AFLW Round 3: All the action from super Sunday’s four games
The top three of the AFLW in Adelaide, North Melbourne and St Kilda all had victories on a day that seperated the best from the rest. Plus the Suns and Giants played out a thrilling draw.
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That’s a wrap on round 3 of the AFLW. It was a day where the best seperated themselves from the rest as Adelaide, North Melbourne and St Kilda all won to move into the top three on the ladder.
Here are the key takeaway’s from Sunday’s action.
PONTER PERFECTION
Ponter kicked the opening goal of the game from a mark inside 50 and she did it into the teeth of the wind.
That was just the opening act for the main event, with Ponter’s second major a contender for goal-of-the-year.
With Bates hot on her tail, the star forward expertly read an opposition tap at a crowded throw-in deep in attacking 50, collected the ball, and slotted a stunning goal off balance on her right boot.
She took her tally to three before half-time, added another in the third and made history with a set shot from 35m out to push the Crows to a 27-point win over the Hawks.
RIDDELL STARS
Ash Riddell had an electrifying second term to break open the game for the Roos in their 50-point win over the Demons.
The star midfielder had 11 disposals and two goals in the quarter to power the Roos to a four-goal lead at half time after scores were level at the first break.
Riddell finished the match with 32 disposals, seven inside 50s and two goals which also continued her streak of kicking a goal in all three games she has played in this season.
If Riddell keeps this excellent form up, the three-time All-Australian could overpower star teammate Jasmine Garner for club and league best and fairest honours.
GAY IN TROUBLE
A high bump from Maddison Gay on Alice Burke late in Essendon’s loss to St Kilda is set to sideline the Bombers half back.
Gay’s heavy bump on Burke caught her high which will certainly attract some attention from the MRO and likely result in some time on the sidelines.
The incident occurred with three minutes left in the game and the Saints leading 23-14.
SUNS AND GIANTS PLAY OUT DRAW
A goal after the siren has secured a dramatic draw for Gold Coast in its battle with GWS Giants.
The Giants looked like they had secured a six-point win, despite having left with one player on the bench due to injuries.
But with less than a minute to go, Jamie Stanton received a free kick inside the forward line.
Stanton kicked truly, tying the game after the siren with a 5.6 (36) to 5.6 (36) score line.
“We probably thought it wasn’t going to be our day and then we got lucky with a free kick,” she said after the game.
“That’s my job, it’s to slot ‘em: and I missed one earlier so I had to go back and nail it.”
The Giants will have to deal with a flurry of injuries, with Cambridge McCormick, Emily Pease and Nicola Barr all finishing the game on the sidelines.
But with the game against Gold Coast being the first of its condensed fixture, the trio may miss more games than expected.
Sun star Charlie Rowbottom was best afield with 41 touches and 13 clearances.
CROWS HAND HAWKS FIRST LOSS OF SEASON
Adelaide’s unbeaten start to the season continued on Sunday, a spectacular career-best five-goal haul from Danielle Ponter propelling the Crows to a commanding 26-point win against Hawthorn in the first-ever AFLW meeting between the clubs.
Ponter became the first AFLW Crow to kick five goals in a game, with a major in every quarter in a breathtaking display at a blustery Unley Oval where Adelaide’s unbeaten record remains intact.
The win may have come at a cost, however, with fears star forward Eloise Jones has ruptured an Achilles tendon.
“It’s an Achilles, which is not great, but we’ll have to wait for the scan,” coach Matthew Clarke said after the match.
“But it’s not looking wonderful at this stage.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed, but we’re also realistic that it could be significant.”
The top-of-the-table clash between the undefeated sides was billed as match-of-the-round, but it turned out to be a harsh reality check for the previously hot Hawks who had started the season in blazing fashion.
Ebony Marinoff led all comers with a game-high 33 possessions, while Chelsea Biddell, Anne Hatchard and Madison Newman were all outstanding in an ominous outing for the rest of the competition.
Emily Bates led the charge for the Hawks, who kept working hard to their credit, and won the last quarter despite kicking against a strong breeze.
WIND-ASSISTED
The Crows found themselves behind at a break for the first time this season when Hawthorn took a one-point lead into quarter-time, but the Hawks had use of the breeze.
Tamara Smith kicked her first AFL goal with the aid of a 50m penalty, but that was Hawthorn’s only major for the opening term, which turned out to be a poor return.
The home side showed the visitors how it’s done in the second quarter, wind-assisted Adelaide slamming through four unanswered goals to open up a commanding 25-point lead at the half.
