Mix of old and new for Falcons

JUST over a fortnight out from the start of the 2023 Coatest Talent League Girls season, the Geelong Falcons have unveiled a 35-member squad.

Nineteen of last year’s roster have returned, including reigning best-and-fairest Sara Howley.

Fellow top-10 placegetters Mekah Morrissy, Grace Purcell, Chloe Adams, Johanna Sunderland and Lucy Maresuk are also back as the Falcons prepare to tackle the longest-ever girls’ Talent League season.

For the first time since being formed in 2017, the Falcons girls’ season will run in conjunction with the boys.

“I don’t think anybody knows what we’re in for – it looks so different to what it ever has,” first-year coach Mel Hickey said.

“We’ll have them for four games; then they’ll go away for four or five weeks. Then we have them for three games, and they go for a couple of weeks.

“It’s going to be really stop-start.”

TALENT LEAGUE: FALCONS FIXTURES RELEASED

Hickey, who has taken the role from Paul Corrigan, is looking forward to seeing what the Falcons can produce after reaching last year’s country final, where they lost to the Dandenong Stingrays.

“I’m really happy with where the list landed,” she said.

“We’ve got a nice mixture of talls and smalls and players who can run all day.

“I feel like we’ve landed on a really strong squad.”

The Falcons have also released their under-16 squad, which has two games in the coming weeks ahead of the National Championships in April.

Among the 28 players selected are the Lappin twins, Meg and Ally.

They’re the daughters of Brisbane Lions great and current Geelong AFL men’s assistant coach Nigel.

Twitter: @krockfootball

GEELONG FALCONS GIRLS TALENT LEAGUE SQUAD

*Returning from 2022

GEELONG FALCONS GIRLS UNDER 16 SQUAD