AFLW 2022: All the team news and updates for week 1 of the finals
In a bumper preview of the first week of AFLW finals, we analyse the match-ups, game breakers and name the likely winners. See our break down on every match.
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Here we go.
The fight for a historic AFLW premiership is down from 18 to eight teams and it promises to be an entertaining finals series.
Can anyone match Brisbane Lions? Will Daisy get her fairytale flag? Can Geelong and Richmond continue their meteoric rise?
We’re about to find out.
Scroll down to see our previews of every final in week one.
MELBOURNE v ADELAIDE
SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL
Ikon Park, Friday, 7.10pm
KEY MATCH UP
Ebony Marinoff v Karen Paxman
Star onballer Ebony Marinoff has not just been a shining light for the Crows, but arguably the standout midfielder of the competition this season. Marinoff leads the league for disposals with an average of 26.5, also averaging 14 contested possessions a game. Melbourne veteran Karen Paxman has been equally critical in the Demons’ finals charge and looms as the ideal match-up for the star Crow. Demons coach Mick Stinear has been starting the two-time club champion forward before moving her into the midfield to amplify her impact.
GAME BREAKER
Anne Hatchard
A two-time Crows premiership player and dual club best-and-fairest, the midfielder knows how to get the job done in the big games. Hatchard was best-on-ground in the Crows’ win over Melbourne in the season six grand final after finishing with a game-high 26 disposals.
WHO WINS AND WHY
Melbourne 6
Adelaide’s finals record is better than any team in the league and they have proven their credentials on the finals stage. But the Demons have the form this year, dropping only one game for the season and winning their earlier meeting against the Crows. The Demons are one of the league’s topscoring teams – second only to the Brisbane Lions, so kicking goals won’t be a problem for them. The Melbourne final should help get the Demons find redemption for their season six grand final loss.
BY THE NUMBERS
THIS SEASON
Round 1, Adelaide 4.2 (26) def by Melbourne 6.8 (44) at Glenelg
FINALS RECORDS
MELBOURNE
W 3, L 2
ADELAIDE
W 6, L1
KEY NUMBER
ADELAIDE
Three. The number of premierships Adelaide has won since the inception of the AFLW competition. Three flags from four grand finals in six years.
MELBOURNE
73. The number of goals kicked by the Demons during the home-and-away season. Second in the competition behind the Brisbane Lions (78).
BRISBANE v RICHMOND
Saturday, November 5
Metricon Stadium, 3.10pm AEDT
KEY MATCH-UP
Monique Conti v Emily Bates
We saw two of the game’s best go head-to-head late in the two sides’ Round 5 meeting at Punt Road Oval but to see it again in a final would be a real treat. Conti has been among the competition’s best for a number of years but has dazzled this season, reaping the benefits of her first full football-focused pre-season since opting out of elite basketball commitments for the time being. She is considered a prime chance to join Bates as a league best and fairest winner, after the Lion saluted earlier this year and has continued her stellar form. Cathy Svarc’s tagging prowess hasn’t gone unnoticed, either, with the Lion another prospective stopper for Conti’s power.
THE GAME BREAKER
Ally Anderson
While Bates is often noted as the Lions’ midfield firepower, it is Anderson who is right in the thick of it time and time again. Racks up possessions and, most importantly, is incredibly damaging with the ball and is a significant threat for opposition sides. The premiership player has delivered the best season of her career for disposals, marks, tackles and clearances and her consistency across all facets is what makes her so dangerous. The Lions forwards – including league goalkicking leader Jesse Wardlaw and Dakota Davidson – are the ones who reap the rewards, with Anderson often the link player into the forwardline and has speed to burn.
