Erin Phillips (centre) celebrates her first goal in Port Adelaide colours as the Power beat St Kilda. Photo: AFL PHOTOS
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.7 (31) def GEELONG 3.4 (22)
With their 17-point half time advantage, the fast-maturing Cats looked set to break their Kangaroos hoodoo and avenge last season’s bitter, two-point elimination final loss to them. Geelong’s Mikayla Bowen booted two goals, Georgie Prespakis began collecting a team-high 26 touches, and the Cats’ relentless pressure kept the Roos goalless at the major break. Enter North All-Australian Jasmine Garner, a Cats’ nemesis. She cranked up her already strong effort, snapping truly late in the third term from the top of the arc for one of her 32 disposals, following a Bella Eddey dribbler and a Tahlia Randall set shot, to put the Roos in front and ultimately stay unbeaten and retain their spot atop the ladder. Emma King was equally influential in the final term, impacting a contest leading to Eddey’s second goal, and taking several important marks up forward and down back.
RICHMOND 7.11 (53) def GWS 5.4 (34)
In a possible professional sporting event first, this match’s start was delayed several minutes because of the presence of a dangerous snake slithering on the ground of Blacktown International Sportspark. Maybe that was a bad omen for the winless Giants, whose schizophrenic third quarter saw them rally from 16 points down to roar in front by nine, then trail by three at three-quarter time. From there, Richmond’s Emelia Yassir kicked a goal that put her side back in front for good, then Courtney Jones later snapped truly on the right boot, and Sarah Darcy snapped brilliantly on the left to cap a 19-point Tigers’ victory. Mon Conti gathered 22 possessions for the winners, while Alyce Parker led the Giants with 21 possessions and two majors.
ADELAIDE 12.9 (81) def ESSENDON 5.4 (34)
In the opening term, the Bombers more than held their own with — and had a slight lead over — the Crows, but their massive upset hopes were short-lived. Adelaide erupted for four majors in the second term, four more in the third, then three in the fourth to romp to a 47-point win. As Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff go, so go the 3-0 Crows, and with the duo’s gathering 27 and 22 touches, respectively, the Bombers were overrun. With Adelaide’s Danielle Ponter booting three goals, and Hatchard, Caitlin Gould, and Abbie Ballard kicking two each, Essendon was decisively outgunned. Bonnie Toogood, with her two goals among her 18 disposals, and Madison Prespakis, with two majors from 21, can both hold their heads high for the Bombers in a losing effort.
MELBOURNE 12.11 (83) def WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.5 (35)
The 3-0 Dees continued swinging a wrecking ball through the competition, this time on their Casey Fields fortress, demolishing the Western Bulldogs by six goals, rendering their return to finals highly unrealistic. Similar to their blowout of GWS last round, sharing was caring for Melbourne, as five different Demons —Maddi Gay, Kate Hore, Lily Mithen, Paxy Paxman, and Eden Zanker — kicked two goals each. Twelve of Hore’s 22 possessions were contested and she totaled 10 score involvements. Melbourne’s Tyla Hanks continued her red-hot form, with 25 touches and six clearances, while Eliza McNamara tallied 21 disposals. Ellie Blackburn valiantly fought for the Doggies, but her match-high 29 possessions were for naught.
FREMANTLE 5.5 (35) def HAWTHORN 3.4 (22)
Redemption from a disappointing last-round loss was on the cards in the west, where the Dockers’ Aine Tighe is fast becoming a painful thorn in the Hawks’ side. Last season, the Irishwoman kicked a personal best four goals in Fremantle’s win over Hawthorn. How about this for her Saturday encore: five score involvements — including two of her three goals on the day in the first term — among her 20 possessions. Tighe’s teammate Kiara Bowers was in vintage form with several match-bests, including possessions (25), contested possessions (14), and eight clearances.
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.
PORT ADELAIDE 8.8 (56) def ST KILDA 7.6 (48)
Former Crows’ champion Erin Phillips picked the most opportune time to kick her first major in two seasons in Power colours, snapping the sealer late in the final term in her club’s first-ever road victory. The captain’s goal completed a Port Adelaide come from behind surge, powered by Hannah Ewings and Indy Tahau snaps, both of which were aided by kind bounces over the line. Abbey Dowrick was Port Adelaide’s best, registering 24 possessions, nine clearances, five score involvements, five inside 50s, and 567 metres gained. The Saints, who despite adding three of the competition’s brightest lights, Steph Chiocci, Jesse Wardlaw (one goal), and Jaimee Lambert (16 disposals, nine tackles, and two goals), fell to 0-3.
GOLD COAST 5.3 (33) def COLLINGWOOD 2.9 (21)
It took a big-time effort Sunday and it’s been years in the making, but the Suns have finally announced themselves as a possible finalist. Gold Coast (2-1) overcame its own first term sluggishness, took advantage of the Pies’ match-long wastefulness, and rode the three-goal performance of Jamie Stanton — who now leads the comp with nine majors — to victory in the first-ever meeting of the two sides. The Suns’ Lucy Single grabbed 19 possessions and laid seven tackles, while teammate Claudia Whitfort matched her disposal count and had seven clearances. Gold Coast’s victory had to be especially sweet for ex-Pie Jordan Membrey, who with a goal reminded her former side of her worth. Collingwood’s Britt Bonnici was its best, with 19 touches, seven marks, and five tackles, while Ashleigh Brazill and Bri Davey Kicked the Pies’ majors.
CARLTON 12. 5 (77) def WEST COAST 3.6 (24)
After a nearly even first quarter on the scoreboard, the Blues rolled out the heavy goalkicking artillery from the second term forward, blasting the Eagles into a cratering deficit they couldn’t rise out of. Kelly Skepper (23 possessions and three goals) and Breann Moody (16 possessions, 24 hitouts, two goals) were dominant for Carlton, with Darcy Vescio and Mia Austin (two goals each) playing supporting roles. By suffering their second consecutive belting, the 0-3 Eagles further entrenched themselves on the bottom of the ladder. They’ve now scored a league-low 69 points and have conceded an equal league high of 203.
BRISBANE 14.3 (87) def SYDNEY 4.8 (32)
The second-year Swans scored their first-ever victory in Round 1 and competed well in Round 2 but were due a trip to the woodshed. The ravenous Lions happily held them captive there, inflicting torture from opening bounce to final siren, en route to a 55-point mauling. Brisbane’s pocket rocket Courtney Hodder was at her electrifying best, booting three goals in the first half, Sophie Conway added three more, while Ally Anderson tallied 27 touches, and Isabel Dawes collected 20 possessions and laid 10 tackles. Two Swans had outstanding performances despite the lopsided score: Laura Gardiner’s 41 possessions fell just one short of North Melbourne’s Ash Riddell’s single-match record of 42, while Rising Star candidate Ally Morphett registered 38 hitouts and six clearances.