A usually reserved Clarke had given his charges a demonstrative rev-up during the quarter-time break and it had the desired effect.
The fired-up Crows harassed their opponents mercilessly, forcing turnover after turnover, and with the ball in hand their movement was crisp, quick and courageous.
Hawthorn ventured inside attacking 50 just four times in the second term and was held scoreless in a quarter for the first time this season.
EJ HELPED OFF
One of few negatives for Adelaide was the sight of Jones grimacing in pain as she was helped from the ground in the third quarter.
The mercurial forward was unable to put any weight through her right leg after tumbling to the turf with a minute left in the term.
She later returned to the bench on crutches with an ice pack on the back of her right lower leg.
SCOREBOARD
CROWS 1.1 5.3 7.4 9.4 (58)
HAWKS 1.2 1.2 2.5 4.8 (32)
At Unley Oval
PHELAN’S BEST
Crows: Ponter, Marinoff, Newman, Biddell, Hatchard, S Allan, J Allan, Thompson.
Hawks: Bates, Fleming, West, Lucas-Rodd, Smith.
GOALS
Crows: Ponter 5, Gould 2, Levy, Charlton.
Hawks: Smith, McDonagh, Breed, Bates.
INJURIES
Crows: Jones (ankle). Hawks: Nil.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Ponter (Adel)
2 Marinoff (Adel)
1 Bates (Haw)
ROOS HAMMER DEES
A career-best five goals from Kate Shierlaw has powered North Melbourne to a mammoth 50-point win over Melbourne in a statement to the competition.
The Roos solidified their flag favouritism, bouncing back from last week’s draw to Geelong with a strong outing at Casey Fields on Sunday.
Shierlaw kicked the opening two goals before two more for the tall forward in the third term to make it a steady six-goal lead at three-quarter time.
The 35-year-old’s impressive performance had the Roos leading for the entirety as the Dees had no answers in defence, conceding the most points ever in their AFLW history.
Shierlaw finished with five goals, 17 disposals and seven marks in a dominant performance to help spark the 11.5 (71) to 3.3 (21) win.
RIDDELL STARS
Ash Riddell had an electrifying second term to break open the game for the Roos.
The star midfielder had 11 disposals and two goals in the quarter to power the Roos to a four-goal lead at half time after scores were level at the first break.
Riddell finished the match with 32 disposals, seven inside 50s and two goals which also continued her streak of kicking a goal in all three games she has played in this season.
If Riddell keeps this excellent form up, the three-time All-Australian could overpower star teammate Jasmine Garner for club and league best and fairest honours.
TENSIONS RISE
The Dees didn’t hold back when they had the chance to lay a tackle on their former teammate Libby Birch.
The 2022 Dees premiership player, who made a shock move to the Roos in the off-season, copped a huge tackle from Alyssa Bannan in the third term which sparked a push and shove.
Roos were quick to come to Birch’s defence deep in the defensive pocket as multiple Dees joined Bannan in pressuring Birch.
Birch copped another big tackle soon after from Kate Hore to complete an ultra-physical period for the two-time All-Australian defender.
Birch was spotted at three-quarter time speaking with medical staff and testing out her shoulder, although, she began the fourth term on the field and finished with 10 disposals and four marks.
“It’s always highly emotional coming up against your old side but I’m so proud to be in these colours and really excited that we got the win today,” Birch said on Channel 7 post game.
CALAMITY STRIKES
The Dees completely butchered a big goal opportunity in the first term when Eden Zanker rushed a goal-bound kick from Alyssia Pisano.
As Pisano’s long-range shot was bouncing towards goal, Zanker rightly went to make sure of it but by the time she had grabbed the ball and shot, she ran the ball over the line in a poor moment for the Dees.
Credit should go to Roos defender Jasmine Ferguson for chasing from behind to force Zanker to grab the ball rather than let it run through.
In the end, Zanker would have been best to shepherd the ball through for a goal.
ROOS GET THE BOUNCE
The Roos will have the ball and Casey Fields to thank after two lucky-bounce goals in the first half.
The first one came through tall forward Kate Shierlaw who snapped and had the perfect bounce as the ball took a sharp turn towards goal early in the opening term.
Then Roos small forward Jenna Bruton made a quick kick that tumbled through fortuitously in the second quarter.
MILESTONE DAY
It was an extra special day for the Roos as they celebrated 50 AFLW games for Bella Eddey and Sarah Wright.
Meanwhile, Dees half back and five-time All-Australian Paxy Paxman played her 75th match.
