AFLW Round 5: Keep up with all the midweek action

Hawthorn’s charge towards a maiden AFLW finals berth has continued after they overcame an injury-hit Geelong in one of the most entertaining AFLW games of the season at Kardinia Park.

Ronny Lerner

9 min read

September 26, 2024 - 9:33PM

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Hawthorn’s charge towards a maiden AFLW finals berth continued on Thursday night after they overcame an injury-hit Geelong by 18 points in one of the most entertaining games of the season at Kardinia Park.

The first half was a tight, hard-fought affair, but when the Cats lost key duo Amy McDonald (hamstring) and Kate Surman (concussion) late in the second quarter, the momentum instantly swung back in favour of Hawthorn.

The visitors kicked the next six goals to scoot 23 points clear in the third term and take a complete stranglehold on the match.

The Hawks headed down the highway and tasted victory. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Geelong didn’t give up, though, and got back within 12 points early in the final term thanks to a goal-of-the-year contender from Aishling Moloney, but another couple of majors from Hawthorn, including Laura Stone’s third, made the equation too difficult for the hosts.

The Hawks have made their best start to a season (4-1) and the 12.7 (79) to 9.7 (61) result saw them shore up fifth spot on the ladder and move within two points of first place. They’ll probably only need to win half of their last six games to guarantee themselves a top-eight spot.

Meanwhile, the Cats have a huge task ahead of themselves to make the finals. They could drop to the bottom four by the end of the weekend, and with just a win and a draw to show from their first five matches, they can probably only afford one more loss in the run home.

But it wasn’t all good news for the Hawks because Tamara Smith could be in hot water from the MRO after laying a strong shepherd on Surman in the second quarter which concussed the Cat.

In the end the Hawks clobbered the Cats for contested possessions (134-103) and easily won the clearance battle (35-25) while also finishing with plenty more disposals (289-219).

Emily Bates was the star for the Hawks. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

BATES, WEST STAND OUT

Emily Bates was fantastic for Hawthorn with 28 disposals (10 contested) and eight tackles, as was Eliza West who racked up 24 touches (16) and laid a whopping 16 tackles while also registering seven clearances. Tilly Lucas-Rodd shone too with 26 possessions.

For the Cats, Moloney was tremendous with 19 possessions and three goals, Nina Morrison had 21 touches (11), 11 tackles and a goal and Georgie Prespakis recorded 21 disposals (12), eight tackles and a goal as well.

CATS WASTE GOOD START

The Cats made a hot start with a goal after two minutes from Jacqui Parry and after the Hawks hit back with the next two majors to grab the lead, Geelong responded with the next three to lead by 15 points in the second quarter. But the Cats couldn’t take full advantage (1.4) in front of goal in the second term, and that allowed the Hawks to get back into the contest.

The Cats had the early advantage before the Hawks hit back. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

HAWKS CASH IN

Hawthorn had the first eight forward entries after half-time, and the game totally changed in the third quarter as they had 33 more disposals and 14 more contested possessions than the Cats, with Bates and West racking up 13 and 10 disposals respectively in the term.

MAGIC MOLONEY

Moloney kicked one of the goals of the year early in the fourth quarter as she accepted the handball from Darcy Moloney and her snap off one step from the impossible angle 40m out from the boundary line snuck home to get the Cats within 12 points.

MORRISON GOES BANG

Morrison also produced a ripper late in the first quarter when she burst clear from the stoppage, broke Lucy Wales’ tackle and banged it home from 20m out to give Geelong a seven-point advantage.

SCOREBOARD

GEELONG 3.2, 4.6, 5.6, 9.7 (61)

HAWTHORN 2.2, 4.4, 8.6, 12.7 (79)

RONNY LERNER’S BEST

Cats: A.Moloney, Morrison, Prespakis, Webster, Scott, D.Moloney.

Hawks: Bates, West, Lucas-Rodd, Wales, Stone, Fleming, Breed.

GOALS

Cats: A.Moloney 3, Scott 2, Parry, Crockett-Grills, Morrison, Prespakis.

Hawks: Stone 3, McDonagh 2, Eardley 2, Ashmore, Stephenson, Fellows, Gilroy, Fleming.

INJURIES Cats: Am. McDonald (hamstring), Surman (concussion). Hawks: Nil.

