AFLW 2023: All the news and results from round 8
The Eagles have produced the biggest upset of the AFLW season, going into Melbourne and stunning finals contenders Essendon in a thriller. Check out the latest AFLW news and results.
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West Coast has produced the biggest upset of the season one week after their coach came under fire for post-match comments he made about the fixture.
The Eagles stunned Essendon scoring two goals inside the first five minutes before turning the game into a scrap to win 3.5 (23) to 2.7 (19) in windy conditions at Windy Hill.
The four-point win came after the Bombers fired their first two goals of the Sunday afternoon clash in the fourth term to nearly steal victory from the Eagles who will celebrate their second win of the season.
Eagle midfielder Emma Swanson was immense gaining team-highs for disposals (25), clearances (eight) and inside 50’s (five) as well as 12 tackles.
It marks a stunning victory for the Eagles who came under pressure during the week after their coach Michael Prior made complaints about having to play reigning premiers Melbourne in their 10-game fixture.
The win for the Eagles away from home lifts them into 16th spot on the AFLW ladder with a 2-6 record.
Meanwhile the Bombers remain in fifth position following the result with a 5-3 record joining Collingwood on 20 points.
EAGLES FAST START
Kicking with the breeze, the Eagles got off to the perfect start after a difficult few weeks, scoring a goal in the opening 31 seconds before another minutes later to make it a 12-nil advantage.
It was Aisling McCarthy who got the Eagles off to a flyer with a thumping 25m shot at goal before key forward Amy Franklin made it a second from long range.
The 20-year-old took a top grab at full stretch and made a booming set shot from 45m out for the Eagles second inside the first five minutes of play.
At that stage the Eagles had the first three inside 50’s and won the clearances four to one in a dominant start to the game.
After the back-to-back goals in quick succession, the next major for the game didn’t come until midway through the third term via Eagles forward Kellie Gibson.
INEFFICIENT BOMBERS
The Bombers first goal looked likely after they gained 14 of the last 15 inside 50’s to the 7:31 minute mark of the third term.
But the home side couldn’t capitalise as the Eagles landed a big blow, scoring their third major with their first forward 50 entry of the term.
Kellie Gibson was the one to score the Eagles third goal to put her side up by 15 points.
A diving Georgia Clarke stopped Franklin from a second after a goal-saving rushed behind on the last line of defence to stop the Eagles from getting 22 points in front.
Instead the Eagles went into three-quarter time with an 18-point lead kicking against the wind.
SCOREBOARD
ESSENDON 0.1 0.4 0.4 2.7 (19)
WEST COAST 2.1 2.1 3.4 3.5 (23)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST – Bombers: Prespakis, Toodgood, Nanscawen, Clarke, Walker. Eagles: Swanson, McCarthy, Roberts, Hooker, Lewis, Gibson.
GOALS – Bombers: Toogood, Clarke. Eagles: Gibson, Franklin, McCarthy.
INJURIES – Bombers: Cain (concussion) Eagles: Sedunary (hip).
UMPIRES – Clamp, Compton-Robins, O’Brien.
VENUE – Windy Hill
Young Pie leads the charge as finals surge rolls on
- James Mottershead
Conditions were tailor-made for Mikala Cann, who is nicknamed “Bull” because of her unrelenting toughness in Collingwood’s midfield.
The Pies think so highly of the 22-year-old that they were willing to let All-Australian Jaimee Lambert go last offseason, and Cann continued to repay the faith in spades Sunday afternoon.
Cann set the game up for Collingwood with a best-on-ground performance in the first half, collecting 16 disposals, of which 12 were contested, to go with a goal and two clearances.
She went head-to-head with fellow budding superstar Georgie Prespakis in the third term, breaking even with highly touted Cat.
RUGGED RECRUIT
Grace Campbell continued to assert herself as one of the recruits of the season with another high-impact performance in Collingwood’s forward line.
The 27-year-old doesn’t record big numbers, but she’s rarely beaten in contest which is vital to the way the Pies are playing this season, and it was exemplified with a second-quarter goal assist.
The former Kangaroo latched onto the ball as it came to ground from a throw in, before breaking a tackle while running around the boundary line, losing and then regaining her feet and handballing over the top to Eleri Morris who was wide open in the goal square.
Every Collingwood player ran to Campbell for the effort, proving just how highly the Pies think of her.
