Inspirational skipper Emma Kearney heads the list of five inclusions for the North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos’ team to face Adelaide at Norwood Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Kearney returns to the team after missing last week’s win over Geelong due to the AFL’s health and safety protocols.
Rising star Ellie Gavalas, key position player Brooke Brown and dangerous forward Sophie Abbatangelo will also return to the senior side, while ruck Lexi Hamilton will become Shinboner no.44 in making her Kangaroo debut.
Hamilton played one match for Gold Coast in 2020 and was added to the Roos’ squad following the long-term injury to Elisha King. She completed an impressive season for North Melbourne’s VFL team last year, when she finished fourth in the club’s best and fairest.
Hamilton and Brown are set to provide welcome ruck support for Emma King, with off-season recruit Kim Rennie ruled out with concussion.
Recruited from the Western Bulldogs, Rennie was moments away from completing a successful debut match for the Roos when she landed heavily in a marking contest in the final minute of the win over the Cats.
The knock forced her from the field and she is now being monitored under the AFLW’s 12-day concussion protocols.
Joining Rennie on the sidelines will be Danielle Hardiman and Sarah Wright, who have both been ruled out due to health and safety protocols.
Youngsters Alice O’Loughlin and Tess Craven have been omitted from last week’s winning team, however both players will head to Adelaide as travelling emergencies.
Sunday’s game in Adelaide starts at 3.10pm AEDT and will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFLW app and website.
Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos, Round 2, 2022
B: 20. Jasmine Ferguson, 16. Tahlia Randall
HB: 12. Nicole Bresnehan, 36. Brooke Brown, 8. Aileen Gilroy
C: 10. Kaitlyn Ashmore, 35. Jenna Bruton, 3. Isabella Eddey
HF: 11. Daisy Bateman, 2. Daria Bannister, 22. Ellie Gavalas
F: 60. Emma King, 25. Jasmine Garner
R: 21. Lexi Hamilton, 9 Emma Kearney, 7. Ashleigh Riddell
I/C: 1. Sophie Abbatangelo, 23. Mia King, 27. Jess Duffin, 15. Amy Smith, 43. Grace Campbell
Emerg: 5. Tess Craven, 6. Alice O'Loughlin
In: Kearney, Gavalas, Brown, Abbatangelo, Hamilton
Out: Rennie (concussion), Wright, Hardiman (both health and safety protocols), O’Loughlin, Craven (both omitted)
New: Lexi Hamilton (North Melbourne VFL)
