AFLW 2023: All the news, scores and results from round 9
Essendon have dismantled Carlton, the Bulldogs won their first game of the season and the Tigers were belted by the Cats. See all the scores and news here.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A shockingly inaccurate Geelong have kept their AFLW finals dream alive after smashing Richmond in their must-win clash by 38 points at Ikon Park on Saturday night.
The Cats made a fast start by kicking the first two goals inside five minutes, and looked headed for a big night on the scoreboard. But from that point on, it was a butcher’s paradise.
Geelong’s next 14 shots on goal were all unsuccessful, including three that didn’t score, as they failed miserably in capitalising on their enormous inside-50 advantage which read 40-10 at three-quarter time.
However, fortunately for the Cats, Richmond weren’t able to make them pay for their breathtaking inefficiency. On the contrary, the toothless Tigers were held to their worst half-time and three-quarter-time scores since Round 10, Season 6 and Round 6, 2020 respectively.
Neither side managed to kick a goal in the middle two quarters, ensuring there is no chance of this game making its way into the time capsule. After Richmond failed to mount any meaningful counteroffensive, the floodgates finally opened at the other end of the ground as the Cats piled on the first four goals of the final quarter to comfortably win 6.13 (49) to 1.5 (11).
Richmond kicked their solitary goal with 2:15 remaining in the match.
RICHMOND SAVE WORST ‘TIL LAST
Both teams headed into the game level on four wins apiece, which made it a virtual elimination final, and the result saw the Cats maintain their grip on a top-eight spot. In order to guarantee themselves finals action, all they have to do now is beat struggling Hawthorn next weekend in the final round.
If Richmond were more competitive in defeat, they still would’ve been a sniff for the top eight. However, after heading into the game with a percentage of 96.4, they finished the night on 86.2 and in 12th spot on the ladder.
Geelong young gun Georgie Prespakis produced another stellar performance that saw her register 27 disposals (16 contested), nine clearances and a goal, and she was well supported by Amy McDonald who finished with 22 touches (12), five tackles and five clearances.
CATS OFF TO A FLYER
Geelong had the first 10 inside 50s of the match, but had to settle for only a 14-point buffer midway through the first quarter.
The Cats continued to pepper the goal face in the second term, yet despite completely owning the forward-entry count at half-time (28-4), could only add another six behinds from eight further shots on goal to lead by just 17 points at the main break.
Geelong’s enormous inside-50 advantage ballooned to 33-4 in the third period, but they still could not split the big sticks.
Instead, they added another three behinds, while keeping the Tigers scoreless, to lead by 20 points at the final change, before they finally got bang for their buck in the final quarter.
Scoreboard
TIGERS 0.2, 0.3, 0.3, 1.5 (11)
CATS 2.2, 2.8, 2.11, 6.13 (49)
LERNER’S BEST Tigers: Conti, Egan, Sheerin, Lynch. Cats: Prespakis, Am.McDonald, Parry, A.Moloney, Morrison, Garing.
GOALS Tigers: Brennan. Cats: Scheer, Prespakis, A.Moloney, Crockett-Grills, Garing, Parry.
UMPIRES Mitchell, Pearson, Porter
VENUE Ikon Park
DOGS FINALLY GRAB WIN
The Western Bulldogs have avoided the embarrassment of a winless season with a resilient victory over the Eagles in Perth, withstanding a late charge to claim an eight-point win.
Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn was again at her best with 32 disposals in a dominant midfield performance, but this time had the help she needed to snap an eight-game losing streak.
After an emotion-charged win over Essendon at Windy Hill last week, the Eagles were unable to get a bump from caretaker coach Rohan McHugh’s first game following the departure of Michael Prior on Wednesday.
McHugh’s move to throw Charlotte Thomas forward in the last quarter after an impressive game in defence almost paid off when she kicked a goal to cut the margin to eight points with just five minutes to play, but much like the Eagles last week against the Bombers, the Bulldogs were able to retain the ball in their forward half and run down the clock in the dying moments.