UMPIRES Pearson, Dundon, Rebeschini

BLUES EMBARRASSED AGAIN AS ROOS STORM TO TOP OF AFLW LADDER

North Melbourne have stormed to the top of the AFLW ladder after obliterating an embarrassing Carlton outfit by a record-equalling 69 points at Princes Park on Wednesday night.

The premiership favourites kicked the first nine goals of a match which resembled a training drill at times, before careering towards their equal-biggest win, and showed the Blues with absolute clarity how far off the pace they are by handing them their second-heaviest defeat.

Carlton’s humiliating night was compounded by one of their best players Abbie McKay exiting the game in the third quarter with what looked like a serious ankle injury, while Gabrielle Pound underwent a concussion test late in the match. They might now join captain Kerryn Peterson (shoulder) on the sidelines.

The Kangaroos continued their red-hot form. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It was a case of women against girls all night long. Six days after being held goalless for the first time ever, and being restricted to their equal-lowest score of 0.6 (6) by Richmond, Carlton looked on course for a repeat performance as they failed to kick a major in the first half.

But after going seven consecutive quarters without a goal, Celine Moody finally broke Carlton’s long drought at the 14-minute mark of the third quarter with a converted set shot – their first six-pointer since the seven-minute mark of the third quarter two games ago against Geelong.

The 12.7 (79) to 1.4 (10) result solidified the Kangaroos’ status as the team to beat this year and they remain undefeated nearing the halfway mark of the season with an average winning margin of 50 points.

Carlton have now registered two of their six lowest scores in their past two games and for the first time in his tenure, Blues coach Mathew Buck will be feeling the pinch. To make the finals, Carlton can probably only afford two more losses at most.

RIDDELL LEADS THE CHARGE

Star Kangaroo Ash Riddell did as she pleased, racking up 36 disposals (11 contested), seven tackles and six marks to be the dominant player on the ground.

She was joined by Niamh Martin (15 touches and one goal), Emma King (10 and two), Bella Eddey (21 and two), Vikki Wall (11 and one), Alice O’Loughlin (16 touches) and Jasmine Garner (22) as the main reasons why the contest was over by quarter-time. They all ran rings around the Blues in the opening term.

Carlton’s one and only goal came in the third team. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

CLINICAL KANGAROOS

The Blues were like deer in the headlights to start the match. The enormous gulf in skill and class between the two teams was quickly apparent.

North blew Carlton off the park and skipped out to a matchwinning 32-point lead at quarter-time. The Kangaroos had eight of the first 10 clearances and 11 of the first 12 inside 50s, and the constant pressure was too much for Carlton’s sloppy defence. As soon as the ball hit the ground, North’s forwards gave them absolutely no chance.

The Kangaroos also belted the Blues at the coalface with a dominant early lead in contested possessions (21-11) and would comfortably win the stat 137-101, while helping themselves to 81 more touches (325-244).

After the difference stretched to 44 points at the major break, Carlton raised the white flag as North mercilessly ripped apart the limp navy blue carcass to ensure a brutal night for the hosts.

Half of North’s first 10 goals came from stoppage, while four were generated via turnover.

It was the second smashing in two weeks for the Blues. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

GRIM NUMBERS

At half-time, Carlton’s total score from their previous seven quarters was 0.10 (10). Meanwhile, North Melbourne were 7.5 (47) at the major break, which was nine points better than Carlton’s combined score of 4.14 (38) from their previous two-and-a-half games. The Kangaroos’ three-quarter time score of 10.6 (66) was their equal-biggest to that point of a game and their final score was their second-best.

BLUES BREAK DOWN

The play that summed up Carlton’s performance came late in the second quarter when Martin roosted the ball long into a North Melbourne forward line that only contained Kangaroos pair O’Loughlin and Tahlia Randall.

It was a complete defensive breakdown from the Blues. O’Loughlin had so much time, she could’ve made herself a cup of tea. Instead, she slowed to a jog, gathered the loose ball, then toyed with McKay, who made a desperate but fruitless beeline for O’Loughlin who nonchalantly handballed it to Randall by herself in the goal square for the easy goal.

SCOREBOARD

CARLTON 0.1, 0.3, 1.3, 1.4 (10)

NTH. MELB. 5.3, 7.5, 10.6, 12.7 (79)

RONNY LERNER’S BEST

Blues: McKay, Hill, Sherar.

Roos: Riddell, Eddey, E.King, Martin, Wall, O’Loughlin, Garner.

GOALS

Blues: C.Moody.

