L, 116.09%)
Coach: Brooke Surgeon
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Eloise Ashley-Cooper (Essendon), Simone Craige (Coburg), Ruby Taranto (Coburg) & Kiera Leare (Hillside).
Out: Katarina Rebuffo (Braybrook), Emma Picone (Hillside), Beejay Johnson (Hillside), Tegan Matthews (Maribyrnong Park), Emily Haber (Hillside), Taya Meiers (Caroline Springs), Leah Spargo (Oak Park), Georgina Rebuffo (Hillside), Amy Hrvatin (Hillside), Alexandra Curseri (Roxburgh Park), Sophie Pettman (Greenvale), Isabelle Young (Hillside), Brooke Kerrigan (Hillside), Mia Bondar (Taylors Lakes), Stephanie Aleksovski (Airport West), Bianca Michetti (Morningside) & Stella Lay (Moonee Valley).
EDFL Media Says: Keilor just managed to scrape into the finals but were knocked out in the first week after a string of dominant seasons. Players have moved in and but a lot more have moved out, so we'll have to wait and see if the Blues can push their way back up the ladder.
Round 1 Fixture: Hillside (H)
2023: 5th (5W, 8L, 101.73%)
Coach: Milly Beardmore
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Tegan Matthew (Keilor), Madeline Convery (West Brunswick), Taylah Egan (Taylors Lakes), Zoe Denahy (Lake Wendouree) & Shanae Paterson (Melbourne University).
Out: India Barker (Aberfeldie), Lily Bateman (Aberfeldie), Belinda Czosnek (Coburg Districts) & Alexandra Kilty (Keilor Park).
EDFL Media Says: Maribyrnong Park were just on the outside looking in to the finals series in 2023 and have added a few pieces to try and lift them up a few spots. Amelia Beardmore steps into the head coaching seat of the Premier Division side after coaching their second side last year and will be keen to see the Lions roar in 2024.
Round 1 Fixture: Essendon Doutta Stars (H)
2023: 3rd (9W, 5L, 135.59%)
Coach: Lee Newman
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Marnie Robinson (Drummoyne), Jazmin Tweddle O'Donnell (Kew), Sarah Ford (Sydney) & Stella Lay (Keilor).
Out: Scarlett Orritt (Collegians), Ainsley Rintala-Apps (St Kevins), Eden Brown (East Sunbury), Sophie Molan (South Croyden), Cindy-Lee Turnbull (Epping), Bridie Kinghorn (Kyneton), Zoe Hurrell (North Shore) & Zoe Williamson (Darebin)
EDFL Media Says: Moonee Valley worked their way to a prelim in season 2023 after compiling a competitive 2022 season. It's a clear indication their retention and development is in the top echelon with just one player from their preliminary final side moving on in the off season. Three players with VFLW and AFLW experience have signed with the club, but it remains to be seen how much time in the black and white they'll have under new coach Lee Newman.
Round 1 Fixture: Westmeadows (A)
2023: 2nd, premiers, (12W, 2L, 262.55%)
Coaches: Lessey Hodgkinson and Nic Cook
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Emma Vergano (St Kevins), Leah Spargo (Keilor), Chiara Guarino (Strathmore), Tamsyn Kirk (Spotswood), Jakayla King (East Keilor) & Pontif Janjamruen (Strathmore).
Out: Kaiwyn McCartney (Bentleigh), Emily-Maria Lauriola (Skye), Hannah Fosbrooke (Kew), Jacqueline Radnell (Sandhurst) & Stephanie Atkins (Ballina).
EDFL Media Says: The reigning premiers enter the season hardly missing a beat in the offseason, acquiring a raft of key players to keep them toward the top. The sides around them have gotten better which will increase the overall competition, but expect to see the Kangaroos deep in the season.
Round 1 Fixture: Aberfeldie (H)
2023: 7th (3W, 11L, 42.06%)
Coach: Gemma Wright
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: nil
Out: Johanna Mercado (Taylors Lakes), Chelsea McDermott (Collegians), Laura Luci (Collegians), Amelia Wright (Aberfeldie), Erica Linehan (Roxburgh Park), Emily Prouse (Roxburgh Park), Mackenzie Best (Roxburgh Park), Natalie Tull-Boyle (Roxburgh Park), Natasha Fama (Roxburgh Park), Kellyann Mustey (North Heidelberg) & Regina Evangelou (Roxburgh Park).
EDFL Media Says: Westmeadows will want to get back on track after a lean 2023 season where they picked up just three wins. Player retention, especially at the top end, has been pretty good, and while there are no recruits, they'll take some confidence out of a number of competitive performances in 2023.
Round 1 Fixture: Moonee Valley (H)
