The under-18 girls will host the Western Jets for the curtain-raiser to the historic AFLW match between the Geelong Cats and Richmond Tigers.

The Pioneers will have first-year coach Cherie O'Neill at the helm, boosted by the recently announced leadership team.

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Brooke Hards and Annabel Strahan will take on co-captain roles this season.

"Brooke and Annabel are both committed players who lead by example to show the girls how they should behave on the track, with a positive attitude," O'Neill said.

"They are always getting around the other girls and making sure there's an inclusive environment."

The pair will be supported by vice-captain Tara Slender.

"Tara is another hard worker who also leads by example," O'Neill said.

"The strength of this year's team is their intensity and willingness to never give up.

"They're a tough group of girls."

Their first test of the 2020 season will come on Saturday at 12.50pm against the Jets.

"We will definitely be able to take it to them," O'Neill said.

"Last year the girls had a good year with several close games.

"Our plan for the year is to give it our all, be competitive so each of the team can grow individually as players. We want them all to develop."

Bendigo Pioneers team to play the Western Jets in round one:

B: Delilah Crighton, Jorja Oborne, Dakota Villiva

Hb: Lily den Houting, Tara Slender, Jemma Finning

C: Tara Hopkins, Brooke Hards, Nunia Mafi

Hf: Elizabeth Snell, Jayda Richardson, Abbey Thompson

F: Natasha Kelly, Hannah Stewart, Billie Reidy

Foll: Madeline Marks, Annabel Strahan, Maeve Tupper

Int: Eliza Bell, Octavia Di Donato, Arkie Donnelly, Scarlett Orritt

Emg: Molly Pianta

Western Jets

B: N. Ajaimy, A. Anthony, A. Strathairn

HB: C. Baskaran, C. Singleton, M. Klaumanns-Moller

C: S. Asciak, M. Ham, P. Trajkovski

HF: C. Sargent, J. Woods, T. Skenderis

F: O. Forsythe, E. Lavanda, A. Gray

R: A. Velardo, I. Pritchard, N. Wright

Int: S. Golding, K. Leare, K. Maxwell, C. Tyrrell

Emg: S. Cutajar, L. Elliott, M. Huta

The Pioneers girls squad includes players from across central Victoria who have been hard at work over the past week in the lead up to the start of the 2020 NAB League season.

"It has all been going well at training sessions. The intensity continues to lift and they are gelling together well," O'Neill said.

Come game time on Saturday, stepping out onto the QEO as the pre-game to an AFLW match is a dream come true for many of the players.

"Anybody who is anybody wants to play on the QEO, the girls are all very excited about the game," O'Neill said.

"It's a bit of a childhood dream for a lot of the girls and even better is the opportunity to start our 2020 season before an AFLW game."

The match between the Cats and Richmond will follow, start time is 3.10pm.

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