TEAM: Defender returns!

Walyalup has made two changes for their AFLW Indigenous Round game against Geelong

Defender Mikayla Hyde will make her return to the starting line-up when Walyalup takes on Geelong on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium in the first week of the AFLW Indigenous Round.

Hyde will play her fourth game of the season, taking part in wins against West Coast and Hawthorn.

She is joined by debutant Tahleah Mulder, whose place in the team was confirmed earlier on Friday by Senior Coach Lisa Webb.

“She will pull on the number 26 – she’s been working really hard,” Webb said.

“We saw what she (Tahleah) could do at South Fremantle, but she’s been training really hard and banging down the door for a few weeks now, so we’re really excited to give her the opportunity.

“She’s been in really good form, and obviously we’re looking to play a really strong midfield team over there (Geelong).

“We know she’s got flexibility to play across forward and inside mid, so I think she’s going to put her best foot forward, and she’s got a lot of attributes that will suit our midfield.”

As announced at the start of the year, the Club goes by Walyalup for AFLW Indigenous Round games.

Walyalup will not wear their 2023 AFLW Indigenous jumper for the game due to it clashing with Geelong’s Indigenous jumper design.

As the Club does for all jumper clashes, Walyalup will wear the ‘Moorditj’ jumper which features Indigenous design elements going back to Walyalup’s first Indigenous jumper in 2013.

The 2023 Indigenous jumper design will be worn the following week in round eight when Walyalup take on St Kilda at Walyalup Oval.

The game is the Club’s first AFLW appearance at GMHBA Stadium since 2019, which resulted in a 36-point win.

Bouncedown is at 3.05pm EDST (12.05pm WST) and will be broadcast into WA on 7mate and Fox Footy and can be streamed on Kayo and the AFL and AFLW official apps.

TEAM v GEELONG
IN: Mikayla Hyde, Tahleah Mulder
OUT: Makaela Tuhakaraina, Roxy Roux

B: Philipa Seth, Emma O’Driscoll
HB: Jess Low, Laura Pugh, Madi Scanlon
C: Jae Flynn, Dana East, Joanne Cregg
HF: Orlagh Lally, Amy Mulholland, Ebony Antonio
F: Aine Tighe, Megan Kauffman
R/Fol: Mim Strom, Hayley Miller, Ange Stannett
I: Mikayla Hyde, Tahleah Mulder, Sarah Verrier, Airlie Runnalls, Gabby O’Sullivan
E: Makaela Tuhakaraina, Serena Gibbs, Sarah Wielstra