Make or break for Buckley00:10:50
Make or break for Buckley
COLLINGWOOD will be one of the teams to beat in the inaugural AFLW season, according to marquee star Moana Hope.
Hope has been privately training for five weeks along with teammate Emma King, but will crank it up further when Collingwood’s women’s team kicks off its pre-season campaign on November 21.
With the eight teams having almost finalised their playing lists, Hope is confident the Magpies have enough quality to make a big impression in 2017.
“I don’t want to seem biased, but … I’m super happy (with the playing list),” Hope said. “I can’t wait to see what we can put out on the park.”
“Everyone is just eager to get started, everyone is keen to play their role. Our coaching staff is phenomenal.”
Hope was yet to get a read on rival teams, saying it might come back to how quickly the playing lists can work together.
“I think all the teams are pretty equally balanced,” she said. “There is so much talent in all of the teams and I am excited to play against all of them.”
“I wouldn’t say there is one team that stands out from the rest. It is sort of who gels the quickest and who it puts it together the fastest.”
Hope will be a part of the AFLW induction to take place on Friday and Saturday at the MCG where 218 of the players will come together for the first time.
“I love the professionalism of the AFL and it is good to be turning over a new leaf from where we are coming from,” she said. “It’s going to be exciting.”
Hope was on hand on Wednesday at a clinic at a school in Braybrook as the AFL and Deakin University announced a partnership for a new program to help children with disabilities have greater access to the sport.
Moose Toys have donated $1 million to help launch the ‘ALLPlay program’.
It’s a subject dear to Hope’s heart, given her sister, Lavinia, suffers from Möbius syndrome, an exceptionally rare neurological condition.
“If the AFL was a person and Deakin was a person and Moose was a person I’d hug ‘em all,” Hope said. “It’s absolutely amazing.”
