AFLW 2021: All the action and results from Round 7
Time is running out for Geelong to win a game this season after the Cats slumped to another loss, this time to a West Coast team inspired by a dazzling performance from Imahra Cameron.
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Those signs of improvement shown by Geelong over the past few weeks of AFLW competition were nowhere to be seen at Mineral Resources Park in Perth on Monday afternoon.
The Cats were completely outplayed by West Coast. They managed just four scoring shots to 13 in the 39-point loss.
Goals to Georgia Clarke and Amy McDonald came only after the result was well out of doubt.
The home side enjoyed 11 more inside 50 entries in a dominant display.
Too often the Cats allowed their opposition to play down the wide wings before attacking through the corridor when going forward.
Cats coach Paul Hood will be disappointed with how often West Coast was able to catch his defenders out of position.
Three goals from Imahra Cameron in the second quarter set up West Coast’s biggest ever score – 8.5 (53) to 2.2 (14).
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MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Cats were lucky to have still been in the game at quarter-time.
Despite a strong performance from midfielder Amy McDonald (24 touches), West Coast enjoyed the general run of play from the opening bounce, led by Niamh Kelly and Aisling McCarthy.
The home side went inside 50 five times more than Geelong (8-3), but the Eagles only led 0.4 to 0.0 at quarter time.
All four of those scores came as a result of set shots, three of them from marks. But they couldn’t get close enough to make their chances count.
If not for centre-half-back Meghan McDonald and Jordan Ivey, Geelong would have trailed by much more at the first break.
THEN THE FLOODGATES OPENED
Geelong looked to have settled in the opening minutes of the second quarter. But any momentum they took was short-lived.
And just like in the opening term, the delivery into their forward line generally made it tough for them to score.
That’s when Cameron turned the game on its head in seven minutes of play, booting those three goals.
The 24-year-old had kicked a total of two goals in four previous outings this season.
She learned from the mistakes of her teammates in the opening quarter to get her first goal, getting into a dangerous position just 15m from goal.
Cameron benefitted from the strong work up-field from Ainsling McCarthy and Niamh Kelly, the latter showing a turn of speed to kick the Eagles fourth goal of the second term.
TIME RUNNING OUT
Geelong remain cemented to the bottom of the table after seven consecutive losses. The Round 9 clash against the Gold Coast Suns appears the only real chance to improve that standing, with an outing against GWS awaiting them next week.
Monday’s win was only the Eagles third win in their short history, coming a week after their worst loss.
It easily eclipsed the one-point victory over Gold Coast in Round 5 and the four-point victory over the Western Bulldogs last season.
With games against Richmond and St Kilda to come, coach Daniel Pratt will be looking for a significant climb up the table before the season ends.
They may have to go into those games without Grace Kelly though, who limped from the ground with what appeared a groin injury after kicked a goal early in the final quarter.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 8.5 (53)
GEELONG 2.2 (14)
BEST: West Coast: A McCarthy, N Kelly, I Cameron, C Perera, E Swanson, G Kelly.
Geelong: A McDonald, R Webster, M McDonald, R Garing, J Crockett-Grills.
LIONS STOP PIES’ UNBEATEN RUN IN THRILLER
Brisbane has uncovered the blueprint for defeating Collingwood in 2021 – stop superstar duo Brianna Davey and Chloe Molloy.
The Lions doused the red-hot Magpies in a nailbiting three-point win against the odds at Whitten Oval, leapfrogging their opponents into second place on the AFLW ladder.
The gutsy triumph came against the odds after home clash was moved 1500km south at the eleventh hour following a COVID-19 case in Brisbane.
Molloy and Davey, league leaders in goals and disposals respectively heading into Round 7, were shut down by the defensive might of the Lions.
A noticeably frustrated Davey was quelled by super stopper Cathy Svarc through the midfield, restricted to 14 touches, while Molloy (four disposals) had limited impact in the forward arc and was switched into defence after a possession-less first half.
Lions bull Alexandra Anderson (26 disposals) was busy for the victors and Magpies ruckman Sharni Norder offered plenty of fight with 17 disposals and 17 hit-outs.
COLLINGWOOD COMEBACK FALLS SHORT
Two players down after injuries to defenders Jordyn Allen and Lauren Butler, the Magpies had all the legs in the final quarter.
Steve Symond’s side piled on two majors in the first half of the final term through crafty forwards Aisling Sheridan and Joanna Lin, the second of those bouncing fortuitously through from 50m.
