Star Richmond youngster Ellie McKenzie will play her first game of the season this Sunday, as one of five inclusions for the Tigers' clash against the Western Bulldogs.
The 19-year-old returns after recovering from a lingering calf injury which resulted in an interrupted pre-season and caused her to miss the first four rounds.
The 2020 number one draft pick, who starred in her first AFLW season last year, will be a welcome inclusion back into the Tigers forward line/midfield with her explosive speed and power from stoppages.
Poppy Kelly will also return to the line-up to give the Tigers' ruck stocks a big boost, after going down with a knee injury in her first game for the club in Round 1.
Energetic midfielder Hannah Burchell has also been recalled for her third game of the season, alongside recently-signed Tiger Meg Macdonald, who made her AFLW debut in Round 2.
Utility Laura McClelland is also back to face the Bulldogs after serving a one-match suspension.
The inclusions will replace omitted trio Sophie Molan, Sarah Dargan and Stella Reid, as well as Christina Bernardi, who will miss through knee soreness, and first-year Tiger Meagan Kiely, who is being managed.
Richmond’s two emergencies for the Bulldogs clash are Molan and Akec Makur Chuot.
The match at VU Whitten Oval kicks off at 1.10pm and will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.
In what will be just their second meeting in AFLW history, both sides will be looking to rebound after suffering defeats in their last three outings.
Richmond's Round 5 AFLW Team v Western Bulldogs:
B Bec Miller, Gabby Seymour
HB Beth Lynch, Jess Hosking, Maddie Shevlin
C Tessa Lavey, Monique Conti, Kate Dempsey
HF Meg Macdonald, Emelia Yassir, Tayla Stahl,
F Katie Brennan, Sarah D’Arcy
R Poppy Kelly, Sarah Hosking, Maddy Brancatisano
I/C Sarah Sansonetti, Laura McClelland, Hannah Burchall, Ellie McKenzie, Kodi Jacques
EMG Sophie Molan, Akec Makur Chuot
In: Burchell, Kelly, McClelland, McKenzie, Macdonald
Out: Molan (omitted), Bernardi (knee soreness), Dargan (omitted), Reid (omitted), Kiely (managed)
