After falling just short in 2016, the North Melbourne affiliated Melbourne University side will be out for revenge when it kicks off its season against the dominant Darebin on Saturday.
Coming off the success of the inaugural AFLW season, this year’s VFLW campaign is set to be the most competitive yet.
The raised profile of women’s football has led to a deeper talent pool and much more depth in each playing list including Melbourne Uni – nicknamed the MUGARS (Melbourne University Girls Aussie Rules Squad).
“Amongst our squad of 40, there’s not much difference at all,” defender Elyce Hay told NMFC.com.au.
“The girls coming back from the AFL and now training with us, they’ve learned so much and they can pass that onto us.
“So we’ve learned a lot of things from them.”
In kicking off the season against Darebin, the MUGARS will have an immediate chance for revenge after 2016’s narrow Grand Final loss.
Darebin has been at the top of the tree in women’s football for multiple seasons, but the gap is closing.
“We beat them at the start of 2016 and we were the first team to beat them in a few years, so that was really exciting,” Hay said.
“We played them last year in the Grand Final and lost, and it’s a big thing to play against them again.
“They have a lot of key players like Darcy Vescio and Katie Brennan and a lot of other top players coming back from the AFL and bringing their knowledge.”
The MUGARS will also enjoy the knowledge of several players returning from their AFLW seasons.
“In our midfield we have Emma Kearney and Ellie Blackburn, they’re our captains and they both played for the Bulldogs,” Hay said.
“In our forward line we have Lou Stephenson, who just got back from GWS and she’ll be one of our big leading forwards.
“Kaitlin Ashmore is coming back from Brisbane and she’ll be a great outside winger after being Brisbane’s marquee.”
But it all starts with the clash against Darebin this Saturday at Bill Lawry Oval in Northcote.
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MUWFC 2017 fixtures
Round 1 v Darebin, Bill Lawry Oval, Saturday May 6, 2:00pm
Round 2 v St Kilda, Peanut Farm Reserve, Sunday May 14, 2:00pm
Round 4 v VU Western Spurs, Saturday May 27, 2:00pm
Round 5 v Eastern Devils, Mulgrave Reserve, Sunday June 4, 2:00pm
Round 6 v Darebin, Melbourne University Main Oval, Sunday June 18, 2:00pm
Round 7 v Geelong, Kardinia Park West Oval, Sunday June 25, 10:45am
Round 8 v Seaford, Melbourne University Main Oval, Sunday July 2, 2:00pm
Round 9 v Diamond Creek, Plenty War Memorial Park, Saturday July 8, 2:00pm
Round 10 v St Kilda, Melbourne University Main Oval, Sunday July 16, 2:00pm
Round 11 v Eastern Devils, Mulgrave Reserve, Sunday July 30, 2:00pm
Round 12 v VU Western Spurs, Melbourne University Main Oval, Sunday August 6, 2:00pm
Round 13 v Cranbourne, Melbourne University Main Oval, Sunday August 13, 2:00pm
Round 14 v Box Hill, Sunday August 19, Box Hill City Oval, Saturday August 19, 11:00am
Round 15 v Diamond Creek, venue TBA, Sunday August 27, 2:00pm
MUWFC playing list
Candice Adams, Jessica Anderson, Hayley Anderson, Kaitlyn Ashmore, Rebecca Bennett, Deanna Berry, Ellie Blackburn, Rhiannon Burleigh, Martha Cantwell, Monique Conti, Prudence Cordes, Laura Croft, Alicia Eva, Alexandra Gittings, Emma Gunn, Elyce Hay, Kristen Hay, Bailey Hunt, Hannah Ibrahim, Elizabeth Keaney, Emma Kearney, Madeline Keryk, Steph Kierce, Katie Klatt, Brooke Lochland, Cecilia McIntosh, Catherine O’Bryan, Emma Phillips, Catherine Phillips, Gabriella Pound, Kira Price, Alexandra Saundry, Giulia Sgro-Ralph, Katie Sierlaw, Lauren Spark, Louise Stephenson, Nicola Stevens, Karly Tapner, Lucy Walsh, Sian Wilson
