Melbourne’s Daisy Pearce gets a handball away despite the attention of Essendon’s Stephanie Wales. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
ADELAIDE 4.6 (30) d GEELONG 4.4 (28)
High possession numbers sometimes don’t tell the whole story — especially not in this absolute thriller, in which the reigning premier clung on against the competition’s most improved, finals-bound side. Adelaide’s Danielle Ponter had 14 touches, and her two goals were massive — including a brilliant, running, goal of the year candidate — but her footy IQ was off the charts, with her ability to read the play, gain crucial territory, and in the number of her pinpoint passes that put teammates in positions to score. Adelaide defender Chelsea Biddell’s containing of Geelong’s dangerous forward Chloe Scheer proved vital. Scheer kicked an important third quarter goal from a strong mark, but that happened while Biddell was on the bench. After trailing by three points at the main break, Geelong fired the first salvo — through a Shelley Scott set shot — in a rollicking, goal-for-goal third term, but couldn’t take full advantage of its dominance. Ponter fumbled a chance to seal the win for Adelaide, but her goalwards run killed enough time and gained enough territory to do the job.
GOLD COAST 6.6 (42) d CARLTON 2.3 (15)
It took until the first 20 seconds of the third quarter, but Gold Coast grabbed hold of a dour affair with three major scores in the term. Forward pressure was the key in that third quarter, as Charlie Rowbottom (26 disposals, seven tackles), Alison Drennan (24 possessions), and Elizabeth Keaney (four tackles) helped set up goals for Courtney Jones and Kaylee Kimber. Gold Coast is still a chance to play finals, but must beat Greater Western Sydney next round by a big enough margin to overtake the Western Bulldogs on percentage — and the Blues would also have to beat the Dogs by a lopsided score.
NORTH MELBOURNE 9.3 (57) d COLLINGWOOD 4.1 (25)
All the Roos needed to cure their three-week bout of wayward goalkicking, it seems, was a heavy, overnight rain. In three previous contests, North Melbourne’s accuracy in front of the sticks was a dismal 35 per cent, but on Saturday at Victoria Park, the Roos kicked 5.0 in a blistering second term en route to a decisive 32-point belting of the Pies. North’s win combined with Geelong’s loss increases its chances of a top-four berth. Jasmine Garner was everywhere for the Roos, especially in the second and third terms, winning contested balls, setting up an Emma King goal, converting a set shot of her own, and executing one-percenters down back to stifle Collingwood’s attempted fightback. Garner finished with 27 possessions and five clearances, while 18-year-old teammate Charli Granville proved a handy, late in for Sophie Abbatangelo, booting two goals from just four touches. With Collingwood star defender Ruby Schleicher off the ground in the third term with a leg injury, the Roos’ forward pressure intensified. And if not for a Pies’ defender marking one shot on the line and another shot’s cruel, backward bounce from the square, the Roos would have added two more goals.
FREMANTLE 6.6 (42) d SYDNEY 4.4 (28)
To say Ebony Antonio’s inclusion was handy for the Dockers would be the understatement of the year. True to form, Antonio — who last season claimed AFLW Goal of the Year honours — opened the Dockers’ account in this match, her first of the season, after suffering a knee injury. Meanwhile, Fremantle captain Hayley Miller got busy tying an AFLW record for most possessions in a quarter (14) on her way to a match-high 27. Still, the Swans matched the Dockers on the scoreboard through the first term. Fremantle would pull away from the young Swans in the second quarter, though, eventually winning by 14 points, with Kiara Bowers laying 20 tackles to complement her 19 touches, and Bianca Webb helping herself to two goals. Sydney’s prized draft pick Montana Ham kicked her first career goal, but the Swans’ loss clinches the wooden spoon.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 8.7 (55) d WEST COAST 3.5 (23)
For the first time since their round four win, the Bulldogs tallied more goals than behinds. It was especially handy this round, as in victory they held on to their top eight spot. DeAnna Berry and Sarah Hartwig booted two goals apiece, while Kirsty Lamb (21 possessions) and Celine Moody (19 touches) were the Dogs’ top ball-winners. Kirsten McLeod, though, seriously hurt her ankle only a few minutes into the contest. In defeat, the Eagles’ Emma Swanson had a match-high 28 touches, and two of her teammates produced two moments for the season’s highlight reel — Eleanor Hartill’s spectacular, running dribbler for a goal, and Ella Roberts’s flying pack mark.
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BRISBANE 9.7 (61) d HAWTHORN 1.1 (7)
It was the quintessential glorified training run for the top-spot Lions, who in their 54-point mauling of the first-year Hawks put the game away in the first term, establishing an insurmountable, four-goal lead. Brisbane’s Ally Anderson, having a career-best season, had another blinder (31 possessions, 10 clearances), while Jesse Wardlaw kicked a bag of three goals. Dakota Davidson added two goals for Brisbane, while her teammate Courtney Hodder touched the pill only twice on the day, but unleashed manic forward pressure, laying 10 tackles. Fittingly, inaugural AFLW player Jess Duffin, who earlier in the week announced her retirement after this campaign, kicked the Hawks’ only major, playing in her last home match.
ST KILDA 4.11 (35) d PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 (33)
In an otherwise dismal season, the Saints can say that in one respect, they were undefeated — in matches against expansion sides. St Kilda won just its third match, doing things the hard way to narrowly edge out the Power after earlier in the campaign beating Sydney and Hawthorn. Give the Saints credit, though, for their fightback from two goals down at half-time to grab a four-point advantage at three-quarter time — albeit with a barrage of behinds, rather then a deluge of goals. St Kilda kicked a wobbly 2.6 in the first term and went scoreless in the last, but still got across the line to bring an end to its six-game losing streak. The Saints’ Georgia Patrikios led her side with 19 possessions, but Power captain Erin Phillips led all comers with 21 and was even briefly pressed into ruck duty.
RICHMOND 9.4 (58) d GWS 2.3 (15)
The red-hot Tigers, winners of their last seven matches, have finally earned the just reward of snaring the top-four spot they’ve stalked for weeks. Their 43-point romp over the Giants at muddy Mildura, combined with the Kangaroos’ defeat of Collingwood, sees Richmond supplant the Magpies in fourth spot. Tigers’ star Mon Conti, with a match-best 23 touches, plus eight tackles, four clearances, and a bag of three goals, brought her own Sherrin. Richmond’s Courtney Wakefield celebrated her Sunraysia homecoming by booting a goal in front of family and friends, while Grace Egan collected 19 possessions and opened the Tigers’ account with a booming snap. Jess and Sarah Hosking combined for 32 disposals, 10 tackles, and a goal. Richmond heads into the final home-and-away round with a chance to equal the league’s best record and secure an all-important finals double chance with a win against North Melbourne
MELBOURNE 7.8 (50) d ESSENDON 1.3 (9)
With their home win over the Bombers at a windswept Casey Fields, the Demons kept alive their hopes of finishing atop the ladder — provided they beat West Coast next week and the Lions lose to Collingwood, or if they beat West Coast by a big enough margin to pass Brisbane on percentage. After a string of quiet matches by her own the lofty standards, Melbourne’s Karen Paxman returned to centre stage, tallying 24 disposals, six tackles, four clearances, and a goal. Kate Hore booted three majors, while Alyssa Bannan added two. Maddy Prespakis was Essendon’s best with 23 touches.
