Follow all the action as Geelong and Collingwood launch the AFLW season

Footy is officially back with the launch of AFL Women's.

The third season of AFLW kicks off with expansion team Geelong hosting Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium.

However, there was bad news for the Cats on Thursday night with captain Mel Hickey ruled out after she failed to recover from knee surgery in time.

Hickey tore her ACL in March last year and despite returning to full training last month couldn't convince the Cats' medical staff to clear her, meaning Bec Goring will skipper Geelong in its first AFLW game.

Rival Collingwood will debut former Australia netball captain Sharni Layton in the ruck after she crossed from the Magpies' netball team last year.

In the second match of tonight's double-header, reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs will launch their title defence in Adelaide against the Crows.

FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION AND REACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW
GEELONG v COLLINGWOOD
Saturday, February 2 at GMHBA Stadium, 6.40pm (EDT)

CATS
B: Anna Teague, Bec Goring, Cassie Blakeway

HB: Denby Taylor, Meghan McDonald, Becky Webster

C: Renee Garing

HF: Sophie Van De Heuvel, Maddie Boyd, Nina Morrison

F: Kate Darby, Phoebe McWilliams, Jordan Ivey

Foll: Aasta O’Connor, Julia Crockett-Grills, Olivia Purcell

I/C: Maddy Keryk, Danielle Orr, Maddy McMahon, Maighan Fogas, Mia-Rae Clifford

Emerg: Georgie Rankin, Rene Caris

MAGPIES
B: Jordyn Allen, Ash Brazill, Iilish Ross

HB: Stacey Livingstone, Sophie Casey, Emma Grant

C: Brittany Bonnici

HF: Lauren Butler, Sarah D’Arcy, Mikala Cann

F: Sarah Rowe, Sophie Alexander, Cecilia McIntosh

Foll: Sharni Layton, Steph Chiocci, Jaimee Lambert

I/C: Ruby Schleicher, Georgia Gourlay, Sarah Dargan, Kristy Stratton, Erica Fowler

Emerg: Holly Whitford, Katie Lynch

ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday, February 2 at Norwood Oval, 8.40pm (EDT)

CROWS
B: Renee Forth, Sarah Allan, Courtney Cramey

HB: Angela Foley, Chelsea Randall, Stevie-Lee Thompson

C: Ebony Marinoff

HF: Deni Varnhagen, Anne Hatchard, Chloe Scheer

F: Eloise Jones, Marijana Rajcic, Justine Mules

Foll: Jessica Foley, Erin Phillips, Dayna Cox

I/C: Maisie Nankivell, Hannah Martin, Jenna McCormick, Ailish Considine, Sophie Li

Emerg: Sally Riley, Danielle Ponter

BULLDOGS
B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Bailey Hunt

HB: Nicole Callinan, Tiarna Ernst, Hannah Scott

C: Belinda Smith

HF: Naomi Ferres, Katie Brennan, Monique Conti

F: Kristen McLeod, Emma Mackie, Aisling Utri

Foll: Kim Rennie, Kirsty Lamb, Ellie Blackburn

I/C: Bonnie Toogood, Celine Moody, Elenor Brown, Angelica Gogos, Deanna Berry

Emerg: Aisling McCarthy, Selena Karlson