Captain Steph Chiocci will lead the Western Bulldogs out for the last time in the AFL Women’s Exhibition Series this Saturday night before the Club embarks on a new era of women’s football in the new national league in 2017.

Part of the inaugural AFL women’s exhibition series back in 2013, Chiocci has been a senior figure amongst the group from the outset and says Saturday night will be a special occasion for all that have been part of the journey over the last four years.

“I’ve been here since 2013 and played in every game…and I think it is a really good opportunity for us to honour the Bulldogs and the Melbourne Football Club who have invested so much in women’s football.”

“We’re going to put on a show, honour everybody that has been a part of the journey, and then we look to the future.”

With September synonymous with finals football, Chiocci says Saturday night’s match has a similar feeling to it.

“It’s very exciting, there’s finals footy coming up, but for us this is like our major final,” Chiocci told media on Thursday afternoon.

“A really big game being that it is standalone, and we can showcase the best talent in Australia, and put [on a show] at Whitten Oval which we’re really excited about here at the Bulldogs,”

Newly appointed Western Bulldogs Women’s Head Coach Paul Groves says his focus on Saturday night will be split between helping to deliver the Bulldogs the Hampson-Hardeman Cup for the first time, and also creating a spectacle to showcase the best women’s football talent in the land.

“We’re really keen to put on a show, and make it as enjoyable [as possible], and show the general public what the girls can do on the field.”

“We’re certainly hell-bent on winning, but we’re also very mindful of our responsibilities within the AFL environment for this game.”

The match will be broadcast live, and on free-to-air television by the Seven Network, while admission is FREE at Victoria University Whitten Oval for all that wish to see the starts of the new national women’s league first hand.

AFL Women’s All Stars Match
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
7:10pm, Saturday 3 September 2016.
at Victoria University Whitten Oval
FREE Entry

Match Day Schedule
4.30pm Youth Girls All Stars Curtain Raiser
6-6:30pm Auskick Grid games
7:10pm Western Bulldogs v Melbourne All Stars Match
Half Time – AFL9’s feature match
9:00pm Match Concludes – Presentation of the Hampson-Hardeman Cup