Latest news with #RubySchleicher
ABC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Ruby Schleicher's road to Collingwood captaincy hasn't always been an easy one
When Ruby Schleicher walked into Collingwood in 2016 as a wide-eyed 18-year-old, she never envisioned herself being captain one day. After floating in and out of Collingwood's side early on in her career, Schleicher has ascended into arguably the club's best player. "I don't think I would have pictured myself in this position. I don't think any of the girls that were in that 2017, 2018 team would've pictured it for me either," Schleicher told ABC Sport. "I mean, I'm probably surprised that I've still got a gig in the black and white stripes, to be honest." Now 27 years old, Schleicher was taken at pick 144 by Collingwood in the inaugural women's draft, and made her debut in the very first game against Carlton at Princes Park. "If you went back and watched that very first game, I'm pretty lucky I wasn't delisted after that one," Schleicher recalled. "I reckon I was 30 per cent game time as a backup ruck for Emma King. Had a little run through the midfield as an inside mid as well. "I think they were just chucking me wherever because they couldn't find a spot for me. Darcy Vescio kicked one on me in the goal square because I jumped in (defensive) 50, like I honestly had no idea." In the years that followed, Schleicher eventually found a spot in defence in a star-studded side in the league that was also finding its feet. In 2021, she made the All-Australian team as a halfback after leading the league for total intercept possessions and intercept marks, and three years after that, she took out Collingwood's best and fairest. This year, Schleicher was named captain ahead of the season, taking the reins from Brianna Davey. "I've sort of come a long way, obviously, now in the privileged position to be able to lead the club," she said. "But I think that's probably what's grown elements of my leadership as well, is that it hasn't been the perfect career for me. "I've sort of been in and out of sides, consistently dropped the first sort of three, four years, a lot of injury-riddled seasons that have kept me out. "Whether I've just played one game a season, or whatever it is, I've sort of done it all in that way. While Schleicher led the team out for much of last year as Davey was sidelined with an injury, her first official run out and coin toss as skipper will be against Carlton next Thursday for the season opener. The game is a hark back to the lockout game back in 2017 to kick off the 10th season. Last season, the Magpies finished bottom of the ladder with just the one win, while the Blues finished 14th. "We've had the honour of doing it (the opener) for a few different years, and obviously it's chopped and changed over the years. But I think it's really fitting (for) the 10th season," Schleicher said. "Such an iconic day; that first game in 2017 that I was really fortunate to be a part of. It feels right to go back to Ikon Park." Carlton will also be led out by a new captain, with Abbie McKay taking the reins as previous skipper Kerryn Peterson is currently on the club's inactive list as she expects her first child. "Us and the Blues are two sides that were probably in similar positions," Schleicher said. "Not really happy with the way that our seasons went, but with a lot of young talent that's come in and both (with) really bright, exciting futures. "So it's sort of our first opportunity to be able to see how we go and just put a real stamp on this competition from game one."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFLW pre-season to begin before fixture release
AFLW players will start pre-season training without a fixture in place but the league's boss maintains the schedule is on its way. Women's clubs and players have been frustrated by the delay in releasing the fixture for the 10th season of the competition. The men's schedule is often released weeks after the previous season has ended, and sometimes more than four months before the start of the next campaign. The semi-professional nature of AFLW means players need more notice to ask for time off from work and study. The only game locked into the calendar is the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood, to take place at Ikon Park on August 14. The countdown is on for the 10th season of NAB AFLW 🙌🏼 — AFL Women's (@aflwomens) May 5, 2025 "One of the key things about the fixture announcement is this is the first of the fixture announcements," said Payne when confirming the Blues-Magpies clash. "We intend to complete the fixture work by the end of this month and release that so the players and the clubs will know what's happening. "The work that we're doing is to make sure that we're optimising that crossover between the men's and women's competitions." Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher, who works in a presenting role for Fox Footy, was empathetic towards players who don't have such flexible schedules. "I'm very fortunate with my work that footy comes first, and they're very understanding of that, so I'm able to move things around," Schleicher said. "Obviously the earliest we can get it (the fixture) is is ideal, but at the same time, we prepare the same way we're going to prepare for anyone. "It doesn't sort of change the system that we want to play as a football club." The AFLW are hoping the Carlton-Collingwood season opener will bring back memories of a famous night in 2017 when the Ikon Park stands were full to watch the league's first match.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
AFLW pre-season to begin before fixture release
AFLW players will start pre-season training without a fixture in place but the league's boss maintains the schedule is on its way. Women's clubs and players have been frustrated by the delay in releasing the fixture for the 10th season of the competition. The men's schedule is often released weeks after the previous season has ended, and sometimes more than four months before the start of the next campaign. The semi-professional nature of AFLW means players need more notice to ask for time off from work and study. The only game locked into the calendar is the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood, to take place at Ikon Park on August 14. "One of the key things about the fixture announcement is this is the first of the fixture announcements," said Payne when confirming the Blues-Magpies clash. "We intend to complete the fixture work by the end of this month and release that so the players and the clubs will know what's happening. "The work that we're doing is to make sure that we're optimising that crossover between the men's and women's competitions." Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher, who works in a presenting role for Fox Footy, was empathetic towards players who don't have such flexible schedules. "I'm very fortunate with my work that footy comes first, and they're very understanding of that, so I'm able to move things around," Schleicher said. "Obviously the earliest we can get it (the fixture) is is ideal, but at the same time, we prepare the same way we're going to prepare for anyone. "It doesn't sort of change the system that we want to play as a football club." The AFLW are hoping the Carlton-Collingwood season opener will bring back memories of a famous night in 2017 when the Ikon Park stands were full to watch the league's first match.
