Hawthorn duo Bridie Hipwell and Greta Bodey embrace during their thrilling win over Port Adelaide on Sunday. Photo: AFL MEDIA
GOLD COAST 7.6 (48) def GWS 2.5 (17)
After losing to Brisbane and drawing with Port Adelaide in the last two weeks, the Suns finally rose to the occasion in a crucial match, walloping the Giants and just about locking themselves into their first finals berth since 2020. Gold Coast’s Caludia Whitfort was a one-woman whirlwind, stacking up 34 possessions, winning nine clearances, gaining 533 metres and kicking a goal. Alison Drennan also was influential with 29 touches, and captain Tara Bohanna booted two majors, while the Suns’ backline held young GWS star Zarlie Goldsworthy goalless. Gold Coast, though, will be sweating on the fitness of young superstar Charlie Rowbottom (24 touches, five clearances and a goal), who was forced to the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in the final term, with the result well in hand.
MELBOURNE 8.13 (61) def FREMANTLE 4.4 (28)
After a tepid first term, the nearly full-strength Demons retained their hold on top spot on the ladder by dominating the rest of the match against a depleted Dockers team missing its two leading goalkickers, Ebony Antonio and Aine Tighe, due to knee injuries. Each round it seems different Demons play the hero roles and this week it was Paxy Paxman (27 disposals and a goal) and Eliza McNamara (25 touches and four clearances) sharing the limelight. For good measure, Eden Zanker and Kate Hore continued their battle for the AFLW goalkicking award, with each player kicking two – Zanker now has 20 for the season and Hore 19. Kiara Bowers, with 22 touches and 13 tackles, was best on ground for Fremantle, whose finals hopes have all but evaporated, while the Dees can lock down a minor premiership with a win next round against Brisbane. By virtue of the Demons’ win and Brisbane’s loss to St Kilda, Melbourne won the McClelland Trophy, with a $1 million reward to be shared among its AFLW and AFL players.
ST KILDA 8.7 (55) def BRISBANE 5.4 (34)
About two minutes into the first term, goalkicking Saint-turned-Lion Jesse Wardlaw booted a major, showing her old mates what they’re missing, and setting the tone for what turned out to be one of the season’s biggest upsets. St Kilda led for the entire match and not only spoiled the Lions’ chances for a top-of-the-ladder finish, but also hurt their wallets in denying them the McClelland Trophy. Wardlaw added a second goal and her teammate Ashleigh Richards also kicked two. Jaimee Lambert, Georgia Patrikios and Tyanna Smith all had 18 possessions to lead the Saints, with Smith (nine clearances) instrumental around the stoppages. St Kilda elevated its win-loss record to 5-4 and must beat Carlton next round and have other results go its way to make finals. Meanwhile, the Lions, despite dropping two straight matches, sit fourth — but to earn a double chance they must beat Melbourne next round, or hope for favourable results in other matches.
ESSENDON 8.8 (56) def CARLTON (24)
The Bombers strongly rebounded from a shock loss to West Coast last week to smash the Blues from the opening bounce and all but guarantee a finals appearance in just their second year in the comp. This contest was purely one-way traffic, as Essendon kept Carlton scoreless until the third term and built a 40-point advantage at three-quarter time, thanks in large part to the efforts of Bonnie Toogood. The Bomber co-captain ran rampant, gathering 20 possessions, laying eight tackles, winning three clearances and kicking two goals. Madison Prespakis won seven clearances of her own for Essendon, among her match-high 28 possessions, while teammate Sophie Alexander booted three majors. The Blues have now dropped their last three matches and fallen to 11th spot.
WEST COAST 5.6 (36) def by WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.8 (44)
Every dog has their day and out west, the previously winless Bulldogs finally had theirs at the expense of an Eagles side that was flying high after its upset victory over Essendon. The Bulldogs were in front at every change and were buoyed by Ellie Blackburn who, with 32 disposals and a whopping 665 metres gained, had a day out. Ruck Alice Edmonds also had a blinder for the winners with a goal, 28 hitouts, five tackles and three clearances. West Coast’s fightback fell short, but Eagles Emma Swanson (28 touches) and Ella Roberts (27) bravely battled for their side.