WHO WINS AND WHY
Brisbane has been the dominant force of the competition and it’s hard to see that ending on home turf this weekend. The Lions’ experience as a tight-knit outfit has proven invaluable and both their fitness and cohesion only seems to go from strength to strength. Players like Jesse Wardlaw, Sophie Conway and Belle Dawes continue to take great strides in their development and having Kate Lutkins return to defence on the eve of finals could be a game-changer. That’s not to take away from the Tigers, who haven’t experienced finals football before and are playing with such freedom. They’re the only team to beat the Lions this season so will take confidence from previous victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Record against each other
1-1
FINALS RECORD
Brisbane – 3-4 (including 2021 premiership)
Richmond – N/A
KEY NUMBER
BRISBANE
545 – the number of points scored by the Lions this season – more than 200 more than Richmond. They have the ability to score heavily.
RICHMOND
7 – the number of wins on the trot before the weekend’s top four-saving draw. That included a win over the Lions – the only team to do so this season. Momentum counts for plenty.
GEELONG v NORTH MELBOURNE
FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL
GMHBA Stadium, Saturday, 7.10pm
KEY MATCH UP
Jasmine Garner v Meg McDonald
North Melbourne’s most important player, two-time Kangaroos best-and-fairest Jasmine Garner has led her team with an average 22.7 disposals a match this season. She was among the best in the Roos’ round 4 win over the Cats. Geelong skipper Meg McDonald shapes as the perfect candidate for the job on the North star. It was Richmond’s Meg Macdonald who shut down Garner with a tag in their final-round draw.
GAME BREAKER
Georgie Prespakis
Under an injury cloud coming into the game after rolling her ankle in the final round, but can be a matchwinner for the Cats. The exciting young midfield gun, famous for wearing the long sleeves, has averaged 22.8 disposals, almost eight tackles and six clearances a game this season and has the ability to ignite a game for the Cats.
WHO WINS AND WHY
Geelong 7
Only two points stood between the Cats and a top-four berth, getting knocked out by Richmond’s draw in the second-last game of the season. But falling to fifth has granted the Cats a home final at GMHBA Stadium. Boasting the fourth-highest attack in the league, the Cats have scoring power and enter the finals off the back of a 75-point drubbing of Sydney.
BY THE NUMBERS
This season: Round 4, North Melbourne 4.4 (28) d Geelong 2.4 (16) at Launceston
FINALS RECORDS
GEELONG
L – 1
2019 – lost preliminary final to Adelaide, 1.1 (7) to 11.7 (73) at Adelaide Oval
NORTH MELBOURNE
W 2, L 1
2020 semi-final – North Melbourne 5.4 (34) d Collingwood 5.2 (32) at Ikon Park
*No AFLW grand final played in 2020 due to Covid pandemic
2021 qualifying final – Collingwood 7.8 (50) d North Melbourne 7.2 (44) at Victoria Park
2022 qualifying final – North Melbourne 4.7 (31) def by Fremantle 11.3 (69) at Arden St
KEY NUMBER
GEELONG
46.4 – The average number of marks the Cats have taken in a match this home-and-away season, the highest in the league.
NORTH MELBOURNE
5.3 – The average number of goals the Kangaroos have scored in a game during the home-and-away season, equal fourth in the competition with Geelong.
COLLINGWOOD v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Sunday, November 6
Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT
Preview could be
KEY MATCH-UP
Gabby Newton v Lauren Butler
The Pies defence could share the load against Newton’s, whose return after a double shoulder reconstruction has provided the Dogs with a prime target inside 50. Her marking capability will only be enhanced by the forecast of fine conditions at Victoria Park, meaning clunking a few could well be on the cards. Lauren Butler is a dominant force in one-on-one contests, meaning she could be a prominent candidate to take the job on the former No. 1 draft pick. A real popcorn pairing.
THE GAME BREAKER
Ellie Blackburn
When the game was there to be won last weekend, who was there? Ellie B. It had to be. The skipper has proven why she is one of the competition’s best players time and time again, and this season has been no different. Coach Nathan Burke revealed that managing a foot issue has curbed her ability to train fully, but her competitive streak is unmatched and this is, after all, finals footy. She’s been here and done it before and knows what it takes in crunch moments. It’s that level-headedness that you just can’t put a value on.
