AFLW 2021: All the Round 4 news and results plus how the AFL will keep the season alive
Brisbane had not lost a game this season. Then the Lions ran into Erin Phillips. Plus the Dees blow it against the Dogs. FULL AFLW WRAP
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An Erin Phillips-inspired Adelaide held-off a fast-finishing Brisbane on Sunday to inflict the Lions’ first loss of the AFL season.
Phillips kicked four goals, had 21 possessions, four clearances and eight marks in Adelaide’s 6.9 (45) to 5.3 (33) win in stifling conditions at Hickey Park that was set-up in the first term, when the Crows kicked 17 unanswered points.
Phillips kicked the first two goals of the match and iced the premiership points with the last major of the day to sink the previously unbeaten Brisbane.
Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said Phillips stood tall when it mattered most.
“We needed someone to finish the work. We were playing reasonably good footy but weren’t able to really make the most of our chances other than Erin who was outstanding in all aspects, really good performance,’’ Clarke said.
“When everyone else is watching the footy in the backline and we’ve got numbers back there, there’s one person that’s got eyes completely on the footy and launches herself at the footy and generally is clean above her head. She’s a super player at ground level, key forward, wherever you put her,’’ he said of Phillips.
“Her hands and her reading of the flight of the football is top shelf, so she’s very, very hard to defend.’’
FIXTURE REVEALED: VIC CLUBS HIT THE ROAD AGAIN
Brisbane smashed AFLW expansion clubs Richmond, Gold Coast and West Coast in the opening three rounds but fell short in their first genuine test against an established side that showed defensive grit, finished off their attacking opportunities and had poise late in the match, when the Lions closed to within five points of the visitors.
Ebony Marinoff had 28 touches for the Crows while defender Breanna Koenen and running machine Orla O’Dwyer were Brisbane’s best.
Adelaide peppered the goals in the third term but was unable to kick straight until Phillips took a strong pack mark and booted her third goal to hand the Crows a 13-point cushion at the last change.
The Lions surged back into the contest in the second term after Adelaide dominated proceedings in the opening quarter on the way to a 17-point buffer at the first break.
Phillips was outstanding in the first quarter with two goals, two score assists, one clearance and one inside-50 as the Crows enjoyed a 9-1 advantage in inside-50 entries and Anne Hatchard accumulating a game-high 10 possessions.
Goals to Dakota Davidson, Courtney Hodder and Taylor Smith dragged Brisbane back into the match after a scoreless first term.
The Crows took a 12-point lead into the main break after Ashleigh Woodland kicked a goal against the run of play just before the halftime siren.
FIXTURE OVERHEATS
All clubs accept that they have to be agile and flexible in the COVID era, but the AFL is also allowed to have some common sense with its fixturing.
With a three-game schedule on Sunday to complete Round 4, the Lions and Crows were the first cab off the rank in searing Brisbane February heat at 12.10pm local time with games in Melbourne and Sydney to follow later in the day.
Starcevich said it was “probably” silly to start a match in Queensland in February at 12.10pm when the temparate was 32 degrees but refused to use the stifling heat as an excuse for the loss.
“We had this conversation years and years ago with the men’s team. This is not the environment to come across as a whinger, because we’re just grateful to pay footy, so whatever time they give you, you just go and play,’’ he said.
“Pressure has been a big part of our game to limit the opposition. That wasn’t at a high enough level.
“The opposition had just come off a loss and that’s the slight difference in mindset I guess, that one team, us, had come off a reasonable victory on Monday and the other team has come off a loss, so I guess that level of desperation wasn’t there.
“We got scored against in the last minute of the second quarter, the third quarter and last quarter. I know we had the slow start but getting scored against late in quarters …. it’s pretty deflating.”
Three-on-one? No sweat for Phillips 🤷â€â™€ï¸ðŸ¤¯#crowsaflw #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/hFrVMLzegK
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) February 21, 2021
LIONS MISS GUN DEFENDER
Nat Grider has been one of Brisbane’s best players in 2021, capped off by her recent Rising Star nomination.