Roos: Randall 3, Eddey 2, E.King 2, Craven, Martin, Wall, Garner, Pullar.

INJURIES Blues: McKay (ankle), Pound (head). Roos: Nil.

UMPIRES Chrystie, Devenish, O’Gorman.

TIGERS JUMP TO SECOND AFTER HOLDING OFF POWER SURGE

- Blair Burns

Richmond held off a Power comeback in the second half to win its fourth consecutive game of the season as captain Katie Brennan led the way with three goals.

The Tigers got off to a hot start kicking the first four goals of the game to quickly establish a 22-point lead by half time before the Power threatened to steal the match in the final quarter.

But Richmond held on securing a 21-point victory at the final siren, pushing them into second position on the ladder with Week 5 AFLW action set to continue throughout the week.

The Tiger duo of Mon Conti (23 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances) and Ellie McKenzie (22 disposals, two clearances) led the way for the side once again.

McKenzie had countless moments of excellence using the ball at 82 per cent efficiency in the slippery conditions, teaming up well with the ever-reliable Conti who had a strong impact despite close attention from Port Adelaide midfielders.

Molly Brooksby (20 disposals) and Matilda Scholz (17 disposals) were the major ball-winners for the Power.

The Tigers are in second on the ladder. Picture: Getty Images

WASTEFUL EARLY

It was one-way traffic in the first quarter as Richmond dominated with their lightning-quick ball movement, but the side would’ve been disappointed to register just one goal from 13 inside 50s.

The Tigers were firing away in quick succession early, but they failed to kick straight, putting 0.5 on the scoreboard in the first nine minutes of play, leaving the door ajar for the Power.

It wasn’t until 14 minutes into the first term that captain Katie Brennan took a chest mark deep in the forward 50 and went back to snap through the first goal of the game easing the nerves of her side.

Richmond led the inside 50s (13-5), contested possessions (29-17) and the handball receives (17-8) while using the ball at 58 per cent.

Coach Ryan Ferguson said the side was getting some “really good looks” but needed to take their moments in the second quarter.

We just need to stick to our game, we didn’t put the score on the board and left some on the table,” he said.

Eilish Sheerin could be in some MRO strife. Picture: Getty Images

SHEERIN IN MRO TROUBLE?

It may be a case of deja-vu for the Tigers with another one of their star players under the spotlight this week for a dangerous tackle after Eilish Sheerin gave away a free kick for a tackle on Port Adelaide’s Kirsty Lamb.

Richmond young gun Ellie McKenzie was cited last week for a dangerous tackle on Carlton’s Daya Finn and handed a one-week suspension, which was later appealed and reduced to a fine.

It was previously graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

The Sheerin tackle looked very similar and while Lamb played out the remainder of the game, you can expect the MRO to have a close look at the incident.

Lamb was in the wars and received another free kick for a dangerous tackle in the dying stages of the match.

Gemma Houghton was a shining light for Port. Picture: Getty Images

POWER GAUGE

Port Adelaide forward Gemma Houghton was a barometer for her side and was involved in a staggering eight of her team’s 12 scores, helping to inspire a resurgence in the second half.

After not getting a touch in the first quarter, Houghton quickly worked her way into the game with great pressure and intensity causing headaches for the Richmond defenders.

The 30-year-old finished with 13 disposals (seven contested) and 2.2 in front of goal, which could’ve easily been more, given she had seven shots on goal.

CONTI CLASS

Conti is yet to kick a goal this season but was involved in everything at the attacking end with seven score involvements, a goal assist and a special highlight in the second term.

Despite the slippery conditions, her elite cleanliness was on display when she gathered a skidding ball inside 50 and quickly found a teammate streaming past on her left side.

The effective handball released Richmond’s Emelia Yassir who ran straight toward the goals and put through the Tigers’ third major of the game.

EXPERIENCE VS YOUTH

It was an intriguing ruck contest between experience and youth as Richmond’s Tamara Luke battled it out against Power young gun Matilda Scholz.

The pair are separated by 17 years of age but couldn’t be separated on field as they both put together arguably their best performances of the season.

Scholz has consistently been one of Port Adelaide’s key contributors across the first five matches and today was no different as the 19-year-old collected 17 disposals, five clearances and 26 hit outs.

Luke, who was forced to come out of retirement last month, played her second game for the Tigers and made it a good one with 11 disposals, four marks and 25 hit outs.