AFLW Agenda: All the hits and misses from week 1 of the finals series

The Hawks and Lions clashing post-game on Saturday raised eyebrows, but ELIZA REILLY says that just enhanced the epic contest. See more hits and misses from week 1 of the finals here.

Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park. Picture: Michael Klein

There was bucketloads of drama and action to discuss from week 1 of the AFLW finals series.

We had a post-siren melee, some thrilling finishes and a shootout in Adelaide.

Eliza Reilly looks at all of that and more in the AFLW agenda.

HITS

NEVER TEAR US APART

If Gemma Houghton was the hero last week for her match-winner against GWS, then the entire Port Adelaide side deserves praise this week after its scintillating finals debut against Richmond. Rolling out a side that featured 11 players aged 22 or younger, the Power had every right to be overwhelmed by the intensity of finals football. But Port absorbed everything that Richmond threw at them and then hit back harder.

Ashleigh Saint celebrates a goal for the Power. Picture: Getty Images

The two clubs combined to produce the highest-scoring final in AFLW history with a cumulative points tally of 120. There were six multiple goal kickers across both clubs and the game itself was high-octane and entertaining. Port has now won seven matches on the trot. They’ve justified their brilliant home and away season with an elimination final win. Now they’re playing with house money. Anything more the Power achieve from here is a bonus and with winning form behind them, they have nothing to lose against Hawthorn.

Erin Phillips has encouraged her former side to ditch the “we’re young” tag and why not. Led by Abbey Dowrick and Matilda Scholz, Port Adelaide’s midfield is more than capable. Houghton, Ash Saint and Julia Teakle kicked seven goals between them on the weekend and are a handful for any opposition defence. And Amelia Borg is having an underrated season down back in the absence of captain Janelle Cuthbertson (ACL). It’s all coming together for Lauren Arnell’s side.

Hawks and Lions players came to blows after the final siren. Picture: Michael Klein

FIGHT CLUB

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I loved seeing Brisbane and Hawthorn come to blows after the final siren on Sunday. It was billed as a battle of master vs apprentice with former Craig Starcevich lieutenant Daniel Webster at the helm of the Hawks. And the game itself delivered on that promise. Both clubs play an entertaining, attacking style of football blended with grit and flair. The Hawks are the real deal and proved it with a dominant first half. They left a few goals out there but will learn quickly about the perils of finals pressure. Brisbane is now one win away from a sixth AFLW grand final. The Lions are the ultimate professionals and they just continue to find a way.

With a home prelim up for grabs, it went right down to the wire 🫣

Relive the last two minutes between Hawthorn and Brisbane.#AFLWFinals | #AFLWHawksLionspic.twitter.com/gLxrZv6qUl

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 10, 2024

Some have suggested that the post-siren blue has overshadowed the quality of the contest. I think it enhances it. Clearly, something was said to spark such a significant reaction and the AFL Integrity Unit is currently investigating several incidents that may have contributed to the dramatic melee. Tilly Lucas-Rodd appeared to dodge Brisbane’s handshakes only to be picked up and carried away by Dakota Davidson. With a fearsome pointed finger, Shannon Campbell became a bodyguard for Sophie Conway. And Belle Dawes and Lily Postlethwaite debriefed in the background. Brisbane has been continually gutted by expansion and there’s no doubt the Lions would’ve used turncoats Emily Bates and Greta Bodey as motivation. Until they meet again.

Chelsea Randall celebrates a goal. Picture: Getty Images

STILL CROWING

The likes of Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce deservedly get a mountain of recognition as pioneers of the AFLW. But by the time she retires, Adelaide star Chelsea Randall deserves to join them on AFLW’s Mount Rushmore. Already a three-time premiership captain, Randall plays like she’s still trying to win her first game of footy. At 33 years old, she’s still as ruthless, uncompromising and reckless as when she first graced an AFLW field back in 2017. Randall was undoubtedly Adelaide’s best player during its qualifying final loss against North Melbourne on Friday night, finishing the game with 22 disposals, six tackles - including an inspiring chase-down in the second term - and two goals. The inspired performance came just weeks after she walked away from a clash with Collingwood’s Eliza James with significant bruising and swelling. When she eventually decides to step away, Randall will do so with a legacy that will be hard to match. But you just feel as though she’s got more silverware in mind first.

The list sizes of AFLW teams will not increase next year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MISSES

HOW MANY?

AFLW list sizes will remain the same in 2025. That’s despite a record one-third of clubs dipping into top-up players this season, AFLW list managers calling for increased squads and the introduction of a 12th home and away game next year. It’s a disappointing decision whichever way you spin it. There are the injury concerns clubs faced this year, with Collingwood top-ups Jordi Ivey and Sarah Ingram playing eight matches between them when the Magpies dipped under 24 available players. Luckily the AFL looks set to do away with the condensed fixture next season which will ease pressure on clubs but the reality of a squad of 30 means that it only takes three or four injuries to start seriously testing your depth.

There’s the fact that this year’s draft pool is shaping up as one of the strongest in recent memory, meaning that some players worthy of AFLW contracts will miss out because there simply isn’t enough room on lists. There’s also now an ability to sign players up on long-term deals which results in even less list flexibility. To increase AFLW list sizes by two players, it will cost $2.4 million assuming that they’re on the league’s base wage of $67,337. It seems like a lot. But it’s important to consider that the league is currently paying every injury-replacement player and every inactive player. If a player is ruled out for the season, they still get paid as do their replacements. For example, West Coast signed four injury-replacement players this season. Top-up players also get paid when they play a game. If clubs are already in essence carrying extra players on their list, why not just increase squad sizes? It might actually end up saving the league money down the track.

The Dockers sing the song after their win over Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

FREO FAR TO GO

Not only did the Dockers return to finals for the first time in three seasons against Essendon on Saturday, but Fremantle won. It was an incredibly gutsy performance by the Bombers who led at three-quarter-time despite losing star midfielder Maddy Prespakis to a severe cork during the second quarter. Essendon was already without co-captain Bonnie Toogood and ruck Steph Wales. But the Dockers found a way to pull ahead late with the breeze and a piece of Gabby O’Sullivan brilliance. Fremantle celebrated post-match with a rendition of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida in front of their home fans, singing “Fre-o-o” instead of “Oh-oh-oh.”

The Dockers enjoy themselves after the game. Picture: Getty Images

But when Orlagh Lally, who put the Dockers ahead, was interviewed on local radio on Monday morning, Fremantle was accused of being too boisterous post-match by SEN host Tim Gossage. “Apart from being really bad singing…was there over-celebrations?” Gossage asked. “Once you got off the ground, did you go ‘Let’s get down to business?’ Is that how it played out?” Lally was political in her reply, telling Gossage that the club was celebrating the end of its finals absence. “We made sure that we acknowledged that and obviously we did,” she said. Gossage did come around by the end of the interview, declaring: “If you win (against Adelaide), you can sing any song you like out on the ground.” As the first Western Australian footy team to play finals since 2022, they had every right to celebrate.