With the Pies peppering the Lions defence, inclusion Maddi Shevlin had two chances to give her side the lead in the final minute.
A soccer off the ground dribbled off the side of her boot for a minor score in the dying seconds, and moments later she found the ball in her hands 40m out on the boundary, after an errant Lions kick from the last line.
When her wayward shot at goal from the tight angle sailed through for a minor score with 20 seconds remaining, the Lions had the game in their hands.
FREQUENT FLYERS
The AFL’s last-minute switch to neutral venue Whitten Oval from Brisbane’s Hickey Park had vastly different impacts on the two sides.
Remarkably, the Magpies were due to play their first match outside of Melbourne while a return home beckoned for the Lions after back-to-back road trips to Perth and Canberra.
Instead, the road warriors were forced to pack their bags and clamber on another flight out of Brisbane on Sunday morning, with Collingwood staying put as its fixture fortune continued.
The rigorous travel schedule makes the Lions’ triumph even more remarkable.
PRESSURE POINTS
The Lions’ manic forward half pressure was evident, and it began from the opening minutes.
Veteran Lauren Arnell’s renaissance continued with two sharp smothers to start the match, one of those setting up the first goal of the match to speedster Courtney Hodder, who laid six tackles herself.
Six Lions recorded five or more tackles for the match.
SCOREBOARD
BRISBANE 2.8 3.8 4.10 4.11 (35)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 2.4 2.4 4.8 (32)
BEST: Brisbane: Anderson, Svarc, Grider, Conway, Bates, Campbell
Collingwood: Norder, Bonnici, Lambert, Schleicher, Sheridan, Livingstone
GOALS: Brisbane: Horder, Campbell, Wuetschner, Svarc
Collingwood: Sheridan 2, Alexander, Lin
INJURIES:Collingwood: Allen (ankle) Butler (hamstring)
HEARTBREAK FOR BLUES AFTER LAST-DITCH DOCKERS COMEBACK
Three goals in three minutes was all it took for Fremantle to prove why they’re a serious premiership contender, speeding past a determined Carlton outfit to run out victorious at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon.
Two late goals from Sabreena Duffy and one from an unusually quiet Gemma Houghton turned the game on its head, putting the Dockers four points up with as many minutes to go.
It was an uncharacteristically fast start for the Blues, with a few nervous and scrappy opening minutes of play giving way to fast-moving and slick ball movement.
Nicola Stevens was everywhere early, playing in the forward line but creeping up the wing to help transition the ball forward.
Stevens outbodied her opponent to mark an Elise O’Dea kick in the goalsquare, and converted to get Carlton on the board in the opening minutes of the game.
Darcy Vescio’s right-foot banana from the right boundary line gave Carlton their second, and will surely feature on the highlight reel.
Back in the side after missing last week’s game, Tayla Harris’s class was on display when she brought down an excellent pack mark and converted from 35 metres out to give the Blues a 21-point lead at the first break.
The script was flipped in the second quarter, with Fremantle kicking two unanswered goals to reduce the margin to eight points at the main break.
The ball was locked in Fremantle’s forward 50 for the opening eight minutes of the second quarter, putting the Carlton backline under immense pressure.
Stephanie Cain capitalised on a Kiara Bowers clearance, converting a set shot to get Fremantle on the board.
Jasmin Stewart made the most of a handball out of traffic from Gemma Houghton, with her left foot snap curving perfectly back between the big sticks.
Carlton only managed one behind from two inside 50s in the second quarter, while Fremantle recorded 12 inside 50s.
Carlton’s backline, led by an impressive Vaomua Laloifi, withstood an early onslaught from Fremantle, whose intensity and intent increased yet again in the third quarter.
A Serena Gibbs goal pushed Carlton further in front, but Jasmin Stewart kicked her second goal just minutes later to even it out.
Georgia Gee was finally rewarded for immense effort, crumbing out of a pack mark to slot a goal on the run to put the Blues 10 points clear at the final break.
A second goal from Nicola Stevens gave Carlton the ascendancy early in the final quarter, but it didn’t take Fremantle long to answer, with Sabreena Duffy managing to squeeze a goal across the line despite a Laloifi run-down tackle.
Duffy kicked her second just seconds later, gathering the ball off the deck to kick truly on the run from the 50 metre line.
An unusually quiet Gemma Houghton popped up when she was needed most, booting her first goal of the day to put Fremantle four points up with four minutes to go, sealing the game for the Dockers.