DOUBLE CHANCE ALIVE
Collingwood’s six-point win sets them up for an assault on the top four, sitting just one win off North Melbourne in 3rd.
The Pies are in scintillating form, having won their last four games, and finish the season with games against Sydney and Richmond, both games Collingwood will enter as favourites.
Importantly, they are getting even contributions across the board with their new game plan starting to click.
All of Sarah Rowe, Aishling Sheridan, Sarah Sansonetti, Cann and Campbell are in career-best form, their growth leading the late-season black and white surge.
LONE HAND
Georgie Prespakis may have been on the losing side, but if not for her second half the scoreboard would have looked much worse.
The star Geelong mid might have dragged her side over the line had she been accurate in front of goal, kicking 0.3.
She played with leadership beyond her years, willing her side forward around stoppages and nullifying Collingwood young gun Cann.
The 20-year-old was the best player on the ground, finishing with 26 touches, eight clearances and eight tackles.
MAGPIES 0.2 2.2 4.5 4.6 30
CATS 0.1 0.2 1.3 3.6 24
MOTTERSHEAD’S BESTMagpies: Cann, Rowe, Davey, Bonnici, Campbell, Allen. Cats: Prespakis, Morrison, McDonald, Emonson.
GOALS Magpies: Cann, Morris, Fowler, Morris-Dalton. Cats: Morrison, Friswell, Parry.
INJURIES Magpies: Butler (hamstring). Cats: Kearns (arm).
At Victoria Park
DEES JUMP ON TOP AFTER STOUT DEFENSIVE EFFORT
- Max Hatzoglou
Melbourne has jumped into top spot on the AFLW ladder after claiming a hard-fought 23-point win over North Melbourne with its lowest ever score this season.
The Dees kept the Roos to one point after quarter-time to win 5.7 (37) to 2.2 (14) in an intense encounter at Ikon Park on Saturday night.
Dees midfielder Tyla Hanks lead the charge with 27 touches and a crucial goal early in the third term before the Roos threatened but couldn’t capitalise.
A goal to Eden Zanker late in the fourth sealed the Dees’ seventh victory of the season and a sixth-straight win over the Roos.
The Roos threatened to swing momentum their way in the third term with big moments from Jasmine Ferguson and Taylah Gatt but the Dees defence proved too good.
Charlotte Wilson put together two top defensive saves in the third term to restrict the Roos from scoring their third major while Tahlia Gillard read the play strongly throughout the contest.
Following the Indigenous Round encounter, the Roos continue their difficult run against the Dees who they lost to by 17 points in last year’s preliminary final.
Darren Crocker’s ladies have only beaten the Dees once in their history which came in their first meeting in 2019.
The Roos fall to third following the loss which also saw them put up their lowest score of this AFLW season.
DEES GIFTED WITH COSTLY FREE KICKS
The Dees had three goals to half time but it could have just been one if it wasn’t for two costly infringements.
Casey Sherriff scored the first goal for the Dees midway through the opening quarter after Roos defender Erika O’Shea ignored stand orders, giving away a 50m penalty.
Then a holding free kick off the ball from a throw-in stoppage gifted the Dees another goal as Dees ruck Georgia Campbell slotted her set-shot to put the home side up by nine points at the main break.
Despite the unfortunate free kick errors, the Dees ultimately deserved the nine-point advantage at half time after winning the inside 50’s by five (19-14) and clearances by six (18-12).
Scoreboard
Melbourne 1.1 3.4 4.5 5.7 (37)
North Melbourne 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 (14)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST – Dees: Hanks, Purcell, Hore, Mackin, Gillard, Wilson. Roos: Riddell, Kearney, M. King, Garner, O’Shea, Ferguson, Gatt.
GOALS – Dees: Hore, Campbell, Hanks, Sherriff. Roos: Craven, Martin.
INJURIES – Dees: Nil. Roos: Nil.
UMPIRES – Howard, Morgan, Simmonds
VENUE – Ikon Park
WAS THIS A GRAND FINAL PREVIEW?
- Dylan Bolch
Brisbane won a thrilling contest by three points over the previously undefeated Adelaide in what was one of the best games of the season so far.
The Lions sent a message to the rest of the competition by grinding out a huge victory in hot and humid conditions.
Belle Dawes stepped up in the final term with a clutch set shot, while the likes of Ally Anderson (28 disposals) and Sophie Conway were instrumental in the victory.
The AFLW competition has seen an increase in the importance of wingers in 2023 and Lion Conway and Crow Niamh Kelly might just be two of the best.
