AFLW News: All the results and news from round 7
Collingwood is back in the top four after a big win against GWS, but a familiar problem reared its head again. Check out a full wrap of AFLW round 7 matches.
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Collingwood regained its top four-spot with a crushing 32-point over GWS, but it should’ve been much more.
The Pies dominated the game but were against wasteful in front of goal, kicking 6.10 after booting 4.12 last week.
Their inability to not only capitalise in front of goal, but make the most of dominant periods, leaves a question mark over their premiership credentials.
Heading towards the pointy end of the season the Pies have just the eighth best attack in AFLW.
It is a huge issue for Steve Symonds and his troops if they are to make any noise when push comes to shove.
They may be found out before then, with games against North Melbourne and Brisbane to come in the final two rounds.
Collingwood dominated the first quarter with 20 more disposals than the Giants and double the amount of inside-50s (8-4) but could only muster only two points on the scoreboard.
While they ran out comfortable 32-point winners, the Pies will need to gain that ruthless edge and can’t let dominant periods of games pass without adding scoreboard pressure.
PIES’ SKIPPER’S FIRST
Collingwood skipper Steph Chiocci became the first ever player in AFLW to captain 50 games.
The star winger has led Collingwood since its inaugural season and played a key role in building a perennial premiership contenting side.
It was fitting that Chiocci should play her best game of the season in her milestone match, showing her wares along the wings of Victoria Park.
The 33-year-old was brilliant in working up and back and providing a crucial link between attack and defence.
And in a moment that almost seemed written in the stars, Chiocci kicked a late goal after the ball bounced backwards on the behind line and into her arms for the easiest of finishes.
Chiocci finished with 13 touches, three tackles and a goal.
NUTMEG TRIO
The game was crying out for a goal after a low-scoring first half, and with the way it came it was worth the wait.
From a stoppage 20m from Collingwood’s goal, Sabrina Frederick tapped the ball down to Chloe Molloy who was on the move.
The star Magpie utility took it cleanly but just as she appeared to break away a Alyce Parker tackle was laid.
Somehow, Molly got boot to ball as she was being swung to the ground.
The ball looked headed for a contest of three players, but remarkably it somehow went through all three players’ sets of legs and held its line for a goal.
It defied logic and will be a goal spoken about around the Collingwood changerooms for some time.
Molloy was exceptional for the Pies, and finished with 12 disposals, 2.2 and nine tackles.
How has this happened?!
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 9, 2022
Chloe Molloy bounces one through the big sticks for the Pies #AFLW | #AFLWPiesGiantspic.twitter.com/UvObKVMfne
MOST IMPROVED
There is no most improved award in AFLW, but if there was Jordy Allen’s name would already have been engraved on the trophy.
The utility has been immense for the Pies in shifting into a more defensive role, which has allowed All-Australian Ruby Schleicher to play in the midfield.
It has been an almost seamless transition for Allen and the Pies as she has offered intercept ability with forward thrust to boot.
Sunday was the 22-year-old’s best game of the season and was highlighted by her stellar mix of defence and attack.
Allen had 19 touches, of which 17 were effective, and was involved in three of Collingwood’s scores. She also had five intercepts.
SCOREBOARD
PIES 0.2 1.7 3.9 6.10 (46)
GIANTS 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.2 (14)
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Pies: Molloy, Lambert, Chiocci, Schleicher, Cann, Downie, Allen.
Giants: Parker, Dallaway, Evans, Eva.
GOALS
Pies: Molloy 2, Cann, Brown, Chiocci, Rowe.
Giants: Hicks, Mowbray.
INJURIES
Pies: Nil. Giants: Nil.
Venue: Victoria Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3. C. Molloy (Coll)
2. J. Lambert (Coll)
1. S. Chiocci (Coll)
Clinical Demons send warning to competition
Melbourne has sent a stern message to the rest of the competition: just try and stop us.
The Demons put on a clinic against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, piling on nine unanswered goals to run out 64-point winners.
It was a tough, contested battle throughout the first term, but the class of the Demons shone through from then on.
Olivia Purcell (25 disposals, nine tackles) was superb and Eliza West (24 disposals, one goal) continues to improve in every game she plays.
Karen Paxman (19 disposals) and Tyla Hanks (18 disposals) rarely have bad games, while Kate Hore finished her 50th match with 16 touches and a highlight-reel goal.
Hore kicked a gem of a goal late in the third term from the boundary line, to the delight of the Melbourne faithful at Casey Fields.
The Demons took home the Hampton-Hardeman Cup once again and, in the process, established themselves once more as a premiership contender in season seven.
