The Western Bulldogs will field two league debutants in their opening round clash against Geelong on Saturday night.
Recruits Dom Carruthers and Bree McFarlane will make their AFLW debuts in the red, white and blue at GMHBA Stadium, named on the half-forward flank and at centre half-back respectively.
Carruthers is a hard-working and tough competitor with speed, selected with pick 11 in the 2023 Supplementary Draft.
McFarlane has great athleticism and strong hands, and was added to the Bulldogs’ list as an unrestricted free agent.
Defender Elle Bennetts will also play her 50th career match, becoming the fifth Bulldog to reach the half-century.
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Bennetts has played 19 games in the red, white and blue since crossing from GWS in 2021, following a professional netball career with Vic Fury in the Australian Netball League and NSW Swifts in the Super Netball League.
She is set to start at half-back on Saturday.
Katie Lynch (Achilles) and Alice Edmonds (shoulder) have also passed their respective fitness tests to become available to play.
The Bulldogs will meet the Cats at GMHBA Stadium at 5.05pm this Saturday night.
The match will be broadcast live on Fox Footy.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
AFLW Team | Round 1
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 2 September, 5.05pm AEST
GMHBA Stadium
B: B Hunt, N Ferres
HB: S Hartwig, B McFarlane, E Bennetts
C: G Lagioia, K Coyne, R Wilcox
HF: D Bateman, I Grant, D Carruthers
F: G Newton, K McLeod
R: I Pritchard, E Georgostathis, J Fitzgerald
Int: C Moody, E Blackburn, A Edmonds, K Lynch, K Lamb
Emer: M Gorham, H Woodley, A Smith