Conway had an astounding 701 metres gained from 26 disposals, while Kelly often broke the game open for the Crows with her ability to break the lines and run and carry.
Brisbane’s ability to apply pressure to the Crows throughout the contest and capitalise on its forward 50 entries was pivotal in deciding the top-four clash.
Reigning premiers Melbourne will be around the mark again, but if this game is anything to go by, the race for the flag this season is sure to be juicy.
Better bring the popcorn if these two sides feature in the finals series.
INDIGENOUS STARS LIGHT IT UP
Our Indigenous players provide box office highlights, week-in, week-out and this top-four clash was no different.
Lions spearhead Dakota Davidson booted the first goal of the match before Crow Danielle Ponter and livewire Courtney Hodder jumped in on the act.
Ponter was the most dangerous forward on the ground, weaving her magic as she booted three majors and caused havoc for the Lions defence all day.
The 24-year-old Davidson has become one of the competition’s premier key forwards and her contested marking makes her a tough matchup each and every week.
Hodder took a superb mark going back with the flight last week which is sure to be in the running for the Mark of the Year, and has a knack of creating something out of nothing for the Lions.
MARINOFF CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
Garner, Molloy, Conti, Prespakis … they’re the names that have been spoken about all season, but Ebony Marinoff certainly has a case for the best player in the competition.
With partner in crime Anne Hatchard missing a significant chunk of the third term due to a head injury assessment, Marinoff stepped up for the Crows.
Marinoff was one of the dominant players on the ground, racking up 34 disposals and ten tackles as she did everything in her power to will her side to victory.
The gun midfielder has polled coaches votes in all except one match this season and will likely feature strongly again after her superb performance against the Lions.
Scoreboard
LIONS 1.2 4.8 4.9 5.12 (42)
CROWS 2.0 3.0 6.3 6.3 (39)
BOLCH’S BEST: Lions: Anderson, Conway, Dawes, Postlethwaite. Crows: Marinoff, Kelly, Ponter, Randall, Biddell.
GOALS: Lions: Smith 2, Davidson, Hodder, Dawes. Crows: Ponter 3, Jones 2, Gould.
INJURIES: Lions: nil. Crows: nil.
VENUE Brighton Homes Arena
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BOLCH’S VOTES
3 A. Anderson (BRIS)
2 S. Conway (BRIS)
1 E. Marinoff (ADL)
Teenage star’s stunning haul propels Giants to second win
– Lachlan McKirdy
An inspirational five-goal haul to Giants teenager Zarlie Goldsworthy has secured GWS just its second win of the year in a two-point victory over Carlton.
Before the season, Giants’ teammates tipped Goldsworthy as the player to watch in 2023 and she has well and truly delivered this year.
Already a Rising Star nominee, Goldsworthy kicked the Giants’ first goal of the day with a brilliant bit of crumbing in the first quarter.
She then showcased what she could do without the ball, turning into a tackle machine. Her eighth tackle in the first half brought a holding-the-ball decision and her second goal of the day.
Goldsworthy couldn’t be kept out of the action, moving closer to the ball in the third term and leading her side for touches going into the final term.
She then kicked two goals in the space of a minute in the fourth quarter to give the Giants their biggest lead of the day. A big run-down tackle then saw her grab her fifth of the match and gave the Giants the lead once more.
Goldsworthy finished the day with five goals, 22 disposals, seven marks and 11 tackles.
At just 18, there is much to like about the fearlessness with which she attacks the game. In a year where not everything has gone right for the Giants, the teenager has been a shining light in their forward line and has become the clear successor for the legendary Cora Staunton.
With Ally Morphett’s unfortunate injury, it’s likely another teenager from Sydney in Goldsworthy has now moved into Rising Star favouritism.
GIANTS’ STOPPAGE BLUES
It was one-way traffic at the stoppages and centre bounces at Henson Park with the Blues dominating at the contest.
In her first week back from suspension, 19-year-old Fleur Davies competed strongly for GWS but was simply no match for the experienced Breann Moody.
By half-time, the Blues were +22 on hit outs and +9 on clearances, and that authority only continued to grow as the game went on.
It was a massive game for Moody, as she finished with 46 hit outs, 13 clearances and 23 touches for the afternoon.
Carlton ended up +27 for hitouts and +21 for clearances, but it wasn’t enough to get the job done against a determined Giants outfit.