Dogs defenders Issy Grant and Gabby Newton dominated the air with 23 intercept possessions between them as West Coast failed to capitalise on equal forward entries.
Alice Edmonds was dominant in the ruck for the Bulldogs, racking up 15 disposals and 27 hit-outs along with a steadying goal in the second term.
Scoreboard
EAGLES 1.1, 2.2, 4.4, 5.6 (36)
BULLDOGS 2.1, 4.3, 6.7, 6.8 (44)
BOURKE’S BEST Eagles: Swanson, Thomas, Roberts, Gibson, Lewis, McCarthy. Bulldogs: Blackburn, Grant, Newton, Edmonds, Bateman, Lamb.
GOALS Eagles: Gibson 2, Lewis, Bartlett, Thomas. Bulldogs: Lamb, Hartwig, Edmonds, Hunt, Pritchard, Woodley.
UMPIRES Ferguson, Laycock, Simmonds
INJURIES Eagles: nil. Bulldogs: nil.
VENUE Mineral Resources Park
DEE-LIGHT AS MELBOURNE CLAIM MCCELLAND TROPHY
AFLW flag favourites Melbourne have cruised to a comfortable 33-point win over Fremantle in blustery conditions at Casey Fields on Saturday.
The 8.13 (61) to 4.4 (28) result all but snuffed out the Dockers’ faint finals hopes and took the ladder-leading Demons one step closer to a maiden minor premiership.
Melbourne veteran Paxy Paxman was influential, racking up 27 disposals (10 contested), five tackles and a goal, while Eliza McNamara provided sound support with 25 possessions (10), five clearances and 10 intercepts.
Megan Kauffman was the standout for Fremantle with 13 disposals and a game-high three goals.
The battle for the league goalkicking award continued to heat up between Melbourne teammates Eden Zanker (20) and Kate Hore (19) after both players helped themselves to another pair of goals each.
To guarantee top spot, Melbourne will have to beat the Lions in their top-four blockbuster in Brisbane in the final round next weekend.
Scoreboard
DEMONS 1.2, 4.9, 5.9, 8.13 (61)
DOCKERS 1.3, 2.3, 3.4, 4.4 (28)
BEST Demons: Paxman, Hore, McNamara, West, Zanker, Purcell, Mithen. Dockers: Kauffman, Bowers, Stannett, Miller, Pugh.
GOALS Demons: Hore 2, Zanker 2, Hanks, Mackin, Paxman, West. Dockers: Kauffman 3, Gibbs.
INJURIES Demons: Nil. Dockers: Flynn (back).
UMPIRES Devenish, Howard, Talbot
VENUE Casey Fields
LIONS THROW AWAY SHOT AT THE MILLION
Brisbane has blown its bid for the one million dollar McClelland Trophy prize after St Kilda completed a stunning 21-point upset victory to keep its final hopes burning bright at RSEA Park.
The Lions’ finals double chance is under heavy threat after the shock loss, with a win over Melbourne at home needed to prevent the winner of Friday night’s Gold Coast and Essendon clash from pouncing on a top four berth.
Kicking with a strong breeze, the Saints jumped the Lions with the first two goals before a well organised defensive performance in the second quarter denied the visitors the same opportunities in front of goal.
Star midfielder Jaimee Lambert (20 possessions, eight tackles) roared to life after a subdued first half with nine third-quarter disposals to help the Saints extend their lead to 21 points at the final break, before they scored the first goal into the wind and followed with three more in an emphatic final term.
EX-LION RUNS HOT
Jesse Wardlaw responded to a quiet performance in last week’s Dockers loss in emphatic fashion against her former club, kicking the Saints’ first goal within two minutes after she was awarded a free kick for a jumper hold.
The 23-year-old, who left Brisbane for Moorabbin in March after five seasons at the Lions, made sure she was in the thick of an altercation with several former teammates in the Saints’ forward line late in the opening quarter.
