AFLW teams and tips: Expert picks and selection news for the penultimate round of the 2021 season

With two rounds left in the 2021 season, things are getting hot — both on the AFLW ladder and between our expert tipsters. ROUND 8 TEAMS AND TIPS

Brooke Walker makes her return to the Blues side. Picture: AAP

We might be down to the last two rounds of an enthralling AFLW season, but there is still plenty to play out in the standings.

We’ll have all the teams for Round 8 as they drop below, and scroll down for our expert tips.

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Brooke Walker makes her return to the Blues side. Picture: AAP

ROUND 8 TEAMS

Gold Coast v Carlton at Metricon Stadium, 5.10pm AEDT

GOLD COAST

B: C.Hammond 29 J.Pregelj 42

HB: E.Keaney 30 L.Ahrens 7 E.Pittman 9

C: K.Howarth 23 A.Drennan 33 D.D’Arcy 20

HF: K.Surman 26 L.Kaslar 11 M.Levi 6

F: J.Baird 18 S.Virgo 22

Foll: L.Bella 2 S.Watson 14 L.Single 13

Int: H.Dunn - C 24 D.Heslop 25 B.Perry 16 S.Riley 8 W.Randell 15

Emerg: G.Bevan 27 P.Parker 1

In: E.Pittman, J.Baird

Out: T.Groves-Little (injured), P.Parker (omitted)

CARLTON

B: V.Laloifi 8 D.Walker 23

HB: G.Pound 6 A.Downie 30 K.Harrington - C 9

C: L.Brazzale 12 K.Loynes 2 C.Hammans 17

HF: G.Gee 19 T.Harris 7 D.Vescio 3

F: N.Plane 32 N.Stevens 21

Foll: B.Moody 16 M.Prespakis 4 L.McEvoy 13

Int: E.O’Dea 46 A.McKay 5 J.Hosking 11 G.Egan 1 B.Walker 14

Emerg: M.Guerin 18 S.Gibbs 33

In: C.Hammans, B.Walker

Out: C.Wilson (managed), S.Gibbs (omitted)

TIPS: CAN ANYONE CATCH MATTY TURNER?

Liz Walsh is making her move, but Matt Turner is still the AFLW tipping king heading into the penultimate round of the 2021 season.

Liz has leapfrogged a glut of four tipsters on 38 — including AFLW stars Ebony Marinoff and Ellie Blackburn, but faces a two-tip buffer to make up on Turner at the top.