EVEN STEVENS
After spending her first few years at the Blues in a defensive role, Nicola Stevens showed she can star at both ends of the ground.
Stevens was prolific early, racking up five first quarter touches and three marks, and was instrumental in ensuring the Blues got off to a fast start.
Her hard tackling and contested marking set up several passages of play which resulted in goals, in addition to kicking two of her own at key moments of the game.
She finished with 15 disposals, five marks and five tackles.
GEE WHIZ
Georgia Gee was everywhere on Sunday afternoon, but had little reward for effort until the third quarter.
The 160cm midfielder seemed to appear at nearly every contest, attacking the ball with an intensity that belied her stature.
She racked up 13 disposals, four tackles and kicked an important goal.
DUFFY STUFF
Just when it looked like Carlton were home and hosed, up popped Sabreena Duffy.
Her two goals in as many minutes wrestled momentum back in the Dockers’ favour, and changed the course of the game.
Her cleanliness below her knees and innate goal sense saw her burst away from congestion and give Fremantle a boost when they needed it most.
BOWERS POWER
Fremantle coach Trent Cooper was pleased with the defensive role gun midfielder Kiara Bowers played on Carlton star Madison Prespakis.
“It’s a luxury not many coaches have to get their best player to play a defensive role, and she was phenomenal,” Cooper said post-game.
“She just let herself down on the scoreboard – she could have kicked two goals.
“Her game was absolutely first class today.”
Bowers racked up 28 disposals, 10 tackles and 10 clearances.
JUST HOW GOOD ARE FREO?
Fremantle have lost just one out of the past 13 games, and are hotly tipped to be in serious contention to win the flag.
But in a season where not every team plays every other team, the luck of the draw becomes very important.
Western Australia’s strict border controls have resulted in the Dockers playing the underperforming West Coast Eagles twice so far this season, and winning both times.
But their hard-fought win over the Blues is proof they’re a serious finals chance.
However, a tough run home awaits, with games against fellow premiership fancies Melbourne and North Melbourne standing between the Dockers and finals.
SCOREBOARD
CARLTON 6.5 (41)
FREMANTLE 6.9 (45)
GOALS: Carlton: Stevens 2, Vescio, Harris, Gee, Gibbs
Fremantle: Cain, Stewart 2, Duffy 2, Houghton
BEST: Carlton: Stevens, Harrington, Gee, Moody, Prespakis, Laloifi
Fremantle: Bowers, Miller, Stewart, Cain, Duffy
Attendance: 2048 at Ikon Park.
BAFFLING NON-GOAL CALL CAN’T STOP DEES
Melbourne is powering towards finals after their most impressive win of the season, a 28-point demolition of Adelaide on Saturday night.
The Dees are now just one win away from locking in a finals spot after their win against one of the competition’s heavyweights.
It was the perfect start to the Dees’ testing run home before they face Fremantle and Brisbane in the next fortnight.
The game was played at a frenetic finals-like pace, but it was Melbourne who settled first and never looked back.
The Dees were the first team to score a point in the opening quarter against Adelaide since Round 2 and led at every change, holding Adelaide to just one goal after quarter-time.
Kate Hore put on a show playing at half-forward and was easily best on ground.
The 25-year-old broke the game open in the second half with three goals, including two in the third term to stretch Melbourne’s lead to 29-points at the final change.
But it wasn’t just her three goals that set the game up for the Dees with her clean hands and pressure locking the ball forward just as crucial in securing the win.
HANKS’ LEADING ROLE
Tyla Hanks’ star rises each week she plays at the moment and was Melbourne’s most important midfielder again.
The Dees’ 13-point buffer at halftime was largely down to Hanks’ work in the middle as she accumulated a game-high 13 touches to go with a team-high two clearances.
And in a game that featured finals like pressure it was Hanks who provided the composure and class around the ball which was exemplified with a snap goal from 25m in the second quarter as players around her struggled to take clean possession.
Hanks finished the night with 24 disposals, a goal and 343 metres gained.
GOAL CONTROVERSY
A Hanks running shot at goal four minutes into the third term looked to have gone through for a goal but was given a point.
Hanks motored to about 15m from goal on a tight angle when she unloaded a drop punt that hugged the near goalpost but appeared to go through.
The goal umpire was in the perfect position but called a point.
The moment will add to the calls for goal line technology in AFLW as it left the commentary team baffled and the players scratching their heads.
Hore said after the game it was “absolutely” a goal and called for a goal review system.
