Locke, 21, is considered one of a dozen Hawthorn AFLW debutantes who will run out on Saturday night time towards Essendon at Marvel Stadium, together with draftees Jasmine Fleming, Charlotte Baskaran, Mackenzie Eardley and Lucy Wales.
Goddard says the younger ones shall be supported by the extra skilled gamers, resembling Ashmore, who shall be working out for her fiftieth recreation.
“I feel the expertise of gamers like Kashi (Ashmore) and having them in our program, they’re like an extension of me. I imply, they’re not as humorous as me however they definitely drive the requirements that I anticipate,” mentioned Goddard on Friday.
Draftees can even be donning the sash for Essendon, together with explosive forwards Paige Scott and Amber Clarke.
Hawthorn and Essendon additionally each have a slew of AFLW gamers promoted from VFLW ranks working out, together with Dominique Carbone, Zoe Barbakos, Bridget Deed, Eliza Shannon and Catherine Brown for the Hawks and Federica Frew and Alana Barba for the Dons.
“I’m so excited. It’s a large honour and privilege to play within the Bombers’ inaugural recreation. It’s been a whirl win couple of weeks off the again of the VFLW premiership however I’m can’t wait to expire towards the Hawks,” mentioned Frew.
“When G (Georgia Nanscawen, Essendon co-vice-captain) informed me, it was a bit overwhelming nevertheless it’s a childhood dream come true and I couldn’t be extra excited.”
There can even be loads of child Swans taking the sector on Saturday towards St Kilda, with 11 debutantes in Sydney’s staff, together with No.1 draft decide Montana Ham and co-captain Lauren Szigeti.
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“It’s going to be a giant night time for me. I’m simply specializing in the truth that it’s my first recreation and take time to take it in and take into consideration how particular it’s for me,” Szigeti informed the AFLW web site.
“There’s been a number of exhausting work moving into to working out for my first recreation and on the captain’s facet of it I received chosen as captain for a purpose, so I simply have to hold doing what I’ve been doing.”
Goddard mentioned she was excited to see the dozen debutantes play, whereas the Hawks will discipline 9 gamers with AFLW expertise. It’s going to even be the third time in AFLW historical past two girls coach towards one another as Goddard traces up towards Essendon’s Natalie Wooden.
“It’s a extremely thrilling time,” mentioned Goddard.
“I’m a little bit bit nervous however I inform the women, we don’t get nervous, we prepare.”