She has been a great springboard out of defence, averaging a team-high 17 disposals and five tackles per match across half-back in Brisbane’s first three wins of the season. Not bad for a player who almost missed out on a contract after a quiet 2020.
A hand injury forced her out of Sunday’s match and she was sorely missed as the Lions backline was under siege.
SURREAL FLASHBACK
If a week is a long time in politics, four years in footy is an absolute eternity.
Brisbane and Adelaide played in the first-ever AFLW grand final on March 25, 2017 at Metricon Stadium. Later that night, Chris Fagan had his first-ever outing as Lions senior coach when the Lions beat the Rodney Eade-coached Suns.
A handful of survivors from the 2017 AFLW decider were on deck on Sunday – nine for the Crows and six for Brisbane.
IS SECRET RITUAL KEY TO DOGS’ SUCCESS?
- Sophie Welsh
Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke is encouraging his side to revel in their success after their comfortable win over premiership fancy Melbourne at Whitten Oval on Sunday afternoon.
“There’s none of this sort of ‘keep a lid on it’ sort of stuff,” Burke said after the game.
“My message after the game was, ‘Isn’t winning fun, so let’s just make sure we train even harder and rehab even better so that we get to come back and do it all again next week’.
“I want them to really get wrapped in the win.
“For me it’s go nuts and really enjoy yourselves, but understand that if you want to do it again, you have to work harder.
“I have no concern that they’ll take their foot off the pedal or rest on their laurels at all, it’s just not in this group.”
Burke said the mood in the changerooms after the game was jubilant, with his side engaging in a super secret ritual.
“They have a tradition where they choose a particular song, they lock themselves in the changerooms and they just go nuts,” he said.
“I’m not sure exactly what they do in there but it’s their tradition and they’re loving it.
DEES BLOW IT IN FRONT OF GOAL
They say bad kicking is bad football, and the old adage proved costly for the Demons on Sunday afternoon.
Despite leading in nearly every key statistic, Melbourne was wasteful in front of goal as opponent the Western Bulldogs made the most of their scoring opportunities.
Another stellar performance by Rising Star winner Isabel Huntington (two goals) gave the Dogs an edge, with her strong marking and goalkicking ability on display once again.
The Dogs’ defence withstood relentless pressure from the Dees early, keeping Melbourne to only one goal from 10 first-quarter inside-50s. It didn’t get much better for the Dees, managing two goals and 12 behinds from 38 inside-50s for the match.
In contrast, the Dogs were very efficient, managing to convert six goals and one behind from just 19 inside-50s.
The roar from the Footscray faithful in the stands only increased in volume as the final quarter wore on, as the Dogs piled on two unanswered goals to finish the game in emphatic fashion.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
On paper, Melbourne had the Dogs beat.
The Demons won the clearances, had more contested possessions and even won more free kicks.
Yet the Bulldogs’ accuracy in front of goal, paired with their obvious chemistry, saw them withstand an aggressively attacking Melbourne.
YOUNG PUPS SHINE
Isabel Huntington continued her breakout season as one of the game’s most dominant forwards, booting two goals and taking four marks.
No.2 draft pick Jess Fitzgerald built on her impressive form from last week, kicking two important goals.
CASUALTY WARD
The Bulldogs bench was under seige at times, with several players coming off injured throughout the game.
Naomi Ferres came off clutching her face midway through the first quarter, but returned later in the game.
Elisabeth Gorgostathis was put through her paces by the physio after injuring her left hand, but returned to the game sporting some strapping during the third quarter.
Celine Moody came off the ground in the third quarter clutching her left shoulder, but returned for the final term.
Western Bulldogs 6.1 (37) def Melbourne 2.12.24
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Huntington 2, Fitzgerald 2, Blackburn, McLeod
Melbourne: Paxman, Scott
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Huntington, Fitzgerald, Scott, Hartwig
Melbourne: Zanker, Paxman, Mithen
Crowd: 3180
GIANTS PREVAIL IN BLACKTOWN GOALFEST
- Jocyelyn Airth
Irish sports legend Cora Staunton booted an incredible four goals to deliver the Giants a 48-28 win over the West Coast Eagles on Sunday.