DEMON DOMINANCE
We’ve seen some lopsided matches this year and unfortunately the Dogs-Dees match ended up being another fizzer as well.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more complete performance than Melbourne’s. The halftime inside-50 count was 23-3 in the Demons’ favour, illustrating the complete and utter brilliance of Mick Stinear’s side.
Not only did the Demons midfield put on a show, but their forwards were also mighty impressive, too.
Melbourne had 17 marks inside 50 to the Western Bulldogs’ three, as the likes of Tayla Harris, Alyssa Bannan and Eden Zanker (two goals) ruled the air.
TWIN TOWERS
Are Tayla Harris and Alyssa Bannan the best one-two key forward duo in the competition?
The veteran and the youngster are starting to gel beautifully, finishing off the work that their midfield is doing on ball.
Harris racked up 14 disposals and 10 hitouts, spending more time in the ruck after Lauren Pearce went down injured.
Bannan’s confidence seems to be growing each and every game and she booted an equal career-high three majors against the Dogs.
Her pressure for a tall is also a key feature of her game, meaning she can contribute on the defensive side for the Demons, too.
WHERE TO NOW?
After round 4, the Dogs looked like they could go deep into the season and threaten at the pointy end, but their past three weeks have left a bit to be desired.
Off the back of a 15-point loss to North Melbourne, followed by last week’s heartbreaking loss to the Cats, the Dogs have now lost their past three encounters.
The loss saw the Bulldogs percentage drop from 128 to 90, leaving them languishing outside the top eight.
They take on St Kilda, West Coast and Carlton in the remaining weeks of the season, all teams currently below them on the ladder.
Can the Dogs bounce back or was their form at the start just a case of everything going right?
DOGS LEGEND TICKS OFF ANOTHER MILESTONE
Only seven players have reached the 1000-disposal milestone across their AFLW careers and Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn joined the elite club on Sunday.
Blackburn was unsurprisingly one of the Dogs’ best yet again, amassing 17 disposals.
On a day her side struggled to make their mark on the contest, the Dogs skipper showed once more why she is one of the competition’s premier players.
SCOREBOARD
DEMONS 1.1, 4.8, 6.9, 10.13 (73)
BULLDOGS 0.0, 1.0, 1.1, 1.3 (9)
BOLCH’S BEST
Demons: Purcell, West, Bannan, Paxman, Harris, Hanks.
Bulldogs: Blackburn, Ferres, Edmonds.
GOALS
Demons: Bannan 3, Harris 2, Zanker 2, West, Hore, Duffy.
Bulldogs: Hartwig.
INJURIES
Demons: L. Pearce (TBC). Bulldogs: Nil.
Umpires: Chrystie, Pearson, Lewis.
Venue: Casey Fields.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BOLCH’S VOTES
3 O. Purcell (Melb)
2 E. West (Melb)
1 A. Bannan (Melb)
Bombers’ insane numbers can’t deliver four points
Despite a record-breaking day out for Bombers gun Maddy Prespakis, the class of the Cats came to the fore late as they ran out 15-point winners.
Warrnambool had its first taste of AFLW action, with the strong local crowd enjoying an entertaining contest.
Geelong booted the first two goals of the match but it was Essendon that seemed to control play for most of the first three quarters, as Paige Scott (two goals) and Bonnie Toogood (two goals) capitalised in front of goal.
However, the Cats defence managed to stand up under pressure, before their more experienced midfield rallied at three-quarter-time and ran over the top of the Bombers in the final term.
Cats assistant coach Joshua Finch told Fox Footy at three-quarter-time that the coaching staff had put the onus on Geelong’s onball brigade to rise to the occasion.
“We need our inside mids to go to work,” said Finch.
“Our defence has held up really well to this stage.”
The Cats responded in a big way, booting the only two goals of the last quarter.
Underrated midfielder Amy McDonald (25 disposals, 12 tackles) was superb at the coalface for Geelong, while the likes of Nina Morrison (15 disposals, one goal) and Rebecca Webster (16 disposals, one goal) stood up as well.
PRESPAKIS CUP
Most footy fans would have pencilled in this clash at the time of fixture release, looking forward to a mouth-watering clash between the Prespakis sisters, Maddy and Georgie.
However, with the younger Georgie suspended for a dangerous tackle in Geelong’s round five clash against St Kilda, it was just Maddy who suited up on Sunday.
Before serving her suspension, Georgie was leading the AFLCA Champion Player Award, while Maddy entered round 7 in fourth place.
Against a weakened Geelong midfield, Maddy was immense for the Bombers, amassing 37 disposals and five inside-50s.
She did play a bit of a lone hand however, as none of her teammates had more than 16 touches.
