Night/day….Black/white...Chalk/cheese….Round 1, 2019/Round 1, 2020
Our opening game this season couldn’t be any more different to our experience last year.
The lead-up to Round 1, 2019 was epic.
It was the season opener, played in front of 18,000 fans, at Geelong’s spiritual home Kardinia Park.
We had 21 players wearing the hoops for the first time, 13 of them making their AFLW debut and no idea how we would match-up against a team that had been in the competition since its inception.
Our thrilling one-point win against Collingwood was a night to be remembered.
Talk about polar opposites!
This year our campaign begins on Sunday against the Fremantle Dockers.
In AFL/AFLW circles flying to the west is considered one of the toughest travel itineraries in the business.
The three hour flight, three hour time difference and the heat of the West Australian sun can challenge teams.
I’ve done the trip a few times, most recently with the GWS Giants in 2018.
Our team knew it would be hard, but we went over to Fremantle with a “can-do” attitude knowing we had what it took to get the job done.
We won that game and it brought the group together like nothing had done before.
The opportunity to replicate that feeling this year in Round 1 with my Geelong teammates fills me with excitement.
This trip can set us up for the season.
Win, lose or draw we will return to Geelong having spent three days together with nothing but football to distract us.
We will know more about one another on and off the field and we will form bonds that can sometimes take months to achieve.
Despite our start to this season being slightly more “low-key” in its build up, the group has the same ruthless attitude and desire to win.
It’s been a long summer.
Win/lose - we are ready.
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