Wardlaw has only averaged nine disposals a game this season but had those numbers to halftime as she played a crucial role behind the ball when the Lions kicked into the breeze in the second term, racking up three intercepts as they were held to only goal.
ALLY’S MILESTONE SOURED
Brisbane star Ally Anderson became the first AFLW player to reach the 75-game milestone ahead of Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff and former teammate Emily Bates on Sunday.
The league best and fairest winner fought hard with nine tackles and led the Lions for disposals with seven in the third quarter, but like her teammates struggled to use the ball effectively in the strong winds.
Scoreboard
SAINTS 2.3, 2.4, 4.7, 8.7 (55)
LIONS 0.0, 1.4, 1.4, 5.4 (34)
BOURKE’S BEST Saints: Lambert, Patrikios, Vesely, Wardlaw, Smith, Kelly. Lions: Grider, O’Dwyer, Anderson, Campbell, Mullins, Dawes.
GOALS Saints: Wardlaw 2, Richards 2, Exon, Patrikios, Smith, Jolliffe. Lions: Davidson 2, T Smith, O’Dwyer, Mullins.
UMPIRES Lyon, Scott, Wharton
INJURIES Saints: nil. Lions: nil.
CROWD 2,005 at RSEA Park
DONS DOWN RIVALS
- Ronny Lerner
Carlton’s AFLW finals hopes have gone up in flames after Essendon absolutely destroyed them at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The Blues headed into the game in ninth spot with a 4-4 record and had to win to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top eight. Instead, they conceded the first six goals, and found themselves down by 44 points in the final quarter, before eventually losing 8.8 (56) to 3.6 (24).
For the second time this year, Carlton were held scoreless in the first half and the emphatic result saw Essendon all but sew up a maiden finals appearance in just their second season.
The Bombers have improved to 6-3 with one game to play, and provisionally moved up to fifth position. And after St Kilda upset Brisbane on Saturday, the Bombers could grab a double chance after drawing level with the fourth-placed Lions on six wins. Next week, Essendon play Gold Coast and Brisbane meet premiership favourites Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the Blues will probably drop to as low as 12th spot heading into the last round. After winning four of their first six matches, Carlton have capitulated in the second half of the season, losing their last three.
Essendon star duo Maddie Prespakis and Bonnie Toogood set up the dominant win in the first half, while Sophie Alexander (14 disposals) celebrated her 50th AFLW game in fine style with a career-high three goals.
Prespakis finished with 28 possessions (17 contested) and seven clearances, while Toogood helped herself to 20 touches (10 contested), including 17 kicks, as well as six tackles and two goals.
BOMBS AWAY
Essendon did the bulk of the attacking in the opening term, and looked threatening every time they went forward.
But while they scored seven times from their first eight inside 50s, the Bombers let the Blues off the hook by only managing two goals to lead by 17 points at quarter-time.
Led by Prespakis and Georgia Clarke, Essendon smashed Carlton in contested possessions (39-23) and clearances (11-6) in the first period, while also recording 13 of the first 15 forward entries.
After kicking four consecutive behinds, the hosts fixed their radar by booting another four goals in a row to end the contest early in the third stanza.
The Blues backline looked extremely vulnerable all day without captain Kerryn Peterson, who was again missing due to an Achilles issue.
SUPER SOPHIE
Alexander kicked the goal of the day in the first quarter when she contested a boundary throw-in, roved her opponent’s hitout and from the impossible angle threaded it through with a banana from the wrong side for a right-footer.
BOUNCE IT, JESS
Jess Wuetschner had the chance to extend Essendon’s lead to 23 points just before quarter-time, but as she ran into an open goal, she forgot to take a bounce, and was penalised for running too far as she kicked an easy six-pointer which was ultimately disallowed.
Scoreboard
DONS 2.5, 4.6, 7.7, 8.8 (56)
BLUES 0.0, 0.0, 1.3, 3.6 (24)
LERNER’S BEST Bombers: Prespakis, Toogood, Alexander, Nanscawen, Radford, Vogt, Jacques. Blues: McKay, Cordner, Pound, Hill.