Expect there to be many enthralling battles between the Prespakis sisters for many years to come.
BONNIE’S JUST TOOGOOD
Bonnie Toogood is quickly closing in on her 50th AFLW match and Essendon fans should be excited to watch her ‘don the sash’ for a long time.
Not only does Toogood provide scoreboard impact, but her ability to create possession chains is integral to Essendon’s ball movement.
She often is the outlet target long down the line, using her incredible contested marking ability.
Toogood kicked two goals, had six marks and 16 disposals against the Cats, yet her off-field strengths are just as important to the Bombers.
Toogood is co-captain of the side and is widely regarded within the industry as one of the best leaders in the competition.
SCHEER BRILLIANCE
Move over Joel Selwood, Chloe Scheer is the new custodian of the No.14 guernsey down at the Cattery.
The former Adelaide Crow set Reid Oval alight, booting three majors as the most dangerous forward on the ground for the Cats.
Despite a sluggish start to season seven, Scheer’s past three weeks have been outstanding, kicking seven goals.
She’s also building a reputation as a fourth-quarter specialist, having dragged the Cats over the line in close games on multiple occasions this year.
Scheer also kicked four behinds, so she could have had an even bigger day out if she was able to capitalise on more of her half chances.
SCOREBOARD
BOMBERS 2.1, 2.2, 4.3, 4.4 (28)
CATS 2.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.7 (43)
BOLCH’S BEST
Bombers: Prespakis, Toogood, Scott.
Cats: A. McDonald, Scheer, Bowen, Morrison, Webster, Friswell.
GOALS
Bombers: Scott 2, Toogood 2.
Cats: Scheer 3, Morrison, Friswell, Webster.
INJURIES
Bombers: Morrison (finger). Cats: Nil.
Umpires: Clamp, Ferguson, Howard.
Venue: Reid Oval, Warrnambool.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BOLCH’S VOTES
3 M. Prespakis (Ess)
2 C. Scheer (Geel)
1 A. McDonald (Geel)
Contenders flex muscles as finals draw near
Adelaide surged to a sixth win on the trot on Saturday, dynamic duo Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff starring as the Crows came from behind to beat brave Fremantle by 18 points at Unley Oval.
The high-flying Crows were second on the ladder going into the clash with the 17th-ranked Dockers, but Matthew Clarke’s side had to overcome a nine-point deficit at three-quarter time to improve its win-loss record to 6-1.
Hatchard finished with 28 possessions and 12 clearances and Marinoff was on track for an AFLW record with 24 disposals to halftime before finishing with a game-high 32, also laying 11 tackles.
Kiara Bowers led the way for the visitors with 29 touches and 19 tackles to cement her place atop the list of the AFLW’s leading tacklers.
TABLES TURNED
The rampaging Crows hadn’t conceded a goal in nine quarters of football heading into round 7, keeping Collingwood goalless in the final term in round 4 and blanketing GWS and Port Adelaide entirely in big wins.
But that dominant run came to an end just four minutes into Saturday’s clash.
The Dockers came with an intent to keep the ball moving in a bid to break down Adelaide’s vaunted ability to control the tempo and, with the aid of a northerly breeze, the strategy paid dividends in the first term.
Amy Franklin capped off some strong work further afield when she neatly gathered a loose ball and snapped the first goal of the game.
Adelaide had plenty of chances to return fire, with four more inside 50s for the term, but was held scoreless in a quarter for the first time since round 3 of the 2021 season.
PURPLE PAIN
Luckless Fremantle lost two players for the day before halftime.
Gabby O’Sullivan dislocated her left shoulder in a tackle in the first quarter and Janelle Cuthbertson hobbled to the bench early in the second with an ankle injury.
Despite the setbacks and losing the assistance of the breeze, the plucky Dockers trailed by just two points at halftime.
Ash Woodland broke the drought with her tenth goal of the season early in the second quarter and the resurgent Crows hit the front for the first time when Chelsea Randall converted after taking an impressive pack mark.
Philipa Seth booted her first AFLW goal after Roxy Roux snapped a beauty in traffic and the visitors kept coming after the main break.
Mikayla Hyde and Mim Strom hit the scoreboard and Fremantle kept the Crows goalless to hold a well-deserved nine-point lead at three-quarter time.
BANG! BANG!
Adelaide broke purple hearts with the first two goals of the final term inside two minutes.
Of course, it was Randall who provided the spark for her side, the inspirational skipper booting a superb goal off the outside of her boot just 30 seconds after the restart.
Woodland put herself right back in the hunt for back-to-back AFLW goalkicking awards with her 11th of the season a minute later, her close-range major snatching back the lead for good.
