BENDIGO’S Emma Grant has done her selection chances for next week’s historic inaugural AFL Women’s match no harm with a starring role in Collingwood’s 10-point practice match win over the Western Bulldogs on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In what was Collingwood’s first official practice match, the Magpie website’s match report noted Grant “was a standout with her courageous play through the middle of the ground.”
Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman hinted when she was drafted last October that Grant was likely to be used in a variety of roles this year, and that was the case in Thursday’s match at the Holden Centre.
Grant spent the first quarter in the midfield, second in the forward line, third in defence and last on the wing.
“I was a bit nervous before the game, but once the siren went I knew I just needed to go out and play footy and enjoy it,” Grant said on Friday.
“I felt like I contributed and played my role and the game was a great opportunity to put our training into practice and take out some learnings that will hold us in good stead for round one.”
Collingwood will open the AFLW season next Friday night against Carlton in a game that has been shifted from Olympic Park to Ikon Park to cater for what’s expected to be a crowd of at least 10,000.
The Bendigo Thunder could have as many as five players line up in the historic debut match.
As well as Grant at Collingwood, Thunder draftees Bella Ayre, Sarah Last, Jessica Kennedy and Hayley Trevean are all on Carlton’s AFLW list for the 2017 season.