Weekly AFLW update: January 17

Madison Smith out for Roos
North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroo Maddison Smith has dislocated her right patella during the first week back at training and is set to miss eight weeks of the AFLW season.

“Maddy is as tough as they come and while this is terribly disappointing for her and the team, we know that she’ll put everything into her rehab and will make a full recovery,” North head of football operations Laura Kane said.

“We hope to have Maddy back by about Round 6, all things going well."

Brannan and Blackburn named co-captains
Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn have been announced as co-captains of the Western Bulldogs for the 2019 season.

Voted by their peers, the duo will lead a leadership group of six including Hannah Scott, Nicole Callinan, Isabel Huntington and Kirsty Lamb.

“It’s a really exciting core group that the team has voted in as their leaders,” coach Paul Groves told westernbulldogs.com.au.

“There were two outstanding girls who, over the course of two years have really evolved and been incredible leaders for this Club.

“The strength we will receive with both Katie and Ellie working together will allow our group to continue to evolve both on and off the field.”

Blackburn captained the Bulldogs’ 2018 premiership team in the absence of Brennan, who was suspended.

Blues name new-look AFLW leadership group
Brianna Davey will captain the Blues for a second consecutive season with the support of newly appointed vice-captain Katie Loynes and fellow leaders Shae Audley, Darcy Vescio, Sarah Hosking and Kerryn Harrington.

Davey, who is set to return to the field this season after suffering an ACL injury last season, will be looking to showcase her best football that earned her 2017 AFLW All Australian honours.

Loynes was the Club’s joint AFLW best and fairest winner last season and possesses a wealth of experience that will prove invaluable in guiding the side’s exciting young talent. 

Vescio, Audley and Harrington have also been voted into the leadership group for the first time while Hosking remains in the position from 2018.

“Our leadership group has expanded to six this season, all with different strengths, which we feel will connect with our players on every level required, from our rookies to our most experienced players,” Coach Daniel Harford said.

Moody returns to training
Breann Moody has returned to training after spending a semester abroad at Iowa State University.

In her break from footy, the 2018 Rising Star nominee and Best and Fairest co-winner covered 24 states in her six months but it wasn't a total break away from sport reveling in Iowa’s sporting culture.

“They’re massive on sport. There’s a massive university there. Their football team went really well this year. Women’s volleyball, wrestling, soccer – they had a team in everything which was pretty exciting," she said.

“I did a couple of fun sessions of volleyball throughout the semester but nothing serious. It was an incredible experience but it’s also very good to be home and back on the track.”

Practice match are a go
All 10 teams are set to take part in practice matches on Saturday (January 19). 

Reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs will once again play their practice match at Mars Stadium in Ballarat as they face Collingwood while GWS will come up against the Brisbane Lions, who they thumped by 50-points in last year's practice match.

Expansion club Geelong will travel to Melbourne for its first AFLW practice match, against Carlton with fellow newcomers North Melbourne making the trek to Casey Fields to take on the Demons.

Adelaide and Fremantle will play in their now-annual practice match at TIO Stadium in Darwin. 

AFLW practice matches – Saturday, January 19