Caitlin Gould capped an eye-catching day in the ruck with her second as the Crows celebrated with a four-goals-to-nil last quarter.
CROWS 0.0 3.3 3.4 7.7 (49)
DOCKERS 1.0 3.1 5.1 5.1 (31)
PHELAN’S BEST CROWS: Hatchard, Marinoff, Randall, Gould, Munyard, Charlton. DOCKERS: Bowers, O’Driscoll, Verrier, Miller, Tighe, Seth.
GOALS CROWS: Randall 2, Woodland 2, Gould 2, Ponter. DOCKERS: Franklin, Roux, Seth, Hyde, Strom.
INJURIES CROWS: Nil. DOCKERS: O’Sullivan (shoulder), Cuthbertson (ankle).
UNLEY OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Hatchard (Adel)
2 Bowers (Fre)
1 Marinoff (Adel)
ANDERSON LEADS LIONS TO CRUCIAL AWAY WIN
- Ronny Lerner
For the third time this season, North Melbourne’s AFLW premiership credentials have been put to the test, and for the third time they have failed to get the job done.
After losing to Melbourne and Adelaide earlier in the campaign, on Saturday evening the Kangaroos succumbed to the Brisbane Lions by seven points at Arden Street in an arm wrestle of a contest.
However, it another sobering reminder for Darren Crocker’s women that they are probably off the pace in the flag race.
Brisbane maintained their grip on top spot of the ladder, and while North were able to test the Lions for the duration of the contest, the top-four aspirants were badly let down by inefficiency.
The Kangas smashed Brisbane for inside 50s (43-23), but their inaccuracy conspired against them, especially in the first half when they had the chance to open up a strong lead.
Tahlia Randall was the chief culprit with three behinds, and she sent another one out on the full in the second half.
And when North came hard again in the second half, Brisbane’s backline held firm, restricting them to just one Emma Kearney goal.
Sophie Abbatangelo had one last chance with 16 seconds to go to give the Kangas a faint chance at victory, but she too missed, sealing North’s fate.
The 5.3 (33) to 3.8 (26) result further cemented Brisbane’s premiership favouritism while the Kangaroos now must turn their focus to simply securing a finals spot over the last three rounds.
North are now inside the top eight by percentage alone, and could drop to eighth position if results go against them this weekend.
Ally Anderson stood out for the Lions with 22 touches (18 contested), six tackles and seven clearances, and she was well supported by ruck Tahlia Hickie, who had 11 touches, four marks and 21 hitouts, and Nat Grider led the defence superbly with 14 disposals and seven tackles.
North Melbourne were well served by usual suspects Ash Riddell, who had 23 touches (12 contested), five tackles and four clearances, Jas Garner (20 touches) and Kearney (19).
"That'll be on the highlight reel for the rest of human life!"
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) October 8, 2022
An INCREDIBLE full field effort from Brisbane and Ruby Svarc in particular 🔥🔥🔥
This highlight brought to you by @Cadbury - Cadbury is helping girls get in the game. pic.twitter.com/R6hChm1MZL
SVARC OF A CHAMPION
Speedy Lion Ruby Svarc produced one of the plays of the year early in the second quarter when she grabbed the ball on the half-back flank, took two bounces along the wing and passed it to teammate Greta Bodey.
Bodey then had a shot on goal from 50m out which fell short, but Svarc kept running, and as soon as North defender Sarah Wright gathered the loose ball, Svarc wrapped her up with a magnificent tackle, and won the free kick for holding the ball.
From point-blank range in the pocket, Svarc made no mistake with the set shot, capping off an exhilarating passage of play which started and ended with Svarc.
ROOS SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT
All of North’s missed shots on goal in the second term, when they had all the play, would prove costly as Dakota Davidson and Bodey made it three goals in a row for the Lions in the third quarter.
The visitors ramped up the heat to assert their authority on the contest and grab a 16-point lead. It would prove to be the decisive period of the contest.
And while North regained the momentum from that point, they were again incapable of capitalising on their territory domination, as Brisbane’s backline morphed into an impenetrable brick wall.
ROOS 1.2, 2.5, 3.6, 3.8 (26)
LIONS 2.0, 3.1, 5.3, 5.3 (33)
LERNER’S BEST Kangaroos: Riddell, Kearney, Garner, E.King, Bruton. Lions: Anderson, Hickie, Grider, Bates, O’Dwyer.
GOALS Kangaroos: E.King, Wall, Kearney. Lions: Hodder, Wardlaw, R.Svarc, Davidson, Bodey.
INJURIES Kangaroos: Nil. Lions: Campbell (foot).
