North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner, a star in one of the AFLW’s best midfields. Photo: AFL MEDIA

HAWTHORN (2-5) v RICHMOND (3-4) (Cazaly’s Stadium, Friday 6.45 pm local time)
For the Tigers, this match and their remaining two afterward are must-wins if they want to make finals. Unfortunately for Richmond, which currently sits 11th on the ladder, it’ll also need help from other clubs to defeat its rivals, all challenging for a top eight berth. This predicament isn’t entirely the Tigers’ making, as the injury bug has bitten several of their key players. The second-year Hawks, meanwhile, are coming off a win over Sydney in which they kicked a wasteful 5.10. Even with the challenge of playing in Cairns’ sultry tropical North Queensland humidity, Richmond should comfortably win this match and keep its finals hopes alive — then must face other finals challengers, Geelong and Collingwood.
LAST MEETING: Richmond won by 35 points
GIL TIPS: RICHMOND

WESTERN BULLDOGS (0-7) v SYDNEY (3-4) (VU Whitten Oval, Saturday 1.05 pm local time)
The winless Bulldogs lost three players to injury in their defeat last week by Adelaide and now have 11 players on the injured list, making it likely they’ll have to deploy a train-on player in this match. The Swans, meanwhile, lost both a match last round — in which they squandered a lead and were wasteful — and young ruck sensation Ally Morphett for the rest of the season, after she fractured a bone in her wrist in that match. Morphett has been a Rising Star Award fancy, but that’s now in doubt given her absence for the last three rounds. The Bulldogs have edges in experience, playing on their home deck, and a desperation to avoid a winless season. Back the Bulldogs.
LAST MEETING: Haven’t met previously.
GIL TIPS: WESTERN BULLDOGS

BRISBANE (5-2) v ADELAIDE (7-0) (Brighton Homes Arena, Saturday 2.05 pm local time)
The indefatigable Crows passed their first serious test two rounds back, beating reigning premier Narrm. Now they travel north to meet up with the fourth-placed Lions. The Crows have a couple of significant outs — the AFLW tribunal banned defender Najwa Allen for three weeks for a bump on the Bulldogs’ Kirsten McLeod, while tough midfielder Abbie Ballard is done for the rest of this season and most of next with a torn ACL. Last time these two sides met, Brisbane eliminated Adelaide in a preliminary final. A reprise of a great match-up awaits — the Lions’ Ally Anderson v Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff — and the Lions, who match up well with the Crows, are more than capable of knocking them off.
LAST MEETING: Brisbane won by 23 points
GIL TIPS: BRISBANE

GWS (1-6) v CARLTON (4-3) (Henson Park, Saturday 3.05 pm local time)
The Blues had a great opportunity last round against Collingwood to assert themselves and plant firm stakes in the top eight. Instead, Carlton scored a measly one point to half time, kicked a paltry 1.4 for the match and lost eighth spot to the Magpies. The Giants last week suffered another defeat and the loss of star midfielder Alyce Parker for the season with a syndesmosis ankle injury. Carlton must find a way to hit the scoreboard early and often to avoid an upset. Fortunately for the Blues, they’re facing a GWS outfit that has scored the fourth fewest points in the competition. Carlton won’t squander its chance this round to rejoin the top eight.
LAST MEETING: GWS won by 17 points
GIL TIPS: CARLTON

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YAARTIPULTI/PORT ADELAIDE (1-7) v GOLD COAST (4-3) (Alberton Oval, Saturday 4.35 pm local time)
Bouncing back from a stinging defeat to their geographical rivals will be on the Suns’ minds this weekend for their match against Yaartipulti, which was destroyed last round by the Kangaroos. With goalkickers Jamie Stanton (14), Jac Dupuy (nine), and captain Tara Bohanna (eight) forming a three-pronged attack, they have the firepower to easily take down the Power, with contested ball queen Charlie Rowbottom to help get the ball in their hands. Gold Coast must fight to keep its top eight spot in a crowded field and in this match they will, with ease.
LAST MEETING: Gold Coast won by 14 points
GIL TIPS: GOLD COAST

NAARM/MELBOURNE (6-1) v NORTH MELBOURNE (6-1) (IKON Park, Saturday 7.15 pm local time)
Along with the Brisbane-Adelaide rematch of the Season 7 preliminary final, here’s a second such clash — the mouthwatering, co-marquee match-of-the-round. Naarm, which has scored more points than any other team in the competition, could have some handy inclusions, including spearhead Tayla Harris, star midfielder Paxy Paxman, and mobile ruck Lauren Pearce, all a chance to return from injuries. Narrm will need all its weapons loaded to deal with a hungry North Melbourne side which has conceded the fewest points in the AFLW and boasts one of the best midfields, led by superstars Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell. Naarm will go in as favourite, but the Kangaroos won’t be intimidated and will be out to avenge last year’s preliminary final loss to the Demons. And this time, Naarm won’t have the psychological edge of playing at windy Casey Fields, where the Demons have been nearly unbeatable. It’ll be the Roos, just.
LAST MEETING: Naarm/Melbourne won by 17 points
GIL TIPS: NORTH MELBOURNE

COLLINGWOOD (4-3) v GEELONG (4-3) (Victoria Park, Sunday 1.05 pm local time)
After struggling for two weeks, the Cats have their mojo back. Amy McDonald, Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison have been prolific and powerful running through the middle, and their delivery to forward targets like tall target Chloe Scheer and emerging forward Aishling Molony is on point. For the Magpies, veteran Bri Davey has been courageous and ruck Sabrina Frederick has been more fit and firing with Collingwood than ever before. The Magpies also could have a massive in, with injured defender Ruby Schleicher a test to return to action. Expect the Cats to show their maturity here, win on the road — and with banged-up Richmond, then struggling Hawthorn in their run home — and firm up their top eight spot.
LAST MEETING: Collingwood won by 4 points
GIL TIPS: GEELONG

WALYALUP/FREMANTLE (3-4) v ST KILDA (4-3) (Fremantle Oval, Sunday 12.05 pm local time)
The surging Saints have roared to life after three consecutive losses to open the season, while the Dockers are coming off back-to-back beatings at the hands of North Melbourne, then Geelong. Superstar midfielder Kiara Bowers returns for Walyalup, her presence having been sorely missed. It would be a big ask for the Saints to fly cross-country and conjure victory. But St Kilda brings serious momentum out west and with a finals spot a possibility, and mid Jaimee Lambert and forward-ruck Jess Wardlaw firing, they have the motivation to get the job done.
LAST MEETING: Walyalup/Fremantle won by 1 point
GIL TIPS: ST KILDA

ESSENDON (5-2) v WEST COAST (1-6) (Windy Hill, Sunday 5.05 pm local time)
Madison Prespakis and her Bomber teammates dodged a bullet in having her one-game suspension for rough conduct against Tiger Sarah Hosking, overturned. But with a finals berth on the line, Prespakis must now be more careful than ever not to get pinged by umpires for dangerous tackles, which has been her achilles heel. While sharpshooting forward Bonnie Toogood remains in the mix for AFLW Player of the Year, Essendon lose small forward Daria Bannister, who tore her ACL against the Tigers and is done for this season and likely most of next. With the vulnerable Eagles having conceded 82 points last round to Naarm, this match is an opportune time for the Bombers to boost their percentage — a handy card to hold in a crowded top eight field, in which several teams could possess identical win-loss records.
LAST MEETING: Essendon won by 52 points
GIL TIPS: ESSENDON