THE opening round of the Airport Toyota Women’s season shapes up as one of the most exciting on the calendar.
There’s returning players and teams, completely brand new teams and a team playing in a new competition for the first time.
All of that sets the scene for some exciting football.
Essendon Doutta Stars, the 2019 Division 1 premiers, start life in the top grade with one of the toughest challenges, facing Keilor.
The Stars showed last season that they are in for a fight, but the Blues will likely be a greater challenge.
For the Blues, it will be interesting to see how they shape up under new coach, Shannon McFerran.
The second of the promoted teams is Maribyrnong Park, which faces Burnside Heights.
The Lions had added several players to their mix as they look to be competitive in the top grade.
Burnside Heights always brings a tough game of football and it doesn’t seem like it will be any different this year.
Hillside v Westmeadows is possibly the game of the round.
They are two sides that will be pushing for finals position, so this match-up is an early challenge for both sides.
For the Tigers, it will be interesting to see their two big name recruits Courteney Munn and Gemma Wright in action.
In the final Airport Toyota Women’s - Premier match of the day, Aberfeldie, which hasn’t lost since 2018, will be hoping to show that they are still the team to beat despite the departures of some key players.
The reigning Premier Division premiers open up the season against newcomers Oak Park, which has made big headlines during the off season.
Will the high profile Oak Park team, which has gone straight into Premier Division, have an instant impact?
Airport Toyota Women’s - Division 1 shapes up as the most interesting of three divisions.
With a mixture of former Premier sides, 2019 Division 1 teams, a new team and a new team to the competition, this division is wide open.
The Sunbury Kangaroos, who have played in two Premier finals series, travel to Greenvale for Round 1.
The Kangaroos still have some experienced players but won’t have it all their own way.
The Jets are focusing on development but expect them to be an improved performer this season.
Pascoe Vale is another side which has dropped down from Premier.
The Panthers look to be focusing on developing from within.
They face Moonee Valley first up.
The Fog is the highest-ranked team from the 2019 Division 1 competition still in the same division.
They will still have a solid line-up and this shapes up as a good game.
Strathmore against Tullamarine is the third of the matches between former Premier teams and Division 1 teams.
Both sides are building in the right direction, with a focus on building a strong team for the future.
Expect to see a very competitive Mores side this season, having struggled in recent years.
The final match of the round in Division 1 is between the two new teams.
Gisborne, which has come across from the AFL Goldfields women’s competition, will host Airport West, which has been waiting 12 months to make its senior women’s debut.
Both sides look good on paper, so a lot more will be known about these teams once they take to the field.
Airport Toyota Women’s - Division 2 is even harder to pick.
Sunbury Lions and Coburg Districts are the only two top sides in the division, so they should go in as favourites against Westmeadows and Moonee Valley respectively.
As for the Maribyrnong Park and Burnside Heights match, that is anyone’s guess, given both are second sides for their respective clubs.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
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KEILOR v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 11:15am at Joe Brown Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK 1 v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS 1
Saturday 11:15am at Walsh Oval
HILLSIDE v WESTMEADOWS 1
Saturday 11:50am at Hillside Reserve
OAK PARK v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
GREENVALE v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 11:15am at Greenvale Recreation Reserve - Oval 2
STRATHMORE v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 11:15am at Lebanon Reserve
PASCOE VALE v MOONEE VALLEY 1
Saturday 11:15am at Raeburn Reserve
GISBORNE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 4:50pm at Gardiner Reserve
MARIBYRNONG PARK 2 v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS 2
Saturday 9:20am at Walsh Oval
COBURG DISTRICTS v MOONEE VALLEY 2
Saturday 11:15am at Cole Reserve
SUNBURY LIONS v WESTMEADOWS 2
Saturday 2:30pm at Clarke Oval