Goal? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6T0ei1MTEB
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 13, 2021
NO PONTER, NO CROWS
Adelaide was dealt a cruel blow just before the start of the game with star forward Danielle Ponter ruled out with a groin injury.
The 21-year-old has kicked eight goals for Adelaide this season, sitting only behind Phillips’ competition-leading 11 goals.
It made the task for Melbourne much simpler – stop Phillips and stop Adelaide.
The two-time competition best and fairest didn’t register a score for the night and had to push up into the midfield for extended periods to get her hands on the footy.
SCOREBOARD
MELBOURNE 6.7 (43)
ADELAIDE 2.3 (15)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hore 3, Hanks, Pearce, Zanker
Adelaide: Martin, Randall
BEST
Melbourne: Hore, Hanks, Mithen, Zanker, Sherriff
Adelaide: Allan, Marinoff, Hatchard, Phillips
Story behind epic AFLW hangtime
– James Mottershead
Rhiannon Watt almost pulled down one of the marks of the year, but it wasn’t enough to inspire St Kilda, who suffered a 20-point loss to GWS on Saturday.
“I was channelling Stuey Loewe and thought I was going to clunk it,” Watt said post-game.
“But then the legs went and I knew I was in a pickle.”
Both teams were playing to keep their slim finals chances alive, but it was the Giants who burst out of the blocks to immediately put St Kilda on the back foot.
A four-goal opening term would’ve been enough to conquer the Saints as it turned out, who were held scoreless until the dying seconds of the game when Caitlin Greiser kicked their third goal.
St Kilda's Rhiannon Watt comes crashing down to earth during today's #AFLW clash against GWS Giants.
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) March 13, 2021
📸 @kleinyheraldsunpic.twitter.com/clfNpnduTP
St Kilda were left to rue a second quarter in which they kicked 1.6.
The Giants’ performance was spearheaded by forwards Rebecca Privitelli and Cora Staunton who kicked three goals each, while midfield star Alyce Parker continued her impressive season with 27 touches and four tackles.
Georgia Patrikios put her name forward for a spot in the All-Australian team again and was the Saints’ best with 27-disposals and 10 tackles.
Giants’ hot start
GWS had kicked just five goals in their last two weeks of footy coming into Round 7 as their finals hopes faded away.
But by quarter-time in horrible, if not traditional footy conditions, the Giants had kicked their third-highest score of the season.
Privitelli took just three-minutes to kick her first goal of the game in what proved to be an ominous sign for the Saints.
Katherine Smith added a second goal five minutes later, before Staunton stretched the GWS lead to 17-points.
When Privitelli kicked her second of the game in the shadows of the quarter-time siren GWS had a lead of 23-points.
ALICE BURKE ARRIVES
A Burke having a breakout game at Moorabbin is nothing new for Saints fans.
In just her second game of AFLW after being dropped following a Round 1 performance of just two touches and a tackle, Burke led the way early for the St Kilda.
She was able to keep her side in the contest early with her pressure around the ball and looked like she loved the tight contested style of game.
Burke finished with 10-disposals and 10 tackles.
SAINTS TACKLING RECORDS
The conditions lent themselves to a tight and scrappy contest, but St Kilda took it to record levels.
GWS couldn’t find an inch of space around the contest in the first half as the Saints laid a record-breaking 52 tackles.
To put that in perspective, the Saints averaged 59 tackles per game coming into the contest.
The previous record for tackles in the first half of a game was held by North Melbourne with 51 in Round 2 last year.
On their way to that landmark, they also beat Fremantle’s record of 33 tackles in a first quarter, laying 34.
SCOREBOARD
ST KILDA 3.7 (25)
GWS GIANTS 7.3 (45)
GOALS
St Kilda: Shierlaw, Guttridge. Greiser
GWS: Privitelli 3, Staunton 3, K Smith
BEST
St Kilda: Patrikios, Smith, Phillips, Burke, Kelly
GWS: Privitelli, Staunton, Parker, Beeson, Dal Pos
Attendance: 791
Garner shows why she’s AFLW’s premier player
– James Bresnehan
North Melbourne took a step closer to the AFLW finals with a fearless win over Western Bulldogs at North Hobart Oval last night and the Kangas coach put it down to two acts of courage.
Darren Crocker was impressed with the character his girls showed in taming the dangerous Dogs in a must-win game for both, but it was individual moments by captain Emma Kearney and Irish import Aileen Gilroy that blew him away.