WHO WINS AND WHY
The Pies are determined to make amends for last season’s finals heartbreak and this might be their first step to doing just that. Covid wreaked havoc last time around but it will be finding some consistency that will be a hurdle this year. The Pies have gone WLL in the last three weeks and need to get back on track quickly. This could be the day, and on their home deck, but they need to find some firepower. The Magpies have the lowest total score against fellow top eight sides of any finals contender. The Dogs have the freedom of having just sneaked in for their first finals berth since 2018.
BY THE NUMBERS
Record against each other
WB 1 – 4 COLL
Finals record
Collingwood — 1-3
Western Bulldogs — One win, 2018 Grand Final
KEY NUMBER
Collingwood
1015
The number of disposals now under Pies ballwinner Jaimee Lambert’s belt. She’s prolific, and will be key to the Magpies’ hopes.
Western Bulldogs
270
The number of hit-outs Alice Edmonds has notched for the Dogs this season — the most in the competition, with 90 of those to advantage. Getting first use will be crucial.
AFLW HEAVYWEIGHTS ON FINALS COLLISION COURSE
Richmond star Monique Conti says she would relish a head-to-head battle with reigning league best and fairest winner Emily Bates when the pair meet in a south-east Queensland finals showdown on Saturday.
The Tigers and Lions are set to meet at Metricon Stadium in a qualifying final, with Bates — who claimed the season six AFL Women’s best and fairest medal — declaring this week she would “love a crack” at one of the game’s best in Conti.
“We always speak about her; she’s a player like no other, and in some great form as well,” Bates said on The W Podcast earlier this week.
“I’d love to have a crack at her, I don’t care if I get zero touches.
“She’s such an influential player, so dampening her influence will go a long way to hopefully us getting that win.”
Conti, 22, said she took it as “a bit of a compliment” and would welcome a midfield matching with the Lions star.
“I love any sort of match-up that comes across,” Conti said.
“It’s always really good to matchup on the best as well. It really improves your game. I’m just excited for anything, really, and looking forward to it.
“It’s a bit of a compliment. But the Lions are full of really good players. Obviously (Emily) Bates is coming off an amazing season, this season and also last season. They have some really great talent.
“We’ll take it as a compliment but it will be a really good midfield battle in there.”
Richmond is the only team to have defeated Brisbane this season, having defeated the ladder leaders in Round 5 to kickstart an unblemished run to the finals — a result Conti is hoping to repeat on Saturday.
“They’re a really tough competitor and a very elite team,” she said.
“It was pretty good to get that win — it really set us up for the rest of the season, but it’ll be a really tough game this weekend and I’m really looking forward to it.”
BLACKBURN RULED FIT TO PLAY
Western Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn has declared herself fit and ready for finals after the Dogs’ last-gasp dash to November action.
The 2018 premiership captain has been battling a health issue that coach Nathan Burke said almost kept her out of the team’s round 10 clash, where she kicked the winning goal to secure the finals berth.
While he would not detail the specifics of the condition, Burke revealed Blackburn had not trained all week and feared she would not play but considered how he could “nurse” her through the final home and away outing.
But Blackburn said she is more than ready to face Collingwood in an elimination final this Sunday.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for me personally,” Blackburn said on Wednesday.
“But the club have been incredible with the support that they’ve offered me and the way that they’ve managed me, particularly through last week.
“I’m nothing but grateful and thankful for the way they supported me throughout it. I was able to get through the game relatively OK, and pulled up really good since then.
“I’m feeling really good going into the game.” Blackburn’s late goal against the Blues cemented the Dogs’ finals hopes — their first appearance since claiming the 2018 flag.
And the star midfielder said the late charge had given the Dogs a burst of energy and optimism for what they could achieve.
“It was really exciting for us,” she said.
“Obviously we would have wanted to have won more convincingly, and secured a spot in the finals sooner than what we did.
“But footy has funny ways of working at times, and for us to be in the finals the way we are, there’s a lot of excitement around our group at the moment. We’re just really hyped at the moment and keen to be back playing finals footy.
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