UMPIRES Birch, Mitchell, Whetton
VENUE Arden Street
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
LERNER’S VOTES
3 Ally Anderson (BL)
2 Ash Riddell (NM)
1 Tahlia Hickie (BL)
GOAT misfires again as Hawks hang on in eyesore
- James Mottershead
Hawthorn has strung together three wins in its first AFLW season after outlasting a misfiring Port Adelaide by 13-points.
It is an outstanding result for the Hawks, with many pundits questioning whether the club in its debut season could muster even one win for the season.
The win moves Hawthorn within a win of the top eight, however, its percentage (57 per cent) and a game against Brisbane makes finals highly unlikely.
But with GWS to come next week, Bec Goddard’s troops will fancy winning a fourth in a row.
GOAT MISFIRES, AGAIN
Port Adelaide could’ve blown the Hawks out of the water in the first quarter but for a misfiring Erin Phillips.
The AFLW’s greatest ever player looked set to tear the game apart with a blistering opening term in the Power’s forward line.
The 37-year-old had two early chances to capitalise on the young Port side’s dominance as they were kicking to the scoring end of Skybus Stadium.
Her first shot came in the opening seconds after a strong mark. The distance would’ve tested most players, but it was well within Phillips’ range.
She pulled her kick and minutes later, the two-time AFLW best and fairest winner sprayed another shot, leaving her side without reward for their effort.
With Sophie Locke making the most of a rate Hawthorn foray forward it only rubbed salt into the wound of Port Adelaide and Phillips.
The rot set in from there for the Power, kicking a shocking 1.10, and Phillips’ season tally moving to 0.5.
GROWING PAINS
Unfortunately, with 15th and 16th facing off that culminated in a dour, low-scoring affair.
Conditions were beautiful for footy in Frankston but that didn’t stop just two goals being kicked between the sides in the opening half.
While the game was hotly contested and defensive enthusiasts would’ve been relishing Hawthorn’s tackling – they had 13 inside 50 tackles in the opening half – it made for an eyesore of a game with fans of both clubs having minimal opportunity to celebrate majors.
While the Hawks added three second-half goals and the Power misfired, it wasn’t a game to write home about.
MILESTONE MASTERCLASS
Tilly Lucas-Rodd has flown under the radar in 2022 across two seasons of AFLW but the Hawthorn skipper put on another classy display, this time in her 50th game.
Lucas-Rodd crossed from St Kilda in the off-season after enjoying a breakout season where she averaged 20 touches a game.
The 26-year-old hasn’t managed to reach the same numbers this season but has taken the defensive side of her game to new heights, leading her young side by example.
She was at it again with nine tackles against Port Adelaide, ensuring the Power couldn’t manage many clean breaks from stoppage.
To put the icing on top of the cake for Lucas-Rodd, she kicked the last goal of the game with just seconds left on the clock to seal the win for the Hawks.
Lucas-Rodd willed her side to victory with a game-high 19 touches, three clearances and 255m gained.
THE ISSUE WINNING TIGERS STILL NEED TO FIX
As well as Richmond is going this season, its final quarters have almost let it down.
On Friday night, the Tigers again led at three-quarter-time, for the sixth time in seven games.
Even in their two losses to start the season, against Geelong and Adelaide, they led at the last change.
The only time they have trailed going into the final quarter was in the Round 6 win over Gold Coast when they fought back from three points down to win by four.
Richmond had led West Coast by as much as 20 points late in the third term. But a goal from Emma Swanson halfway through the term brought the margin back to just eight points.
The Eagles were quickly back within six points with as many minutes to spare on the clock, having wasted a couple of difficult shots on goal.
But two Grace Egan goals late in the final term, who’d kicked only three goals over her previous 29 games, sealed the result for the Tigers.
They Tigers have kicked only 5.9 from seven final terms this season.
They will need to find a way to run out four quarters against more experienced opposition before finals start.
HELP COMING IN ATTACK
Richmond’s season has been built on a miserly defence and they allowed only three goals in against the Eagles on Friday night.
They might have averaged only 27 points a game themselves this season, but have given up only just over 20 points per game at the other end.
They have played in five games decided by a single-figure margin; four of them by less than a kick and have won three of them.
The Tigers are only three straight kicks away from having not lost a game and being on top of the ladder.
Help is coming in attack also, with Katie Brennan due back from a foot injury.
With her, the Tigers will be dangerous at both ends of the ground.
Courtney Wakefield has led the Tigers attack this season with 7.8. She was goalless against the Eagles on Friday night, but has scored goals in four of seven games this season.
A few players have kicked goals in more than one game, but none more than two before Conti kicked a goal against the Eagles, the third time she has hit the scoreboard this season.