On the halftime siren, when the Bulldogs had pulled to within five points, cool as a cucumber Kearney slotted a 35m goal from hard on the boundary to energise her team going into the break.
The Bulldogs again pressed hard in the final term, and as the ball rolled deep into their attack, speedster Kirsten McLeod sprinted onto a loose ball in the goalsquare only to be instantaneously met by a Gilroy steam train that knocked her down and saved a certain goal.
“There’s something we call Shinboner spirit and there were two moments that epitomised that,” Crocker said.
“Emma’s goal after the halftime siren was one of them, and Aileen’s chase and a perfectly-timed bump was the other.
“I spoke to the girls after the game about moments like that and what they mean for teams.
“For us, those were Shinboner moments.”
North on-baller Jasmine Garner lived up to her league MVP and All-Australian status with a best afield 28 possessions, 13 clearances, and eight tackles and five marks.
Kearny was a close second.
“We are building week by week, but we haven’t hit the nail on the head yet,” Kearny said.
The Kangaroos’ Tasmanian players Nicole Bresnehan, Mia King, Daria Bannister and Ellie Gavalas saw their share of the action.
It got ugly in the last quarter when the Kangaroos locked down hard on the Bulldogs with enormous physical pressure and relentless resolve.
“Sometimes you’ve got to throw out the stats and just do what it takes to win the game and I was pleased the girls showed the character to do that,” Crocker said.
In the last two rounds the fifth-placed Kangaroos face Brisbane (third) and Fremantle (second).
“I haven’t mention the finals,” Crocker said.
“If we keep playing well and find some more consistency the results will take care of themselves.”
Tigers double up on back of brilliant Brennan
– Emma Greenwood
A three-goal haul from Richmond captain Katie Brennan has powered the Tigers to a 6.5 (41) to 4.2 (26) win over the Gold Coast Suns in just their second victory in the AFLW.
After a winless debut season, the Tigers had to wait more than a year for their first victory but notched a second in just a fortnight after beating the luckless Suns, who have lost all seven games this season.
After five weeks away from home, the Suns returned to Metricon Stadium and started strongly, notching seven inside 50s in the first quarter and booting the first goal of the match.
But the Tigers surged in the second term, kicking two goals three to take a 15-point margin to halftime.
The Suns got within three points in the second term but could not hold the Tigers, with Brennan’s third goal all but sealing the match for the visitors.
“It’s an awesome time, we’re really proud of our group,” Brennan said.
“We knew the Suns were going to bring the heat tonight and I’m really proud of the way we stood up against a strong outfit.”
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
The Tigers regained former All Australian midfielder Monique Conti after she missed the clash against North Melbourne last week and while she was among their best, it was Brennan who proved the difference.
She locked the scores up at the opening break with her first goal and added another before halftime to give her side a matchwinning lead.
Her third took her season tally to nine and after a period of wayward kicking, she is now among the league’s leaders this season.
DRAFT LEADER SHINES
Ellie McKenzie showed why she was so highly sought in the draft, playing a mature role in the Tigers’ win.
The teen kicked a goal but more than that, played a leading hand in the win, showing how comfortable she now is among the game’s best.
LEVI SHINES ON RETURN
Forward Maddison Levi made a welcome return to the Suns’ side after missing last week’s loss to Adelaide with a knee injury and was on song, kicking two goals.
Without star midfielder Jamie Stanton, who fractured her leg last week, first-year player Levi was under pressure to perform and she responded, kicking the first goal of the match and getting her side back in the game early in the second half.
The former Rugby Sevens star has made a strong transition to the professional AFLW ranks and while the Suns are struggling, she can be a force in their future.
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 6.5 (41)
GOLD COAST 4.2 (26)
Goals
Richmond: Brennan 3, Wakefield, Bernadi, McKenzie
Gold Coast: Levi 2, Surman, Virgo
Best
Richmond: Conti, Lavey, Brennan, McKenzie
Gold Coast: Howarth, Drennan, Levi, Surman, Ahrens
‘I’ve hated them’: Rising Star braces for fiery Sydney Derby
A big week is about to get even bigger for Greater Western Sydney young gun Kaitlyn Srhoj after she received this week’s AFLW Rising Star nomination ahead of her first Sydney Derby.
AFLW: Thrilling post-siren draw, Crows and Roos flex muscle
The top three of the AFLW in Adelaide, North Melbourne and St Kilda all had victories on a day that seperated the best from the rest. Plus the Suns and Giants played out a thrilling draw.