GOALS Bombers: Alexander 3, Toogood 2, Vogt, Jacques, Dyke. Blues: Cordner 2, Fitzpatrick.
UMPIRES Baigent, Chrystie, Nippress
VENUE Windy Hill
NASTY COLLISION ROCKS SUNS WIN
Gold Coast’s midfield weapon Claudia Whitfort showcased her dominance on Friday night with a game-high 34 disposals, keeping the Suns home finals hopes alive.
Whitfort also had a game high 9 centre clearances, supported strongly by Alison Drennan (3) and Charlie Rowbottom (6).
The Suns midfield was too strong for the Giants, winning the clearance count 34-23, giving the Suns the first victory over the Giants in their fifth meeting.
Despite such a dominant display by the Suns midfield, the Giants won the pressure count, claiming 93 tackles to 59 – but it wasn’t enough.
BARWICK MOTIONLESS AFTER HEAD COLLISION
In the first 60 seconds, Sun Elise Barwick was involved in a nasty head knock which resulted in the midfielder being stretchered from the ground.
Barwick was chasing the ball on the wing in front of the interchange and bent down to pick up the ball just as Giants Jessica Doyle came in, with the pair colliding heads, leaving Barwick motionless for a number of minutes.
Despite efforts of telling the doctor she wanted to return to the field, after spending the whole of the first quarter off, the 24-year-old never returned, while Doyle looked unfazed by the collision.
Good news: Elise is up and walking in the rooms.
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) October 27, 2023
She won't take any further part tonight.
GIANTS COSTLY FORWARD ENTRIES
The Giants looked to move the ball through the centre of the ground throughout the night but it was the forward 50 entries that cost the side.
Despite 25 inside 50s, the Giants only managed 2.5 compared to the Suns who had 35 inside 50s to win by 31 points.
Multiple times throughout the night, the Giants bombed the ball in long to the top of the square to the one-on-one only for Suns defender Vivien Saad to win the contests and clear their defence.
On a number of occasions, the Giants lowered their eyes when going forward, hitting targets and setting up better opportunities to no success.
ROWBOTTOM INJURY WORRY
After a dominant game from the midfielder, Charlie Rowbottom limped from the ground midway through the fourth quarter.
Almost falling into the trainer’s hands once she crossed the interchange gates, Rowbottom looked in serious amounts of pain as she was walked to the table in the hands of the doctor.
At first sighting, it looked like a possible left ankle injury, but the doctors looked to be checking to make sure the ACL was all clear.
The Suns camp will be hoping it is nothing too serious as Gold Coast look to play finals for the first time.
After 42 games, Maddy Brancatisano kicks her first AFLW goal ðŸ˜#AFLWSunsGiantspic.twitter.com/aIvtO7gMUK
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 27, 2023
Scoreboard
SUNS: 0.1 3.2 5.4 7.6 (48)
GIANTS: 0.1 1.1 2.3 2.5 (17)
GOALS: Suns: Bohanna 2, Whitfort, Rowbottom, Stanton, Dupuy, Brancatisano Giants: Huntington, Beeson
BEST: Suns: Whitford, Rowbottom, Drennan, Bohanna, Brancatisano Giants: Beeson, Dalton, Goldsworthy, Evans, Huntington
INJURIES: Suns: Barwick (concussion) Rowbottom (ankle) Giants: Nil
VENUE: Heritage Bank Stadium
More Coverage
Originally published as AFLW 2023: All the news, scores and results from round 9
AFLW: Gallant Dees hold off Giants to keep season alive
A gallant Melbourne side has kept its season alive, claiming its first win since round 1 over GWS to just barely keep its season alive.
O’Rourke to miss games after injury on debut as first-year Cats in mix
A Geelong father-daughter selection will miss multiple weeks after injuring her shoulder on debut. Plus, two in mix to debut for Cats in Sydney.