The 39-year-old led from the front, notching 16 disposals and 12 kicks to inspire GWS to back-to-back win and the club’s highest score of 2021.
West Coast started strongly and was in the contest for the first three quarters — Emma Swanson and Tayla Bresland busted their guts in the blistering sun at Blacktown.
But the Eagles went missing at crunch time and Staunton slotted two more brilliant goals in the last that had fans on their feet.
“I’ve been getting enough abuse the last few weeks for not kicking goals, I’ve had a lot of shots over the last week that just didn’t go through, so lucky enough today I got an easy one to start off with,” Staunton said.
“I think the way we set up ahead of the ball really suits me. It was nice to kick a few goals,
“I think our midfield really controlled everything in the last quarter and that really helped us.”
GWS coach Alan McConnell said he was pleased with the Irish star’s performance and praised the Giants for stepping up after a chaotic first quarter.
“Early it was a bit of a shootout to be honest, we looked a bit vulnerable behind the ball, both structurally and technique ... we needed to tidy that up, which we did, and we looked pretty solid from half time onwards,” McConnell said.
HOT START
It rained goals in Blacktown, with the Giants and Eagles slotting seven combined in the first quarter alone.
Staunton started the goal-fest after just 40 seconds and notched her second just two minutes later.
West Coast also got stuck in immediately, with Ashlee Atkins booting a sensational goal off a one-handed pick-up in the second minute.
Eagles Parris Laurie and Maddy Collier followed suit, as did Giants Rebecca Beeson and Jessica Dal Pos, to finish off arguably one of the most exciting and competitive quarters in AFLW history.
PARKER PREVAILS
Giants star Alyce Parker was her usual menacing self. The 20-year-old racked up a spectacular 25 disposals and 13 contested possessions. Just another day in the office for the competition’s leader in disposals, contested possessions and clearances.
Parker’s growing combination with Beeson was in full flight, with the midfielder herself impressing with 12 disposals and eight handballs. Tarni Evans made a strong return after sitting out last week due to her one match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Crow Ailish Considine.
EAGLES POSITIVE
West Coast will head into Round 5 winless. The visitors looked strong at times and recorded the club’s second highest AFLW score ever, but their aggression simply fizzled out.
“It probably came down to the experience of the Giants players, we couldn’t handle the pressure in our back end of the game, it’s something we’re working on,” said West Coast Coach Daniel Pratt.
The Eagles will next take on the Gold Coast Suns, but they’ll be sweating over the prognosis of Aisling McCarthy, who was carried from the field in the fourth quarter after landing on her knee awkwardly.
“I don’t think it’s as bad as it looked, it was a really bad knock but it doesn’t look like there’s anything structurally wrong,” Pratt said.
RUTHLESS PIES STUN ROOS
- Dan Batten
Collingwood made an emphatic statement in quelling offensive powerhouse North Melbourne, firming as a premiership favourite with a rousing 20-point triumph.
The Pies put the clamps on the Kangaroos in the heavyweight clash at Marvel Stadium, keeping them goalless for the entire match as defensive pillars Ruby Schleicher and Stacey Livingstone stood tall.
The Kangaroos remained in the game until the dangerous Chloe Molloy, who kicked a goal of the year contender in the first term, snapped her second major in the early stages of the fourth quarter to put the result beyond doubt.
Superstar midfielder Brianna Davey won a game-high 31 disposals in yet another dominant midfield display, combining magnificently with inside bulls Jamie Lambert and Brittany Bonnici.
The result marked the first time the Kangaroos have recorded back-to-back losses since entering the competition.
MOLLOY MAGIC
In a pressure cooker first quarter where both sides struggled for clean possession, Chloe Molloy produced a goal of the year contender.
The former number three pick Malloy gathered it off the deck inside 50 after laying a tackle and bended it home on the bounce from 40m in heavy congestion.
