North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner starred last round with 18 disposals and 10 tackles. Photo: AFL MEDIA

A quick glance at the AFLW round 7 fixture shows two marquee matchups with top-of-the-ladder implications.

On Saturday, it’s North Melbourne hosting Brisbane at Arden Street, the surface of which has been restored to being suitable for football. If the Roos, fifth, pull an upset over the Lions and results in other games go their way, they could move up the ladder.

Melbourne, meanwhile, returns to its Casey Fields fortress to take on the Western Bulldogs, for whom a victory is essential to their top-four bid. Outside those two matches, Richmond goes for its fifth win on the trot, while Sydney hopes to avoid it seventh straight loss.

ST KILDA (2-4) v CARLTON (1-3-2) (RSEA Stadium, Friday 5.10 p.m. local time)
It’s a bit early to say both these two struggling clubs are now at the point they’re playing strictly for pride only, but realistically, finals for either are a longshot. That’s why this match represents a last gasp to make the top eight. Neither side has managed a win since round 2, the Saints losing their last four, and Carlton drawing two of their last four. In a quintessential coin flip, the Saints, less banged-up and playing at home, should return to the winners’ list,.
GIL TIPS: ST KILDA

WEST COAST (2-4) v RICHMOND (4-2), (Mineral Resources Park, Friday 7.10 p.m. local time)
Only reigning premier Adelaide has a longer current winning streak than the Tigers, who’ve won four in a row. Richmond’s upset of Brisbane two weeks ago seemed to propel it to tough out a victory last round over Gold Coast. The Tigers comfortably beat West Coast last year on the Eagles’ home deck, and while the Eagles have improved, it’s hard to see a Richmond full of belief losing this one.
GIL TIPS: RICHMOND

SYDNEY (0-6) v GOLD COAST (3-3) (Henson Park, Saturday 12.10 p.m. local time)
The Suns have a golden opportunity this round to jump into the eight — and, judging from how Sydney has previously fared, to build their percentage. The Suns have come a long way in the last two seasons and with a possible top-eight spot on the cards, they must be ruthless from the opening bounce. A side that gives no quarter is a side the young Swans can ill-afford to confront. Conversely, there’s no pressure on Sydney to win its first-ever match and at this juncture, with a top-eight spot out of the question, it has nothing to lose. The Suns absolutely must do better offensively than their three-goal showing last round if they’re a chance this weekend, and this match should provide the tonic.
GIL TIPS: GOLD COAST

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ADELAIDE (5-1) v FREMANTLE (1-4-1) (Unley Oval, Saturday 2.10 p.m. local time)
The Crows have the longest current winning streak — five in a row — in the competition, and playing against the Dockers at home, should get a comfortable win. The Dockers don’t match-up badly with the Crows, but Adelaide’s younger players are on a team with veterans who’ve seen everything. The Crows’ youngsters have the big game experience and sense of daring the Dockers’ equivalents don’t. Adelaide will comfortably get home and continue its push to claim another flag.
GIL TIPS: ADELAIDE

NORTH MELBOURNE (4-2) v BRISBANE (5-1), (Arden Street, Saturday 4.10 p.m. local time)
The Kangaroos have their biggest chance to make a statement against a dominant side and firm up a place in the top four. Jasmine Garner, arguably North Melbourne’s biggest star, is having a blinder this season, and she now comfortably leads the AFL Coaches Association Most Valuable Player Award voting. She starred last round with 18 disposals and 10 tackles, while her teammates midfield and tall forwards have been firing. But will those factors be enough to tame the mighty Lions? Probably not. The Lions this year have shown they have the most offensive weaponry, but also can win low-scoring, close matches. Only the Tigers have had the answer for Brisbane, which is coming off a belting of Essendon, led by Ally Anderson and Emily Bates’s strong performances through the middle, and goalkicker Jess Wardlaw up forward.
GIL TIPS: BRISBANE

HAWTHORN (2-4) v PORT ADELAIDE (1-4-1) (Skybus Stadium, Saturday 6.10 p.m. local time)
Suddenly, the Hawks are getting reward for effort. After a dismal 0-4 start, Bec Goddard’s team has now locked in two straight wins, and the players — especially forward Jess Duffin, who last week polled the maximum 10 AFLW Coaches Association Most Valuable Player Award votes — look genuinely up and about. Port Adelaide has had a disappointing start and has been sandbagged by injuries. The Power are coming off a belting by the Crows, and although Hawthorn has only won one more game this season, the Hawks are showing far more fight.
GIL TIPS: HAWTHORN

ESSENDON (2-4) v GEELONG (4-2) (Reid Oval Warrnambool, Sunday 12.10 p.m. local time)
The Cats’ Georgie Prespakis is serving the last of her two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on an opponent, so the match-up between her and older sister, Bomber Maddy Prespakis, won’t happen. That’s a shame for fans, who would have loved to have seen the two talented and competitive siblings battle for bragging rights. Geelong has played sensationally in recent weeks, including a nail-biting upset win at Ballarat last round against the Bulldogs. A Geelong win here and it would take the Cats completely collapsing the rest of the way home to miss the top eight. They’ll likely have a fight on their hands against upstart Essendon, which was uncharacteristically quiet last round against Brisbane, but the Cats will prevail.
GIL TIPS: GEELONG

MELBOURNE (5-1) v WESTERN BULLDOGS (4-2) (Casey Fields, Sunday 2.10 pm local time)
The Demons kicked into gear at the right time last round and came home with a wet sail in their 30-point win over Fremantle. Melbourne’s Olivia Purcell has been in red-hot form the last two rounds, out-hunting her more experienced teammates for the footy. The Dogs were stung last round by a Cats’ upset and can’t carry their collective disappointment into this match at Casey Fields, where the Dees have won 13 of their last 14 matches. While the Dogs will likely be competitive, Melbourne remain a flag fancy that bats very deep, too deep for the Doggies to contend with.
GIL TIPS: MELBOURNE

COLLINGWOOD (5-1) v GWS (2-4) (Victoria Park, Sunday 4.10 pm local time)
This match has all the appearance of a Collingwood “blowout.” Then again, so did last week’s game against St Kilda, in which the Saints stifled the Pies and almost pulled off the upset of the season. The Pies have too many weapons to light up the scoreboard, including Eliza James, their electrifying forward, who is making herself known leaguewide as a reliable kick for goal. Collingwood also has the personnel in the backline to stop GWS leading scorer Cora Staunton and her sidekick, Emily Pease, who last week kicked two goals. This might turn out to be a real chance for the Pies to stay near the top of the ladder and boost their percentage — but they can ill-afford to be inaccurate in front of the sticks.
GIL TIPS: COLLINGWOOD