While I'm not a big fan of tennis, as a sports fan I'm very interested to see what happens at the AO given the chaos COVID-19 has introduced to preparations.

As much as there are complaints, we might actually find new interest if some rank outsiders can get a run on.

Is it primed for some resilient kids to sweep away the old pros?

Forecast is for considerable rain on Friday. Interesting to see how we handle that down at the Kennel.

FIrst game of the year, pick your best players in navy blue.

3:
2:
1:

Go...

If you want to watch along:
https://youtu.be/GMauC3KPrI4

So a 17 year mongrel kid out on bail (again) with a record of 50 previous offences, steals a 4WD, road rages on BNE streets, rolls the vehicle and ends up killing an innocent couple and their unborn child yesterday.  Fled the scene and attempted to steal another car.  Facing children's court today.

Charged with murder by the cops.  What justice would you exact?

Thought people might find this an interesting watch:

2021 @Carlton Football Club Preview | Rookie Watch
https://youtu.be/UTwHGRoU3rQ

The game is set for 1915 (that's 7:15 in the evening).
It will be nice to be playing the Old Enemy again at the hone of AFLW football.

Tayla Harris has been passed as fit to play.
It will be very interesting to see what our line-up looks like.

The AFLW captains and leadership groups have been announced.

We have continued with co-captains - Katie Loynes and Kerryn Harrington.
We have 3 more in our leadership group with Al Downie, Nic Stevens and Darcy Vescio.

But it seems our (former) AFLW girls are in demand.

* Former carlton captain Bri Davey has been named as joint captain with CSC's own Steph Chiocci over at Collingwood
* And St. Kilda have gone for 4-captains. 2 of which are former Carlton players continuing on from captaincy duties last year - Rhi Watt and Kate Shierlaw. Also ex-blue Tilly Lucas Rodd is also apart of the leadership at the saints meaning 2 of 4 captain, and 3 of 6 leaders are ex-navy blues.
* Over at Richmond, yet another ex-blue, Sarah Hosking, has been named vice captain behind Katie Brennan.
* Geelong also have plenty of Carlton influence. New vice captain, Jordan Ivey, wore navy blue on 2 occasions previously. Maddy Keryk also joining the leadership group at the cats after a couple years at Carlton.
* Down at Melbourne Maddy Gay joins the leadership group after a successful carlton career.

Captains - Bri Davey*, Rhi Watt*, Kate Shierlaw*
Vice Captains - Sarah Hosking, Jordan Ivey
Leadership group - Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Maddy Keryk, Maddy Gay

* Sharing captaincy

There are more ex-carlton players in leadership group than current carlton players in our leadership group!

Credit goes to the club who has fully embraced the AFLW and has worked towards building a great side, with great coaches and a great culture.

Most of the players mentioned above (besides Hosking and Davey) were deemed not good enough to be on our list, yet are good enough to be in other clubs leadership groups! Thats a big tick of approval for what we are doing.

Miss AFLW Sarah Black has been doing her top 30 AFLW players on drip feed for a couple of weeks now.
Starting to get to the pointy end.

Here is a breakdown of what we know so far....

Rank: Name (Team) [Rank last year)
30: Georgia Patrikios (STK) [NR]
29: Chloe Molloy (Coll) [25]
28: Kalinda Howarth (GC) [NR]
27: Caitlyn Greiser (STK) [NR]
26: Sarah Allan (Ade) [NR]
25: Jenna Bruton (NM) [NR]
24: Libby Birch (Mel) [NR]
23: Kate Hore (Mel) [NR]
22: Emily Bates (Bris) [18]
21: Isabel Huntington (WB) [NR]
20: Bri Davey (Coll) [3]
19: Olivia Purcell (Geel) [NR]
18: Tayla Harris (Carl) [27]- https://womens.afl/video/54811/sarah-bla...yla-harris
17: Ash Riddell (NM) [NR]
16: Gemma Houghton (Fre) [NR]
15: Ebony Antonio (Fre) [20]
14: Kerryn Harrington (Carl) [NR] - https://womens.afl/video/54985/sarah-bla...harrington
13: Monique Conti (Rich) [13]
12: Dana Hooker (WC) [4]
11: Kate Lutkins (Bris) [21]
10: Ellie Blackburn (WB) [10]
9: Daisy Pearce (Mel) [5]
8: Alyce Parker (GWS) [NR]
7: Anne Hatchard (Ade) [17]
6: Jaimee Lambert (Coll) [22]
5: Emma Kearney (NM) [2]
4: Karen Paxman (Mel) [8]
3: Kiara Bowers (Fre) [11]
2: Jasmine Garner (NM) [29]
1: Maddy Prespakis (Carl) [23] - https://womens.afl/video/56377/sarah-bla...-prespakis

FWIW, Maddy Prespakis was ranked 23 last year, pretty sure she will make the top 10 this year.
Our new recruit Elise O'Dea was ranked 14th last year.....but did not make the cut this year. Talent pool has increased dramatically. No other Carlton players were on the list last year.

A sure sign the AFLW competition is getting stronger and stronger.

Not sure if anyone listened to this, but it was a good innovation from the club.

Season 1 was last year and it was hosted by Sarah Hosking. Consisted of 20-30min chats with (mostly) Carlton AFLW players. There was about 13 episodes coming out weekly.

As we all know Sarah Hosking wanted out and is now a Tigers player.

So what was going to happen with BTG?

A few days ago we got an answer.

Season 2 hosting duties will be shared across 2 'teams' if hosts.

Darcy Vescio and Elise O'Dea will pair up to become 1 team of hosts.
Jess Hosking and Brooke Walker will pair up to become the 2nd team of hosts.

At this stage i think they will alternate every other week.
If nothing else it will make for an easier transition should someone want out at the end of the year again.