Molloy’s brilliant play epitomised her X-factor that makes her a nightmare match-up for opposition defenders.
PROLIFIC PIES
North Melbourne was powerless to stop Collingwood’s midfield triple threat in Davey, Lambert and Bonnici, who relished the open spaces of Marvel Stadium.
Remarkably, the prolific trio tallied a whopping 46 first-half disposals – close to half of the Magpies’ total count to the long-break – giving their side the midfield ascendancy against an accomplished Kangaroos on-ball brigade.
The star midfielders finished as the top-three ball-winners on the ground.
INTERCHANGE ERROR
Accidents can happen on the footy field and fortunately this one didn’t have a grave consequence. As the Roos were lifting in the third term, Ash Riddell was gifted a 50m penalty after a pair of Magpies clumsily ran through the mark running off the field following a lasso free kick on the wing.
The bizarre incident brought the home side to their attacking arc, but Steve Symonds breathed a sigh of relief when the attacking foray was brought undone.
SCOREBOARD
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 (8)
COLLINGWOOD 2.2 3.2 3.4 4.4 (28)
BEST
North Melbourne: Ashmore, Garner, Bruton, Gillespie-Jones
Collingwood: Davey, Molloy, Lambert, Bonnici, Schleicher, Livingstone
GOALS
North Melbourne: Nil
Collingwood: Molloy 2, Sheridan, Membrey
Crowd: 2254 at Marvel Stadium
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Bresnahan (finger)
BLUES STEAL WIN AS TIGERS HEARTS BREAK
– James Mottershead
Richmond is getting closer.
In one of the games of the season, the Tigers fell agonisingly short of breaking their duck in the AFLW at the tenth time of asking, left to rue a poor second quarter that ultimately cost them their first four points.
For the first time ever, the Tigers took a lead into the quarter time break after smashing the Blues out of the blocks to find themselves 16 points ahead.
A goal at the four-minute mark of the second term to Katie Brennan had Richmond fans daring to believe, but a Maddie Prespakis masterclass, in which she kicked two brilliant goals, brought the Blues back into the game.
Some individual brilliance from Darcy Vescio in the third quarter looked to have killed off Richmond, but the Tigers had other ideas.
With just seconds left, the Tigers looked like they were going to pinch a draw after two rushed behinds left them six-points down.
But a desperate contest at the top of the square forced the ball through for a point, giving Carlton possession and from there they ran the clock down.
Prespakis spears Richmond
Not only did the reigning AFLW best-and-fairest winner drive a dagger into the heart of Richmond fans in the second quarter with two classy goals, she speared Tiger star Sarah Hosking into the IKON Park turf.
The tackle left Hosking needing assessment for concussion in the rooms and is sure to be looked at by the MRP during the week.
The fact Hosking played out the game should help Prespakis, but a reprimand for rough conduct on the Bulldogs’ Kirsty Lamb in Round 2 is likely to be taken into consideration.
It would be a cruel blow for the Blues, who needed every ounce of Praspakis’ talent to get back into the game.
Tigers find their bite
Richmond’s early woes in the AFLW have been well documented, but this was the best version we’d seen of the Tigers in 10 games.
Going forward they had options in Courtney Wakefield, Tayla Stahl and Katie Brennan.
Their midfield, led by the spectacular Monique Conti, who finished with a game-high 26 disposals, functioned the best it had and matched it with the experienced Blues.
And a defence glued together around star Harriet Cordner was, at times, impenetrable.
It was the first time Richmond had won a first quarter, and the Tigers finished with their highest ever score.
The Tigers are within two points after Courtney Wakefield soccers through her third ðŸ¯#AFLW | #AFLWBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/y1w06SSrc9
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 20, 2021
The Vescio show
Carlton was crying out for one of its big names to step up and help Prespakis after halftime – enter Darcy Vescio.
The Blues held onto the narrowest of margins at the main break and Richmond could sniff its maiden AFLW win after a blistering open term.
But three third-quarter goals from the Carlton livewire forward all but took the game away from the Tigers.