TIGERS FINALS BOUND
Richmond will surely play finals this season, for the first time, on the back of five consecutive wins.
The Tigers loom as a dangerous opposition too.
Despite being hit by injury, they are still in the hunt for a top four finish, which will put them among the main contenders.
After this round, there will be only three games to play and they will be at least one win and percentage ahead of whoever finishes Round 7 in ninth spot after they beat West Coast by 19 points at Mineral Resources Park on Friday night.
The 6.7 (43) to 3.6 (24) victory also leaves the Tigers with a perfect 3-0 record against the Eagles in AFLW since both sides joined the league in 2020.
The Tigers are enjoying their best ever season.
The win in the West follows an earlier victory against Brisbane and narrow losses against other top sides, Adelaide (by nine points) and Geelong (four) in the first two rounds of the season.
Since slumping to 13th on the ladder after those first two losses, Richmond has not been beaten.
Its previous best tally of season wins was three, achieved in both of the previous two seasons.
The Tigers have plenty of chance to hone their game play for finals action with games to come against Carlton, Greater Western Sydney and North Melbourne, with the Kangaroos the only on that trio ahead of them on the AFLW ladder.
A cool and composed Eilish Sheerin kicks her first goal ðŸ˜#AFLW | #AFLWEaglesTigerspic.twitter.com/ukzHE0fnA2
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 7, 2022
RISING STAR OF EAGLES DEFENCE
West Coast’s Charlie Thomas is emerging as one of the best and most reliable young defenders in the AFLW.
Remember, she has just turned 19 and played only her 17th game at the top level, against Richmond on Friday night.
With Sophie McDonald keeping tabs of the opposition’s key defender, Thomas is enjoying a terrific season in support.
McDonald did another great job against the Tigers, keeping the dangerous Courtney Wakefield goalless, although she did get a bit of the ball.
Thomas again showed a steady head and clean hands, rebounding many of Richmond’s 39 journeys inside their attack.
Thomas finished with a career best 23 touches on Friday night and took seven marks in defence.
She is already showing why West Coast was so keen to pick her up with its first pick of the 2021 draft.
EXPANSION CONCERNS LAID BARE AGAIN
- Ronny Lerner
It took the Swans just six minutes to eclipse their Round 6 and Round 4 final scores of 0.1 (1) and 0.2 (2) respectively when Rebecca Privitelli converted a set shot from 35m out directly in front.
But that’s just about as good as it got for the Swans, as the cavernous gap between established and new teams was laid bare for all to see yet again.
The Suns kicked seven of the last eight goals to deliver another hefty defeat to the winless Swans who have now lost five of their seven games by at least 31 points.
It continued Sydney’s debut season from hell, as they remain six points clear on the bottom of the ladder.
The Swans were mauled by the Suns in almost every key statistic, with Gold Coast dominating the disposals 221-167, contested possessions 124-93, hitouts 34-15, clearances 32-23 and inside 50s 43-26.
But while Sydney are counting down the days for the season to end, it couldn’t be a more different situation for Gold Coast who could be inside the top eight by the end of the round.
The Suns are now level on four wins with North Melbourne, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs, who are all still yet to play this weekend, and with just one top-eight team (Melbourne) in their run home, the Suns will fancy their chances of returning to the finals.
DUPUY, JONES SHOW THE WAY
Suns forward/back-up ruck Jacqueline Dupuy was instrumental in the result, finishing the game with 14 disposals (11 contested), 11 hitouts and two goals, while small forward Courtney Jones also played a key role with 12 touches and two goals.
Claudia Whitfort shone for the Suns, too, amassing 19 possessions (11 contested), five clearances and a goal, while former No.1 pick Charlie Rowbottom continued her impressive campaign with a team-high 22 touches (10 contested), five tackles and eight clearances.
The Swans were best-served by Privitelli who always looked dangerous when the ball went in their attacking zone. She kicked her team’s only two goals and also had nine touches and four marks, but also laid four tackles.
Montana Ham also tried hard for the hosts, finishing with 15 disposals (11 contested), five tackles and four clearances, while Lisa Steane (11 touches) also had a dip.
However, Sydney definitely would have liked to get a lot more from Brooke Lochland. The former Bulldog was one of the Swans’ star pre-season signings, but the forward only managed two touches for the game.
The inside-50 count might’ve been lopsided, and the quality of those entries might not have been A-grade all the time, but she should’ve found a way to get herself more involved.
HAMPSON IN HOT WATER
Gold Coast’s Ellie Hampson could come under scrutiny from the match review officer for a bone-crunching hit on Privitelli late in the first quarter.
Both players were contesting a loose ball, but Hampson came charging in and met Privitelli heavily, appearing to make contact with the Swan’s head in the process.
