The mis-kick that launched AFLW season 10; Hawks could regain Will Day to face Blues

Sydney Morning Herald

2 days ago

'Ten seasons, thinking back, it's a nice time to reflect and think about how far we've come in our competition and individually as well,' she said. 'It's been a nice journey and hopefully plenty more to come.'
Adelaide star and league best-and-fairest winner Ebony Marinoff, and Brisbane player Ally Anderson, enter the 2025 season with a shared-record 93 games and are set to be the first players to reach 100 AFLW games.
Marinoff, who was drafted in 2016 – the same year as Brisbane Lions star Hugh McCluggage – said the fact that McCluggage notched up 200 AFL games last week put the 100-game AFLW milestone into perspective.
'There will be a few that reach the 100-game milestone compared to the 200-games men,' Marinoff said.
'I'm not sure how that coincides but naturally in the first few years we played seven to eight games, and a few more now. But it's an awesome milestone and given the fact that I've played footy all my life and didn't really think that was a possibility to reach 100 games for an AFL club, so it will be pretty cool.'
Bulldogs midfielder Ellie Blackburn said she was looking forward to the 2025 season and was glad to see the controversial condensed fixture removed.
'No midweek games, I think it probably allows players to settle a little bit more,' she said. 'You're not focused on the external noise as much as what you probably would have been in previous seasons.'
The AFLW's growth has skyrocketed over the last decade, with a recent collective bargaining agreement ensuring all players are paid full-time. However, a detailed review of AFLW has concluded that the players' wish for an expanded season by 2031-32, in which every team played each other once, would come at a $200 million annual loss.
But AFLW general manager Emma Moore said she was incredibly proud of the game's growth across the decade, highlighting the improvement of facilities and infrastructure across the country to 'unlock the game for girls'.
'What I am most looking forward to over the next decade is that we're really focused on growth, and we know exactly what we're doing,' she said.
'We've released a draft strategy, and we'll be finalising that in August. It's a long-term strategy and vision, and we will look to be the best competition in the country for women's sport, and we're really, really proud of that goal.'
Happy Day: Star Hawk could face Blues on Thursday
Jon Pierik
Hawthorn star Will Day is firmly in the selection mix to return from injury for Thursday night's clash against Carlton.
Day has not played since round three because of a stress fracture in his right foot, but has progressed well over the past month and rejoined full training.
A club spokesman said should the 2023 Peter Crimmins medallist emerge unscathed from the Hawks' main training session on Tuesday, he will be in line to face the Blues at the MCG.
The Hawks, however, will be without Finn Maginness, who remains in hospital in Hobart after having surgery on a lacerated kidney. Maginness was hurt in the 38-point win over Port Adelaide in Launceston on Saturday.
Key forward Mabior Chol is nursing groin soreness but could also be in the frame to face the Blues.
However, a Chol return could mean a selection squeeze, for the Hawks already have key talls Mitch Lewis, back from a knee reconstruction, and Calsher Dear up forward.