The Pioneers (1-2) play Tasmania (1-1) at La Trobe University in Bundoora on Saturday before hosting Greater Western Victoria Rebels (1-2) at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve on Wednesday night in the round two clash that was re-scheduled because of last month's COVID-19 lockdown.

Next weekend the Pioneers have the bye.

The Pioneers have promoted Eve Cail (White Hills), Taylah Petrusma (Kangaroo Flat), Kaitlin Mitchell, Tahlia Coad (Nangiloc) and Shelby Hooker (Bambil) for the clash with Tasmania.

The Pioneers went within a whisker of upstaging the highly-rated Calder Cannons last round.

"I was so proud of the girl's efforts,'' coach Danny O'Bree said.

"Their intensity around the ball, the way they worked together as a team and their grit and determination kept them in the game all day, which was a lot different from the week before against the Falcons".

Elizabeth Snell went head-to-head with some of the better midfielders in the NAB League and showed why she is currently on Essendon's VFLW list.

"Elizabeth was excellent all game she was able to get in and under each contested pack and get the ball out to space and our runners, she also had a game-high seven tackles,'' O'Bree said.

"Tara Slender showed true leadership throughout the game and was also able to pick up 27 disposals across half forward.

"I was also super impressed with Eliza Bell and Jemma Finning down back. We threw Eliza in the deep end, having rarely played back and she was excellent. Jemma was clearly one of our best until three-quarter time until she sustained an injury in the last term.

"It was pleasing from a coaching point of view that the education points that we are continually doing at training each and every week are starting to pay off in the games.

"The girls were disappointed that they couldn't hold on for the win no doubt, but they also felt like they achieved a lot more in this game than the week prior against the Falcons."

Team to play Tasmania on Saturday:

B: K. Mitchell, E. Bell, L. Keck

HB: E. Gilligan, J. Richardson, S. Orritt

C: E. Cail, E. Snell, J. Oborne

HF: M. Elliott, T. Slender, K. Fullerton

F: F. Pearce, T. Williams, L. Den Houting

Foll: M. Marks, D. Ryan, O. Di Donato

Int: C. Dorrity, T. Petrusma, S. Hooker, T. Coad, L. Moss, P. Sullivan

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