The collision left Privitelli worse for wear and writhing in pain on the ground for quite some time.
She eventually made her way off the ground under her own steam with the assistance of trainers, and was able to return to the field in the second quarter.
But the league generally doesn’t like the look of such incidents, and although Privitelli was cleared of injury and went on to be one of her team’s best players, Hampson may yet face a suspension, which wouldn’t be ideal for Gold Coast as they push for a finals spot in the final three rounds.
JONES, WHITFORT KICK RIPPERS
Jones kicked one of the goals of the season midway through the final quarter when she gathered the ball tight on the boundary line, and squeezed through a magnificent banana shot from the pocket while surrounded by Sydney players to put the Suns up by 35 points.
Earlier in the day, her teammate Whitfort kicked her first goal of the season and it was certainly worth the wait.
Her first attempt at goal was smothered but, undeterred, quick as a flash she regathered the ball, and, from heavy traffic, slapped the ball back on her boot from 20m out while being tackled and floated it home for one of the goals of the day, which put her team up by eight points late in the first term.
It was the kind of second effort that coaches dream about and there’s no doubt that Suns boss Cameron Joyce will be replaying that bit of vision once or twice throughout the week as an example to his players of what is required from them.
SCOREBOARD
SWANS 1.0, 1.1, 2.2, 2.3 (15)
SUNS 2.3, 4.5, 6.6, 7.7 (49)
LERNER’S BEST Swans: Privitelli, Ham, Steane, Skinner. Suns: Dupuy, Whitfort, Jones, Rowbottom, Drennan, Hampson.
GOALS Swans: Privitelli 2. Suns: Dupuy 2, Jones 2, Whitfort, Bohanna, Meyer.
INJURIES Swans: Steane (head). Suns: Nil
UMPIRES Brackenrig, Simmonds, Somerville
VENUE Henson Park
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
LERNER’S VOTES
3 Jacqueline Dupuy (GC)
2 Claudia Whitfort (GC)
1 Courtney Jones (GC)
Shock switch helps keep Blues in AFLW finals hunt
It started with two blistering wins against newcomers Sydney and Hawthorn, but St Kilda’s season died a brutal death in its 27-point loss to the Blues.
It means the Saints have lost five in a row and leaves them needing to win all their remaining games with other results going their way to have any chance of finals. It won’t happen.
It’s a shattering result for the Saints who would’ve backed themselves to knock the Blues off after letting a certain victory slip against the high-flying Pies last week.
Carlton has moved to within a win and percentage of the top-eight and set up a mammoth clash against Richmond next Friday night and with games against Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs to follow an unlikely finals berth is not out of the question.
Defender Darcy
They were the first player to kick 50 AFLW goals, but outside of a three-goal performance against Essendon Darcy Vescio had suffered a stinking season up forward for the Blues.
The marquee forward had struggled to find the footy and get involved in games, but an inspired move with the magnets by Daniel Harford reinvigorated the 29-year-old’s season.
The Carlton coach stationed Vescio across half back and by halftime the switch had already paid off in spades.
Vescio led allcomers for intercepts with five and provided much needed bounce out of defence for the Blues.
It may be a move Carlton sticks with as it pushes for a spot in the top eight late in the season and needs extra surety in the back half.
Vescio finished with 15 disposals and a game-high for both metres gained (346m) and intercepts (10).
Destroyer Dillon
Her side may have been trailing at quarter-time, but Rosie Dillon put together in a term what most players would consider a successful outing.
Dillon was everywhere early for the Saints and despite the two-goal deficit the home side faced she was best on by the length of the Flemington straight.
The 26-year-old had the ball on a string, notching 11 touches as she dominated the midfield with four clearances.
She was able to use the footy effectively, gaining her side 138m, thrusting them forward to hand her side two early scoring chances that were wasted.
Unfortunately she gave away a free kick in the shadows of quarter-time that handed Blues’ skipper Kerryn Peterson Carlton’s second goal deep inside 50.
Dillon finished with a career-high 19 touches, seven clearances and four tackles.
Goal of the year
Jess Dal Pos’ seventh career goal was one to remember, so much so that it could be goal of the year.
The 29-year-old roved the ball from a Rebecca Ott dropped mark deep in the forward pocket of RSEA Park.
Almost facing backwards, Dal Pos had no right to centre the ball let alone have a shot as St Kilda defenders bared down on her from all angles.
But the 54-game veteran took one step and threw the ball on her boot, bending it with a kick that looked like it would take it away from the goal mouth.
But Dal Pos, in the blink of an eye, had judged the snap to perfection, sliding it through on the angle to kick one of the more memorable goals of the season.