SCOREBOARD
CARLTON 0.2 4.2 7.3 8.3 (51)
RICHMOND 3.0 4.1 5.1 7.4 (46)
GOALS
Carlton: Vescio 3, Prespakis 2, Harris, McEvoy, Stevens
Richmond: Wakefield 3, Stahl, Brennan 2
BEST
Carlton: Prespakis, Vescio, Egan, Hosking, Moody
Richmond: Conti, Brennan, Wakefield, Stahl, Seymour
Attendance: 2212
SAINTS CAST A SHADOW OVER CATS
– James Mottershead
The main lights went out at RSEA Park at the end of the third quarter, but they’d dimmed on Geelong long before that.
Nearing the end of the premiership quarter, which the Saints used to distance themselves from the battling Cats, the ground was cast into partial darkness, but that didn’t stop Caitlin Greiser kicking her second of the night as the siren sounded.
Like they did a week ago to the Western Bulldogs, Geelong blunted the Saints early to sit just a point behind at the main break.
But the Greiser goal and an Isabella Shannon major following a goal of the year contender from Kate Shierlaw put the game beyond doubt as the Saints kicked 3.6 and kept the Cats scoreless in the third term.
The Cats’ scoring woes were epitomised at the 14-minute mark of the third quarter when Stephanie Williams ran from 55 metres out to the top of the square, only to fail to kick the ball and get run down holding the ball.
They managed to kick some late goals to regain some respect on the scoreboard, but had the Saints kicked straight it would’ve been an even darker night for the Cats.
G-Train full steam ahead
Caitlin Greiser was the most dominant forward in AFLW last season, and she fired a warning shot to the rest of the competition, kicking 3.2 and looking as dangerous as ever on the lead.
But it wasn’t her work in the air that should have opponents worried, rather her ability to get out the back of the Geelong defence and break away, kicking two goals from the square.
Cranston breaks the bad
Geelong had kicked four goals in three games coming into Friday night’s contest, so while a return of three goals was much better for the Cats, they were still a way off the pace.
The AFLW’s lowest scoring side didn’t look like kicking a goal in a dour first half, but a fortunate 50m penalty led to a Richelle Cranston goal five minutes into the second term.
The Cats might look back in a few weeks at the Cranston goal as the one that got them going on the scoreboard in 2021.
Shierlaw’s stunner
Kate Shierlaw might have snagged the goal of the year award with her goal that ignited the Saints in the third quarter.
Her hands weren’t quite working for her, spilling a number of marks before an over kicked ball at the six-minute mark left her in position to break away from her opponent 50 metres out from goal.
Shierlaw turned on the jets and running around the boundary line snapped around the corner from 35 metres out to kick one of the most memorable goals of the season so far.
St Kilda 7.9.51 def Geelong 3.4.22
Goals
St Kilda: 3 Greiser, 1 Shannon, Shierlaw, Vogt, McCarthy
Geelong: 1 Cranston, Rankin, McWilliams
Best
St Kilda: Greiser, Lucas-Rodd, Smith, Watt, Dillon
Geelong: Webster, A.McDonald, Purcell, M.McDonald
Attendance: 1454
League’s drastic step to keep AFLW season alive
– Marc McGowan
AFLW captains met with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and women’s football boss Nicole Livingstone via video link on Friday as teams brace to relocate interstate to complete the season.
COVID-19-related border closures continue to pose a problem for AFLW fixturing, but the AFL is intent on finding a way to play all scheduled matches.
The Herald Sun understands the plan is to release the round five fixture as soon as this weekend and any interstate relocation wouldn’t be until at least the week after next.
All players were surveyed this week on the conditions involved in a temporary interstate move, including a compensatory package for not being able to work and other expenses, such as daycare for children.
It’s believed discussions are centred on AFLW footballers receiving a uniform $200-a-day stipend, while any other essential expenses would be covered as well.
This payment would be on top of their contracted salary.
Any potential interstate move would not be a strict hub situation, with players and officials instead simply abiding by that state’s coronavirus laws.