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RICHMOND 1.5 (11) def by GEELONG 6.13 (49)
The Cats easily tamed the injury-riddled Tigers to move up to seventh spot and firm up their finals credentials. Geelong was especially miserly, not conceding a Richmond goal until the final term, while the Cats helped themselves to 19 scoring shots and their inaccuracy proved irrelevant. Six different Cats kicked truly, including Georgie Prespakis, who had 27 disposals, nine clearances and 521 metres gained, while her midfield partner in crime Amy McDonald had 22 touches and won five clearances. Also, Cats forward Chloe Scheer took one of the marks of the year. While Geelong can guarantee itself finals footy with a win over Hawthorn next weekend, for the Tigers — finalists last season — this loss is their fourth in their last five contests, as they limp toward the finish line.
SYDNEY 9.4 (58) def COLLINGWOOD 5.9 (39)
In downing Collingwood by 19 points, the Swans rose to eighth spot and sent the Magpies tumbling to 10th — and possibly out of finals contention. As in St Kilda’s upset win, a player for the underdogs haunted her old side, as Magpie-turned-Swan Chloe Molloy tortured her ex-mates with three goals. Incredibly, the Swans, who didn’t win a single match last season, now sit eighth and are in the box seat to cement the last finals spot. The Magpies kicked the match’s first two goals, but the Swans kicked six of the next seven to take an 18-point half-time lead. If the Magpies miss finals, they’ll surely rue a vital sequence late in the third term, after Grace Campbell and Sabrina Frederick converted to bring the Magpies to within five points. Collingwood’s Nell Morris-Dalton, Eliza James and Sarah Rowe all missed potential go-ahead shots on goal, leading to the Swans’ Sofia Hurley making the Magpies pay with two goals to seal the win. Compounding the result for Collingwood was star defender Ruby Schleicher appearing to suffer a serious knee injury which could rule her out of the 2024 season. Cruelly, she was playing in her first match of the year after recovering from an ankle injury.
ADELAIDE 6.5 (41) def NORTH MELBOURNE 5.8 (38)
The Kangaroos were just 90 seconds from a massive road win, their first victory this season over a fellow top-four side and an elevation to second on the ladder — until Crows mainstays Danielle Ponter and Ebony Marinoff had their say. First, Ponter put her team in front and moments later Marinoff won a possession deep in her side’s backline and launched a clearing kick into space to thwart North Melbourne’s last advance into its attacking end. The Kangaroos, who led at every change, enjoyed outstanding performances from three key players – Jasmine Garner (27 possessions, nine tackles, six clearances and two goals), Ash Riddell (31 disposals and 565 metres gained) and Mia King (26 touches and eight clearances) — but they fell just short. Adelaide’s Anne Hatchard showed no ill-effects from a nasty collision last week, amassing a match-high 32 disposals (17 contested) to go with three score involvements, while Caitlin Gould kicked two goals. Adelaide can now finish no worse than second with one match left, while North Melbourne must beat the Bulldogs next weekend to hold third spot.
HAWTHORN 6.4 (40) def PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 (32)
In a seesawing thriller, the Hawks notched their third win and left the Power just half game above last on the ladder with an eight-point win in Frankston. Hawthorn’s two notable off-season recruits from the Lions had great impact in this win, as small forward Greta Bodey kicked a bag of four goals, including the match winner, while Emily Bates kicked a goal among her 18 disposals and laid 12 tackles. Port Adelaide’s Gemma Houghton played one of her best matches of the season, booting two goals and registering 10 tackles, while teammate Abby Dowrick gathered 20 possessions and gained 561 metres. With their loss, though, the Power haven’t completely escaped the possibility of being wooden spooners. Next week, they must beat GWS and/or the Bulldogs must lose to North to avoid finishing 18th.
