3 minute read
Sydney captain Chloe Molloy is ready to get physical and play hard ball with former club Collingwood when the sides meet in the AFLW season opener.
Sydney captain Chloe Molloy is ready to unleash the competitive beast within against her former side Collingwood.
Molloy has no plans of holding back when the Swans and the Pies face off in the AFLW season opener at North Sydney Oval on Friday.
The dynamic forward - a two-time All-Australian, an AFLW Rising Star and a Magpies club champion - played 47 games across six seasons for the Victorian team before being lured interstate in 2023.
After coming away with a 19-point victory against Collingwood last season, Molloy is intent on retaining the bragging rights on Friday night.
"The 'do not disturb' has been put on for anybody in black and white this week," Molloy said.
"Obviously there's a mutual respect and a competitive beast inside of all of us.
"There's a lot of people I love there but get to game day and the competitive nature comes out.
"I'd been lying, if it wasn't more exciting. It's just that little bit edgier when you do play against your old side."
All-Australian ruck Ally Morphett will return to action for the Swans after recovering from a foot injury sustained from a VFLW match.
Former West Coast players Hayley Bullas and Maddy Collier will also feature for their first game in the red and white after both returned from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
But Collingwood captain Bri Davey will be watching from the sidelines after failing to prove her fitness following an off-season ankle reconstruction.
"I would hate to be a coach trying to select the round-one team," Molloy said.
"I don't think any person or any player should be comfortable.
"(Swans coach Scott Gowans) mentioned that literally last season in our review, and then day one, we dropped up in the auditorium and he said, 'Don't be comfortable'.
"That's just a credit to the hard work that we've been able to put in, and just the mindset that we've been coming into the club with each day."
Melbourne great Daisy Pearce will coach her first AFLW game when her West Coast side takes on Richmond later on Friday.
GWS kick off a jam-packed Saturday by hosting the Western Bulldogs in Canberra before Essendon play Fremantle, Gold Coast challenge St Kilda and Geelong battle Melbourne.
Port Adelaide will wear the club's iconic black and white prison bars guernsey against Adelaide for a Saturday night Showdown.
Hawthorn face off with Carlton on Sunday, before reigning premiers Brisbane close the weekend against North Melbourne in a grand-final rematch.