SAINTS 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.5 17
BLUES 2.2 4.2 5.7 6.8 44
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST Saints: Dillon, Vesely, Patrikios, Jakobsson. Blues: Moody, McKay, Vescio, Hill, Peterson, McEvoy.
GOALS Saints: Matin 2. Blues: Moody 2, Peterson, Skepper, Dal Pos, Pound.
INJURIES Saints: Nalder (concussion). Blues: nil.
RSEA Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3 B Moody (CARL)
2 A McKay (CARL)
1 D Vescio (CARL)
AFLW RISING STAR WHO BUILT HER OWN FOOTY TEAM
Lauren Wood
Emelia Yassir hit the phones.
The young Pascoe Vale Panther had lined up as the sole female player in Under 12 boys’ teams for two seasons.
And dominated.
Top-three finishes in the club best and fairest, sledges from the boys.
She’d grown “sick of it”, too, and gave the game away for a while.
But at 14, the call came that a girls team could be on the radar – and Yassir knew it was her time to get dialling.
“I felt like a manager at the time, trying to recruit people to come and play,” she said.
“I was like, ‘all right, I’m going to call everyone’ – girls from school, anyone who was interested in footy.
AFLW TACKLE: OUR LIKES AND DISLIKES FROM SEASON 7
“Then in the end, for the first session there was no one there.
“I started to panic – I’m not going to be able to play. But we got them. We got them. And we enjoyed it every day since.”
Footy had become a haven for the young Lebanese Muslim, having turned up at the Panthers as a 10-year-old not knowing a soul.
“I didn’t know the club or anything. I thought, I’m just going to go there and hope for the best,” she told the Herald Sun this week.
The best, as it turned out, was yet to come.
The club wasn’t just foreign to Yassir, but the game entirely to her family.
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Both of Yassir’s parents – Souad and Mohamad - were born in Lebanon, where a lot of her family still remains.
Her mother moved to Australia as a toddler, her father as a young adult.
“He didn’t even know what a footy was,” Yassir recalls of her time taking up Australian rules.
“I played with the boys and he’d sit in the car and wouldn’t even watch me play.
“It was physical, and playing with the boys, he didn’t know what I was in for, didn’t know one rule of the game. It was a bit chaotic.
“But I got mum on board to come and watch me – it was just incredible. For them to see other parents coming and congratulating me on my awards, then mum started getting into it.
“Dad would start asking questions like ‘what happens here?’. He’d watch the footy with me.
“Look at him now – he’s one of my biggest supporters.”
Yassir would at times gasp for air after a heavy tackle, hearing Souad yelling from the sidelines.
“Mum would always say, ‘What if you get injured?’,” she said.
“You’d hear her on the sidelines – she’d be one of the parents that would run out on the ground, and at halftime she’d say ‘do you reckon you can stop now?’.
“They used to hide away from the roles … but that’s definitely changed over time and they’re my biggest supporters in life.
“It really shifted when they saw the achievements and how much I was really enjoying it. Footy is my outlet. It helps me in life, and footy was the No. 1 thing that got me through.”
In her second AFL Women’s season at Richmond, Yassir is thriving, with a huge crew at every game.
“I used to always say, I’m going to play with the boys in the AFL. That’s when it all started,” she said.
“(They were) very protective, but we’ve come a long way and I’m at one of the best clubs in the league now so I’m very happy and they’re very proud of me.”
AFL Women’s will celebrate Pride Round next weekend, with the Eagles to don their Pride guernsey in Friday night’s clash at Mineral Resources Park.
Giants counterpart and practising Muslim Haneen Zreika has opted not to wear the jumper and will sit out the match, while Yassir will wear the Tigers’ Pride strip next weekend.
The 19-year-old embarks on Islamic rituals such as Ramadan — which this year fell during the pre-season — but said she would continue to learn more about Islam, particularly from her father.
“I did wear it (the pride jumper) last year – I didn’t find an issue with it,” Yassir said.
“Everyone’s different in what they believe in and how they practice their religion.”
Yassir said Zreika had been supported by the community in her choice, and that she had reached her own decision.
The teenager endeavours to inspire other youth to chase their dreams through her work with the Bachar Houli Foundation.
“You don’t realise how much of a difference you can make being an elite athlete and going to see these kids,” she said.
“In this club I am the first (women’s Lebanese-Muslim player) which is pretty exciting that I get to be the first, to teach them (about it).
“Even my sisters - (the 15 year old) is into footy because I played it. That’s what I want to do. I want to start so that younger Muslim girls - and non-Muslim girls as well - (are inspired to play).”
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Originally published as AFLW News: All the results and news from round 7
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