PHYSICALITY OFF THE CHARTS
Both sides had everything to play for on Saturday afternoon with the Blues needing a win to keep their finals hopes alive and the Giants wanting to celebrate their last home game with a victory.
And that meant the pressure was turned up to the max as the tackle numbers went through the roof.
Haneen Zreika led the way, finishing the game with an astonishing 16 tackles as her energy sparked an intensity boost from the Giants in the second half. Player of the game Zarlie Goldsworthy wasn’t far behind with 11 tackles of her own.
But the Blues weren’t to be outdone as Lily Goss, Keeley Sherar and Mimi Hill all ended the day in double digits for tackles.
The Giants ended up just winning the enormous tackle count, 99-92.
FREE-SCORING FINAL TERM
It was an arm wrestle all day in Marrickville as blustery winds made scoring hard at Henson Park.
But the game completely opened up in the last quarter as both sides were able to put together a string of goals. After only eight goals in the first three quarters, seven goals were kicked in the final term alone.
It was Goldsworthy who capitalised first with two of her own. But the Blues hit back quickly with goals to Mia Austin and Erone Fitzpatrick.
Goldsworthy then grabbed her third of the term to give the Giants the lead once again. A superb Jodie Hicks snap extended their margin before a goal in the dying minutes to Carlton’s Harriet Cordner made for a nervous finish.
The seesawing affair created a nailbiting conclusion to the match as the Giants registered just their second win of the year.
Scoreboard
GIANTS 2.0, 3.1, 4.1, 8.1 (49)
BLUES 1.2, 3.2, 4.3, 7.5 (47)
MCKIRDY’S BEST:
Giants – Z. Goldsworthy, H. Zreika, N. Barr, A. Dallyway, C. Dalton
Blues – B. Moody, A. McKay, L. Goss, M. Austin, K. Sherar
GOALS:
Giants – Z. Goldsworthy (5), E. Pease (1), J. Doyle (1), J. Hicks (1)
Blues – M. Austin (2), D. Vescio (1), I. Milford (1), K. Sherar (1), E. Fitzpatrick (1), H. Cordner (1)
INJURIES:
Giants – Brodee Mowbray (Knee)
Blues – Nil
Molloy masterclass keeps Swans’ finals hopes alive
– James Mottershead
Sydney’s 57-point win sets up a nerve-racking run home as it pushes towards finals in just the club’s second season in AFLW.
The Swans finished Saturday’s game among a logjam of seven teams on four wins – three of which sit inside the top eight.
Sydney finishes the season with games against Collingwood at home and Fremantle away, both games the Swans will believe they can win.
The demolition of the Bulldogs was the perfect tune-up for the run home and at half time had recorded the club’s highest-ever score in a game.
Such was the dominance of the Swans, they gained almost 20 per cent on the ladder to give themselves the best possible chance of the unlikeliest finals berth.
MOLLOY MASTERCLASS
Chloe Molloy was by far and away the best player on the ground and set the game up for the Swans with one of the best individual quarters of footy for the season in the opening term.
Despite misfiring in front of the sticks, Molloy hardly put a foot wrong as the young Bulldogs defence couldn’t get near her.
The former Pie had eight disposals, six score involvements, two tackles and kicked 1.3.
And she didn’t slow down, putting together the most complete performance of any player this season, finishing with 28 disposals, 636m gained and 3.4.
SECOND FIDDLE
Rebecca Privitelli played the perfect role as backup to best-on-ground Molloy, finishing with a goal and two goal assists.
The dynamic small-forward kicked the goal of the afternoon with a ridiculous finish over her head in the first minutes of the game.
Molloy kicked long from a mark to the top of the goal square where Privitelli made a contest to bring the ball to ground.
She buttered up and with no other options available snapped the ball over her head through for the goal of the game, giving the Swans the early momentum and setting them on their way.
SHEPPARD CRUNCHED
Britney Gutknecht gave Western Bulldogs fans the highlight of the day with one of the most ferocious tackles in AFLW history.
The 22-year-old lined up Paige Sheppard, who was completely blindsided, as the Swan looked to rebound from defensive 50.
Gutknecht grabbed Sheppard as she was about to kick, driving the young Swan to the ground, and leaving her writhing in pain.
Gutknecht was awarded a 50m penalty and kicked truly while Sheppard was helped from the ground by trainers.
The 22-year-old Swan was ruled out of the last quarter after failing a head injury assessment, meaning Gutknecht will face MRO scrutiny.