SCOREBOARD
MELBOURNE 2.1 2.1 2.2 3.3 21
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 6.1 8.2 11.5 71
At Casey Fields
HATZOGLOU’S BEST
Dees: McNamara, Mithen, Paxman, Hore, Goldrick.
Roos: Riddell, Shierlaw, Garner, M.King, Kearney, Bruton, Birch.
GOALS
Dees: Beasley, Fitzsimon, McNamara.
Roos: Shierlaw 5, O’Loughlin 2, Bruton 2, Riddell 2.
INJURIES
Dees: Nil. Roos: Birch (shoulder)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MAX HATZOGLOU’S VOTES
3 Riddell
2 Shierlaw
1 Garner
SAINTS CONTINUE HOT START
St Kilda has come from behind to down Essendon by eight points and maintain its unbeaten run this season.
In a low-scoring match marred by some controversial 50-metre penalties, the Saints came from 11 points down midway through the second term to claim their third win of the campaign.
A 50-metre penalty to Saints’ Darcy Guttridge in the third term and then Ashleigh Richards in the last led directly to the final two goals of the game, and ultimately the win for the visitors at Windy Hill on Sunday.
Richards was sent to the goal line with 9:30 left after a protected area infringement and scored to put Nick Dal Santo’s side ahead by eight points in a telling moment.
The Dons gave themselves plenty of chances to win the game, winning inside 50s (31-21) and disposals (224-199) but weren’t able to capitalise.
Saints defender Serene Watson was influential with a game-high eight marks and 452 metres gained, and a team-high 22 disposals.
In a rather strange stat, 14 disposals was the next best for the Saints which Bianca Jakobsson, Jaimee Lambert and Charlotte Simpson notched up.
Stephanie Wales was best on for the Dons with 17 disposals, 35 hit outs, six tackles, six inside 50s and four marks.
This 3-0 start to the Saints’ season is a complete flip on their 2023 campaign where they opened with three losses.
The incident occurred with three minutes left in the game and the Saints leading 23-14.
CONTROVERSIAL FIFTY
The Saints got their first lead of the game late in the third term after a controversial 50m penalty sent Darcy Guttridge to the goal line for a simple major.
But it came with great angst as Paige Scott barely did anything wrong to give away the penalty.
Scott’s contact on Guttridge made her fall to the ground while going back to take her free kick with the ball in hand.
Scott, however, was pushed by Saints’ Nicola Xenos and never would’ve made contact if she wasn’t shoved.
In a low scoring game where goals were hard to come by, it was a big moment as the Saints put through just their second major to take a one-point lead.
WALKER STUNNER
Dons forward Brooke Walker kicked a stunning drop-punt goal deep in the pocket on a tight angle to put the Dons 11 points up early in the second term.
The forward’s shot got the crowd extra excited as she booted it from 40m out right in front of the Bombers faithful in the packed-out R.S. Reynolds Stand grandstand.
Saints defender Paige Trudgeon was claiming alongside a few teammates that she had touched the ball over the line, although the goal did stand.
DONS IMPRESS
The underdog Dons, who went in with a 1-1 record, certainly took it up to the Saints in the opening half, taking a five-point lead at the main break with some strong defensive footy.
Dons midfielder Georgia Nanscawen was leading the way with 15 disposals, four tackles and three clearances in the opening half. Madison Prespakis was also a key contributor with 11 disposals as the Dons won inside 50s (17-11) and clearances (17-12).
The Dons also overran the Saints with their handball game as they recorded 39 more handballs (60-21) in an impressive opening two quarters against an undefeated Saints team. The Dons also had four to nil marks inside 50.
Nanscawen said her side went in with a strong focus to stop the Saints attack.
“We have had a really big focus on our defence and building things from there,” she said.
“So right from the start of the game, we just wanted to be really hot on the pressure and they came at us like we knew they would but we have stuck really strong and we will continue to do that for the next half.”
SCOREBOARD
ESSENDON 1.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 15
ST KILDA 0.1 1.2 2.3 3.5 23
HATZOGLOU’S BEST
Dons: Wales, Nanscawen, Prespakis, Walker, Keaney.
Saints: Watson, Lambert, Exon, Smith, Richards, Guttridge.
GOALS
Dons: Walker, Williamson.
Saints: Guttridge 2, Richards.
INJURIES Dons: Nil. Saints: Anderson (hamstring)
3009 at Windy Hill
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MAX HATZOGLOU’S VOTES
3 Watson (Saints)
2 Lambert (Saints)
1 Wales (Dons)
Originally published as AFLW Round 3: All the action from super Sunday’s four games
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