Matt Turner 41

Carlton 15

GWS Giants 10

Collingwood 13

Brisbane Lions 5

Richmond 12

Adelaide 4

Fremantle 6

Last Week 5

Liz Walsh 39

Carlton 35

GWS Giants 18

Collingwood 26

Brisbane Lions 6

Richmond 18

Adelaide 40

Fremantle 36

Last Week 5

Ellie Blackburn 38

Carlton

GWS Giants

Collingwood

Brisbane Lions

Richmond

Western Bulldogs

Fremantle

Last Week 4

Chris Cavanagh 38

Carlton 30

GWS Giants 24

Collingwood 30

North Melbourne 1

Richmond 12

Adelaide 12

Fremantle 6

Last Week 5

Ebony Marinoff 38

Carlton

GWS Giants

Collingwood

Brisbane Lions

Richmond

Adelaide

Melbourne

Last Week 4

Glenn McFarlane 38

Carlton 20

GWS Giants 21

Collingwood 22

Brisbane Lions 7

Richmond 9

Adelaide 8

Fremantle 6

Last Week 4

Kate Salemme 37

Carlton 18

GWS Giants 12

Collingwood 20

North Melbourne 17

Richmond 3

Adelaide 2

Fremantle 10

Last Week 4

Rebecca Williams 37

Carlton 12

GWS Giants 15

Collingwood 12

Brisbane Lions 11

West Coast 13

Adelaide 12

Fremantle 9

Last Week 4

Mark Robinson 36

Carlton 12

GWS Giants 18

Collingwood 23

Brisbane Lions 5

Richmond 11

Adelaide 11

Fremantle 12

Last Week 5

Michael O’Brien 34

Carton 20

GWS Giants 30

Collingwood 18

Brisbane Lions 10

Richmond 10

Adelaide 9

Fremantle 12

Last Week 3

Kate McCarthy 33

Carlton

GWS Giants

St Kilda

Brisbane Lions

Richmond

Adelaide

Fremantle

Last Week 4

Sarah Jones 32

Carlton 29

GWS Giants 15

Collingwood 9

North Melbourne 3

Richmond 2

Adelaide 17

Fremantle 4

Last Week 4

Darcy Vescio 28

Carlton

GWS Giants

Collingwood

Brisbane Lions

Richmond

Adelaide

Fremantle

Last Week 3

Kiss of Death 10

Gold Coast 13

Geelong 13

St Kilda 13

North Melbourne 13

West Coast 13

Western Bulldogs 13

Melbourne 13

Last Week 2

AFLW run home: Who plays finals?

RUN HOME: WHICH AFLW TEAMS MAKE FINALS?

There are only two home-and-away rounds remaining in the AFLW season before finals start and the top six is yet to be decided.

LIZ WALSH analyses the run home for the finals contenders and predicts which teams will play finals and who will miss out.

1. FREMANTLE

Played 7, 24 points, 231.9 per cent

TO COME

R8: Melbourne, Fremantle Oval, Sun March 21 (W)

R9: North Melbourne, Arden St Oval, Sat March 27 (W)

WE SAY: Won a thriller against the Blues on the road by four points to give themselves the well-earned top spot. Were undefeated in the 2020 season before COVID shut the league and 2021 has always been about the unfinished business from last year. So far suffered only one loss, to Brisbane, this year. But games against both the Demons and Kangaroos will be tough — if they can win big, their percentage will be enough to give them the minor premiership and automatic qualification for the preliminary final in the second week of April. They enter finals in strong form. Star midfielder Kiara Bowers in unstoppable form.

PREDICTED FINISH: 1st (8 wins, 1 loss)

Dakota Davidson has kicked 10.4 so far this season. Picture: Getty

Docker Kiara Bowers is having an excellent 2021. Picture: Getty

2. BRISBANE

Played 7, 24 points, 224.6 per cent

TO COME

R8: North Melbourne, Gabba, Sat March 20 (W)

R9: Melbourne, Casey Fields, Sat March 27 (W)

WE SAY: Only the slimmest of margins (7.3 per cent) currently separates the Lions from top-of-the-table Dockers, and they head into Round 8 having beaten the previously undefeated Collingwood – and what was most impressive about that win was that it was done after a last-minute COVID change that shifted the game away from the Gabba and into Magpies territory. Brisbane take on the Kangaroos and the Demons and should win both and will overtake Fremantle and cap off a stellar season by claiming their second minor premiership (first in 2017) if they beat those teams by more than the Dockers (who also play those teams on alternate weeks).

PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd (8 wins, 1 loss)

3. COLLINGWOOD

Played 7, 24 points 195.9 per cent

TO COME

R8: St Kilda, Vic Park, Sat March 20 (W)

R9: Adelaide, Norwood Oval, Sun March 28 (L)

WE SAY: Been an incredible season for the Magpies under coach Steve Symonds in his second year in charge, but their six-game undefeated run was halted by a travelling Lions outfit in Round 7. A big win over the Saints this weekend will further boost their percentage, however, their defence is depleted with the club confirming the seasons are over for defenders Lauren Butler and Jordy Allen who were both injured in the loss to Brisbane. Collingwood then head out on the road for the first time in 2021, to face Adelaide at Norwood Oval: how will they handle the travel? That question means surely the Crows will go into that Round 9 clash as favourites. Regardless of where Collingwood finish, they will go into finals as the only team in the likely top six to have not faced Fremantle, the likely minor premiers.

PREDICTED FINISH: 4th (7 wins, 2 losses)

Collingwood has lost only one game this season and will play finals for the first time. Picture: Getty

4. ADELAIDE

Played 7, 20 points, 192.6 per cent

TO COME

R8: Western Bulldogs, Norwood Oval, Sun March 21 (W)

R9: Collingwood, Norwood Oval, Sun March 28 (W)

WE SAY: The battle for which team finishes third and which team finishes fourth will likely come down to percentage and if the Crows can win both their final two games, then Adelaide will be pushing for third. After a poor 28-point loss to Melbourne in Round 7, Adelaide will want to put that behind well and truly them and head into their third finals series in five seasons in positive form. If they can get two good wins at home, it will stand them in good stead to jump the Magpies on percentage. If the Kangaroos or Demons can beat either Brisbane or Fremantle, the Crows could also be pushing for a top-two finish.

PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd (7 wins, 2 losses)

5. NORTH MELBOURNE

Played 7, 20 points, 162.9 per cent

TO COME

R8: Brisbane, Gabba, Sat March 20 (L)

R9: Fremantle, Arden St Oval, Sat March 27 (L)

WE SAY: With their star midfielders Emma Kearney and Jasmine Garner leading the way, the Kangaroos head into Round 8 on a three-game winning streak. But their next two opponents are tough: the Lions and Dockers. But facing those sides will be good tests for the Kangaroos heading into finals. However, they won’t want to be going into the April finals series on a two-game losing streak, so expect them to step up and challenge the ladder leaders.

PREDICTED FINISH: 5th (5 wins, 4 losses)

The Demons shocked the Crows on Saturday night, with Tyla Hanks starring. Picture: Getty

Jas Garner received the maximum 10 coaches votes for her 28-disposal, 13-clearance game against the Bulldogs in Round 7. Picture: Getty

6. MELBOURNE

Played 7, 20 points, 136.4 per cent

TO COME

R8: Fremantle, Fremantle Oval, Sun March 21 (L)

R9: Brisbane, Casey Fields, Sat March 27 (L)

WE SAY: Their big win over Adelaide in Round 7 wold have sounded alarm bells for both Freo and Brisbane who are their next opponents: they fear no one. That win propelled them into finals contention and even though they would be expected to lose their next two games they will likely qualify for finals thanks to their percentage. If they lose their next two games, both will come with big lessons that will be nothing but learnings for the finals.

PREDICTED FINISH: 6th (5 wins, 4 losses)

7. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Played 7,

TO COME

R8: Adelaide, Norwood Oval, Sun March 21 (L)

R9: Richmond, Whitten Oval, Fri March 26 (W)

WE SAY: If the Bulldogs lose to the Crows in Round 8 then their season is effectively over.

However, if they can snap their two-game losing streak and beat Adelaide (a possibility given the Crows are wounded after a 28-point loss to Melbourne), then they’ll stay in the hunt for finals and then the margin by which they can beat the Tigers the following week will come into play. Beat Adelaide on the road – a tough ask – will make them entirely deserving of a push for finals.

PREDICTED FINISH: 7th (5 wins, 4 losses)

Carlton has been disappointing this season after entering the year as one of the premiership favourites. Picture: Getty

Ellie Blackburn has led from the front this season. Picture: Getty

8. CARLTON

Played 7, 12 points, 108.8 per cent

TO COME

R8: Gold Coast, Metricon Stadium, Fri March 19 (W)

R9: GWS, venue still to be confirmed, Sun March 28 (W)

WE SAY: At the start of the season, the Blues were widely tipped not only to be finalists but to be 2021’s ultimate champions, so the fact that their finals chances now hang on by a thread – and will rely on how other games play out – will be disappointing for the team. That said, they’re expected to win their final two games against winless Gold Coast and the Giants.

PREDICTED FINISH: 8th (5 wins, 4 losses)

9. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Played 7, 12 points, 68.2 per cent

TO COME

R8: Geelong, GMHBA, Sat March 20 (W)

R9: Carlton, venue still to be confirmed, Sun March 28 (L)

WE SAY: This Giants team has been through more than any other this season: the sad passing of much-loved teammate Jacinda Barclay, then needed to relocate to regional NSW then Adelaide to avoid COVID-19 clusters, then having to endure the loss of their star Irish recruit Brid Stack to a neck fracture in a practice game. Despite it all, the team remains in the hunt for finals. However, the hunt will be tough and will rely on other results. A big win over Geelong will give their percentage a much-needed boost, but it’s so far below the others, that it’s likely to lock the team out of finals.

PREDICTED FINISH: 9th (4 wins, 5 losses)

Originally published as AFLW teams and tips: Expert picks and selection news for the penultimate round of the 2021 season