The conditions involved in Greater Western Sydney’s brief Adelaide stay in January – required for the Giants to be able to enter Western Australia – will serve as a precedent for other AFLW clubs.
Livingstone told the Herald Sun that league headquarters continued to work closely with the AFL Players’ Association and AFLW players “to ensure the best possible outcome”.
“The health and welfare of our players and the community remains the priority and we remain committed to delivering a season in a safe manner, led by the advice of public health officials and medical experts,” she said.
Livingstone said there were “unique challenges” because of the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked the players and staff for their adaptability.
“What we know is the situation with COVID continues to change week by week and so our role is to ensure we have done our due diligence and planned for all potential scenarios,” she said.
“This involves continually keeping clubs updated of any developments to ensure best-practice operational plans and wellbeing support are in place for all players and the broader club.
“Where clubs are required to relocate, the AFL and the AFLPA have agreed on a payment model for players.”
AFLW ROUND 4 TIPS
Ellie Blackburn 17
St Kilda
Carlton
Fremantle
Collingwood
Brisbane Lions
Western Bulldogs
GWS Giants
Last Week 5
Glenn McFarlane 17
St Kilda 19
Carlton 25
Fremantle 21
North Melbourne 8
Brisbane 10
Melbourne 12
GWS Giants 9
Last Week 5
Matt Turner 17
St Kilda 11
Carlton 17
Fremantle 34
Collingwood 18
Adelaide 7
Western Bulldogs 11
GWS Giants 21
Last Week 5
Rebecca Williams 17
St Kilda 8
Carlton 12
Fremantle 15
North Melbourne 7
Brisbane Lions 8
Melbourne 6
GWS Giants 7
Last Week 5
Chris Cavanagh 16
St Kilda 12
Carlton 12
Fremantle 24
North Melbourne 6
Brisbane Lions 6
Melbourne 6
GWS Giants 6
Last Week 5
Kate Salemme 16
St Kilda 28
Carlton 18
Fremantle 40
North Melbourne 2
Brisbane Lions 15
GWS Giants 14
Last Week 5
Liz Walsh 16
St Kilda 18
Carlton 21
Fremantle 45
North Melbourne 6
Adelaide 1
Melbourne 12
GWS Giants 14
Last Week 5
Daniel Andrews 15
St Kilda 5
Carlton 10
Fremantle 20
North Melbourne 10
Brisbane Lions 5
Melbourne 20
GWS Giants 25
Last Week 4
Ebony Marinoff 15
St Kilda
Carlton
Fremantle
Collingwood
Adelaide
Melbourne
GWS Giants
Last Week 3
Kate McCarthy 15
St Kilda
Carlton
Fremantle
North Melbourne
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
West Coast
Last Week 3
Michael O’Brien 15
St Kilda 15
Carlton 18
Fremantle 34
North Melbourne 23
Brisbane Lions 11
Melbourne 6
GWS Giants 17
Last Week 6
Mark Robinson 15
St Kilda 13
Carlton 26
Fremantle 30
North Melbourne 3
Adelaide 11
Melbourne 8
West Coast 1
Last Week 5
Sarah Jones 12
St Kilda 17
Carlton 13
Fremantle 15
North Melbourne 1
Brisbane Lions 11
Melbourne 10
GWS Giants 5
Last Week 5
Darcy Vescio 11
St Kilda
Carlton
Fremantle
Collingwood
Brisbane Lions
Western Bulldogs
GWS Giants
Last Week 4
Kiss of Death 4
Geelong 13
Richmond 13
Gold Coast 13
Collingwood 13
Adelaide 13
Western Bulldogs 13
West Coast 13
Last Week 2
Heartbreaking blow could end Demon’s career
Injury-plagued Melbourne defender Shae Sloane has had her AFLW season wiped out after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament for the third time.
The sister of Adelaide captain Rory injured her knee during a training session at Gosch’s Paddock on Saturday morning.
Scans confirmed the 28 year old’s worst fears on Sunday afternoon.
“It was really an innocuous incident, whereby Shae simply went to change direction, and her left knee just gave way,” Melbourne’s general manager of AFLW Daniel McPherson said.
