Adelaide superstar Ebony Marinoff will become one of three players this weekend to crack 50 AFLW games for the first time. Photo: AFL MEDIA
Movements on the ladder, milestones, and fallout from potential mishaps all headline the penultimate round of the 2022 AFLW home-and-away season.
Collingwood’s holding onto sixth spot on the ladder by belting its nearest pursuer, the Western Bulldogs, all but confirmed this year’s finalists.
The Magpies’ win, coupled with a Round 7 Doggies-Suns draw, created a deep enough chasm to effectively cement the top six.
All of the top-six sides square off this weekend against each other, so the battle is on to secure prime ladder positions.
The top two earn a bye in the first week of the finals and an “armchair ride” to a home preliminary final, while third and fourth earn home qualifying finals.
This weekend, three stars from last year’s grand final — Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff and Brisbane duo Ally Anderson and Emily Bates – will become the first AFLW players to reach the 50-game mark.
With all of the soul-crushing, long-term injuries this season to some of the league’s best players — Collingwood’s Britt Bonnici and Fremantle’s Mikayla Morrison taking the season tally of ACL ruptures to 12 — the ability of Marinoff, Anderson and Bates to bring up the half-century is as much a testament to their endurance as it is to providence.
ST KILDA (1-7) v GEELONG (2-6) (Saturday, 1.10 pm, Moorabbin)
The Saints last week fought hard to earn their first victory of the season — while dodging two bullets in the dying minutes that could’ve meant an eighth straight loss. Their jubilation at the final siren, though, was tempered by later learning that their ruck and vice-captain Rhiannon Watt ruptured her ACL and depending on the progression of her rehab, may be out until the 2024 season. The Cats now travel to St Kilda’s home deck, trying to finish strong, while the Saints continue a quest to avoid the wooden spoon. Feelgood moments await St Kilda fans, with the opening of the Danny Frawley Centre at its home deck, which certainly will inspire the troops on the field. The Saints will ride that, and last week’s momentum, to victory.
GIL TIPS: St Kilda
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY (3-5) v RICHMOND (2-6) (Saturday, 3.10 pm, Giants Stadium)
The Tigers, by a country mile, are the anomaly of the competition. They sit 12th on the ladder but are fifth in scoring. Problem is, only three other clubs have conceded more points. The fact that the Giants are 10th in scoring creates a tipping dilemma. Richmond — which would be disappointed overall in its season, considering its form in the first two rounds — is at least consistent in attack, which can’t be said for the Giants. With Mon Conti, Katie Brennan and Ellie McKenzie leading the way, look for Richmond to get it right in this road match, as it plays for club pride in the last two rounds.
GIL TIPS: Richmond
FREMANTLE (6-2) v MELBOURNE (7-1) (Saturday, 5pm, Optus Stadium)
The Dees twice bedevilled the Dockers last year, first defeating them out west, then later, rudely escorting them out of the finals at Casey Fields. With that recent history, Melbourne’s red-hot form, and Fremantle likely to be without injured stalwart Kiara Bowers and Morrison, second spot on the ladder sems like it’s the Dees’ to lose. Last round, even with two weeks’ rest, home ground advantage and their opponents missing two stars, the Dockers’ midfield couldn’t match it with the ladder-leading Crows. With Melbourne star midfielder Karen Paxman coming off her best match, possible All-Australian ruck Lauren Pearce in great form and joint league-leading goalkicker Tayla Harris playing arguably the best footy of her career, the Dees go in as clear favourites and should, tighten their grip on second rung, even if they are playing far from home.
GIL TIPS: Melbourne
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WEST COAST (1-7) v WESTERN BULLDOGS (3-4-1) (Saturday, 7.40 pm, Optus Stadium)
The Doggies put up a fierce battle last week at Victoria Park, but a rejuvenated Magpies side ultimately proved far better on the day. For the Bulldogs to make finals, the following three things must all happen: they must beat the Eagles by a big enough margin to significantly boost their percentage; they must upset Brisbane in the last round; and Collingwood has to lose its last two matches. While the second and third of those scenarios are unlikely, the first may very well unfold, given West Coast’s recent form. The Eagles last week conceded an AFLW record score 15.8.98 to Brisbane and in the last few rounds have had the unfortunate habit of scoring most of their points in the second half by which time their opponents have effectively sealed the result. Ellie Blackburn, Kirsty Lamb, Bonnie Toogood and Elisabeth Georgostathis have been in strong form for the Doggies, while the Eagles will be trying to avoid the wooden spoon. Recent trends show Nathan Burke’s side locking this one away early.
GIL TIPS: Western Bulldogs
BRISBANE (6-2) v NORTH MELBOURNE (6-2) (Sunday, 12.10 pm, Maroochydore)
With their merciless dismantling of West Coast last week, the Lions are cresting toward peak performance at just the right time, while the Kangaroos couldn’t match it with the surging Demons. When it comes to weapons, the Lions have an embarrassment of riches. Likely All-Australians Bates and Orla O’Dwyer are having career years collecting and distributing the ball, while Jess Wardlaw, Dakota Davidson and Courtney Hodder are perpetually dangerous around the goals. First-year gun Zimmie Farquharson gives the Lions an added dimension of prowess. North’s midfield has been outstanding with Jasmine Garner in her characteristically excellent form and Ash Riddell playing the best footy of her life. But Brisbane bats deeper up forward and can put up huge scores. The Lions will feast at home.
GIL TIPS: Brisbane
ADELAIDE (7-1) v COLLINGWOOD (5-3) (Sunday, 3.10 pm, Norwood Oval)
The Magpies last round firmly solidified their finals credentials with a big win over the Bulldogs. Forwards Sabrina Frederick and Chloe Molloy looked like entirely different players than the lacklustre versions of themselves from early in the season. But Collingwood paid a steep price as Bonnici joined 2021 league best-and-fairest teammate Bri Davey on the dreaded long-term injury list. Meanwhile, the ladder-leading Crows may regain two injured linchpins, captain Chelsea Randall and club legend Erin Phillips, depending on how they pull up after fitness tests. Adelaide’s list is deep enough to have managed to stay atop the ladder, despite these and other injuries and inaccuracy in front of goal. Back on their Norwood home deck and playing their bruising, physical style, the Crows are likely to wear down Collingwood and comfortably win.
GIL TIPS: Adelaide
CARLTON (3-5) v GOLD COAST (3-4-1) (Sunday, 5.10 pm, Ikon Park)
The Suns’ morale must have taken a hit the last two weeks. Had they won both winnable matches, they’d be in sixth spot and in finals contention. Instead, they drew one, after coughing up a 23-point lead, and in the second game, after trailing by 24 points they had the chance to pinch the win late, only to lose after Sarah Perkins missed two gettable set shots. Instead, Gold Coast is playing for pride, with too many clubs to leapfrog on the ladder and too many results needing to go their way to make finals. Carlton, meanwhile, is flying after two straight wins. The Blues are back at home and their best players Maddy Prespakis, Darcy Vescio and Gabriella Pound are in season-best form. Now that they have the chance to finish strong, the Blues won’t squander it.
GIL TIPS: Carlton
