Harper Sercombe
Former Northern Knight talent, Riley Wilcox has been nominated for the AFLW rising star for the second time in her short career.
The Bulldogs started their 2023 campaign with four losses, however, with the Dogs young talent shining and a return to Whitten Oval scheduled for this weekend, there’s plenty to look forward to at the kennel.
The 18-year-old gathered 18 disposals, four marks and 303m gained in the Dogs’ four-point loss to Gold Coast on Sunday.
“Obviously, it’s not been the start that we wanted,” Wilcox said.
“But I’m confident that we’ll start to get the ball rolling in the back end of the season and finish strong.
“We’re just going to keep working in and out of training.
“Lifting up the intensity and everything like that, just so we can start seeing results.”
After being selected with the Dogs’ highest pick in the 2022 draft, taken at pick 21 from the Northern Knights, Wilcox made an immediate impression getting her first of two rising star nominations in round three last season.
Wilcox made her debut in the opening round of season seven and was nominated following 11 disposals and a goal in the Dogs’ three-point win over Fremantle. Her second nomination came as a shock.
“I didn’t expect it to be honest,” she said. “They announced it on the plane and I thought I was getting escorted off for some reason.
“It was such a good announcement, I didn’t expect it whatsoever.
“I’m just very grateful for the opportunity the Dogs have given me, and the second time which is pretty cool, I’m so grateful.”
The Bulldogs’ campaign continues on Friday night when they will return to their spiritual home at Whitten Oval to take on St Kilda.
The ground had been unusable for the entirety of season seven of the AFLW, with the Bulldogs having been on the road all of last season and the early rounds of this season.
Now the kennel is open and the anticipation and excitement is palatable.
“It’s going to be incredible,” Wilcox said. “The girls are absolutely pumped to be back underneath the lights on Friday night.
“I’m pumped as well, I’ve only trained there, rarely trained there last year because of the redevelopments.
“I’m so pumped to be back at Whitten Oval that’s for sure.”
The Bulldogs are hoping to get their first win of the season on Friday night, taking on the St Kilda, which has also had a tough start to the year.
The Saints had their first win of the season over the weekend, with a 12 point victory against Collingwood.
“They’re going to come out firing,” Wilcox said.
“I think we’ve just got to back ourselves, lift the intensity, lift the pressure and focus on what we want to do throughout the game, which will get us on the scoreboard.
“If we play all four quarters, hopefully we see the result that we want.”