The Demons defeated the highly rated North Melbourne outfit by nine points at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
Sloane, a former volleyball player who joined Melbourne as a rookie, tore her right ACL during her 2019 debut and then suffered another tear during a training session 10 months later.
She had made her return to the competition this year.
“It’s always devastating to see someone suffer an ACL injury, but when it happens to someone like Shae, who has done such an amazing job to get herself back to be so close to returning to play, it’s just heartbreaking,” McPherson said.
“Shae will take the time over the next few days to work through with our medical team the best course of action for her from here.”
Pies make pledge on Indigenous guernsey
– Liz Walsh
Collingwood has revealed its AFLW team will wear its Indigenous jumper for all its away games this season.
The team wore the guernsey – designed by Ross Morgan Senior and his sons – on Sunday in their 17-point win over Richmond and will continue to wear it for all away games in 2021.
The jumper’s design tells the story of the Cummeragunja Walk Off, which was a protest by Aboriginal people at Cummeragunja Station in 1939 about poor treatment.
The walk off is remembered as an act of strength and resilience.
Magpie and proud Ningy Ningy woman Aliesha Newman said it was a great honour to be able to wear the guernsey throughout the season, particularly as the club looks to do better after the recent release of a report showing “systemic racism” at the club.
“All of our players – AFL, netball and AFLW – we want to acknowledge the fact that it has happened and then spark a healthy conversation around what needs to be done next … and really showing the greater population that Collingwood isn’t a racist club, because that’s not something I want to be part of,” Newman said.
For the first time in AFLW history, the league will hold a dedicated Indigenous Round, slated for Round 5.
“The significance of having a fully fixtured Indigenous Round this year, is really exciting and the fact that Collingwood are able to wear our Indigenous jumper for every away game just showcases how much this round and this jumper means to us,” Newman said.
“It also shows the league itself is starting to evolve.”
The jumper design includes the long-necked turtle, which is the totem of the Yorta Yorta people, while diamonds down the front represent the strength and resilience of the ancestors and elders
AFLW DODGES HUBS FOR ROUND 4 FIXTURE
The AFL has shunned a hub for the women’s competition and is instead adopting more a fly-in/fly-out model for Round 4 as it deals with a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
The AFL announced its fixture for the next games on Sunday afternoon, with Victorian teams continuing to play each other, while the non-Victorians will fly around the country.
Fremantle left Perth on Friday with enough luggage for at least two weeks on the road, but instead were informed by the AFL after their 30-point win over Adelaide on Sunday that they will instead head back to their home state and prepare to face Gold Coast at home on Saturday.
The AFL has shunned a hub to ensure minimal disruption for the players across the league.
Meanwhile, St Kilda will open the round by taking on Geelong at home on Friday night, before Carlton faces Richmond at home on Saturday, and the Kangaroos taking on Collingwood in a blockbuster at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the Crows are back on the road, this time heading to Hickey Park to take on Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs will face Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney will host West Coast.
Fremantle coach Trent Cooper said his side arrived in Adelaide on Friday prepared to play three games on the road, most likely hubbed in Queensland and was shocked they weren’t.
“I have to get my head around it, we were more than happy to play our block away here, and we’d planned for that … I trust the AFL will be doing the right thing and thinking further ahead to make sure we’re getting the season away,” he said.
“The (players will) just roll with the punches; that’s what we saw in the men’s comp, that those sides who took on the challenges the best, were the ones who performed the best and we want to make sure we don’t have anything outside of our control influence the way we play.”
Crows coach Matthew Clarke was pleased to stick to a fly-in/fly-out model.
“In a semi-professional environment with players who have jobs and other employers that they need to look after, so as much as possible we can fly-in/fly-out will be to the betterment,” he said.
“If we could avoid (hubs) it would be great, but ultimately it may well be part of the season.”
AFL’s head of women’s footy Nicole Livingstone said the league would continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it worked through the upcoming rounds.
“We will continue to remain adaptable as we listen to and work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game,” she said.
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