Scoreboard
BULLDOGS 1.0 2.1 4.2 6.3 39
SWANS 3.5 8.7 12.8 14.12 96
MOTTERSHEAD’S BESTBulldogs: Lamb, Blackburn, Newton, Pritchard. Swans: Molloy, Gardiner, Hamilton, Hurley, Ham, Privitelli.
GOALS Bulldogs: Cranston, Lamb, Grant, Wilcox, Bateman, Newton. Swans: Molloy 3, Hamilton 2, Sargent-Wilson 2, Hurley 2, Privitelli, Lochland, Beruldsen, Ham, Gardiner.
INJURIES Bulldogs: nil. Swans: Sheppard (concussion).
Conti on another level as Tigers win thriller on historic night
– Max Hatzoglou
A three-goal final quarter has crushed Richmond’s three-game losing streak and kept its finals hopes alive following a thrilling 11-point win over Hawthorn in Cairns.
The Tigers looked gone for all money when Hawks forward Brodie Hipwell put through a thrilling end-to-end goal to extend her side’s lead to eight points with five minutes left in the third.
But the Tigers found a way back through Courtney Jones, round seven rising star nominee Emelia Yassir and Caitlin Greiser in her first game back from injury.
The trio all kicked goals to power the Tigers to their fourth win of the season, keeping hopes of a second consecutive finals appearance alive with a 6.5 (41) to 4.6 (30) win.
In the first AFLW game ever in Cairns, the Tigers only best-and-fairest winner in their four-season history, Monique Conti, was enormous with 35 touches, nine marks, seven clearances and seven tackles.
The 23-year-old now leads the competition for clearances, following the top-notch win where she also became the first Tiger to pick up 1000 disposals.
Meanwhile, the loss for the Hawks in humid conditions in Queensland ends their chances of making finals in 2023.
Milestone pair shine early
Both AFLW 50-gamers got off to flying starts in Cairns registering goals in the opening quarter of the Indigenous Round encounter.
Tigers midfielder-forward Katie Brennan was the first to fire with back-to-back majors in the opening quarter after the Hawks scored the first of the game.
Following a classy snap-goal, the 31-year-old kicked a 40m long bomb on a difficult angle to put the Tigers seven points in front.
Then Hawks forward Greta Bodey took a strong mark inside 50 before making a tough set-shot to cut the margin to a point before quarter-time.
The pair both share a relation to Queensland with Brennan having grown up in the state where she also represented Brisbane in AFLW and Bodey who played her first game of footy for Cairns Saints.
Hawks miss chance
The Hawks would have been disappointed with a one-point lead at halftime after dominating the second quarter.
The first 10 minutes of the second term saw the Hawks gain the first seven inside 50s and almost 100 per cent of the ball in their front half, but they just managed two behinds.
Irish-born Hawks footballer Ellen Gilroy was even kicking the ball to herself Gaelic football style.
Then the Tigers found a way back in the contest with the next three inside 50s as tensions flared after Laura McClelland received a free kick for a push in the back.
The forward was ultimately sent to the goal line after a 50m penalty eventuated from the push and shove when Sarah Hosking was bumped to the ground.
The Hawks got some reward with a goal late, via a Hipwell long kick to open the field, giving Tahlia Fellows a simple run in goal and Hawthorn the advantage at the main break.
Gilroy putting a little bit of ✨Gaelic✨ in Aussie Rules. #AFLWDeadly | #AFLWHawksTigerspic.twitter.com/ICMlY4YHdw
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 20, 2023
Scoreboard
Hawthorn 2.0 3.2 4.5 4.6 (30)
Richmond 2.1 3.1 3.2 6.5 (41)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST – Hawks: Bates, Fleming, Ashmore, Lucas-Rodd, Richardson. Tigers: Conti, Egan, Dempsey, Brennan, Hosking, Yassir.
GOALS – Hawks: McDonagh, Hipwell, Fellows, Bodey. Tigers: Brennan 2, Yassir, Greiser, Jones, McClelland.
INJURIES – Hawks: Nil. Tigers: Nil.
UMPIRES – Coyne, Pearson, Talbot.
VENUE – Cazalys Stadium Cairns
AFLW: Gallant Dees hold off Giants to keep season alive
A gallant Melbourne side has kept its season alive, claiming its first win since round 1 over GWS to just barely keep its season alive.
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