AFLW agenda: All the hits and misses from week nine
The league’s noble goal of recognising in-season form was always going to run into the roadblock of its own fixture inequity. ELIZA REILLY writes this year’s results prove just that. See all the hits and misses from Week 9.
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From some incredible performances and moments in Indigenous Round to the questionable credibility of the league’s most sought-after prize, ELIZA REILLY runs through the hits and misses from Week 9.
MISSES
McCLELLAND QUERY
Hawthorn is in the box seat to win the McClelland Trophy as the race to the $1 million prize comes down to the final week of the home and away season. But is it right that a team that doesn’t currently possess an AFL nor AFLW premiership is declared the best club of 2024? The Tigers are the only team standing in the way of the Hawks claiming the bounty, with a loss opening the door for Brisbane to pounce. The McClelland Trophy is designed to reward the best-performed team across the home and away seasons in the men’s and women’s competitions. But our game only remembers the premiership teams, not who won the most games during the regular season. The McClelland Trophy is a prime example of the fixture inequality that exists in the AFLW.
Brisbane won the premiership last season and so their fixture this year included games against six of last year’s top eight. If the ladder stays the same, the Lions will finish the year having played just two teams who will feature in November. Hawthorn on the other hand finished 14th last year and have played four teams who finished in the top eight last year. Only Adelaide, whom Hawthorn lost to in round three, is set to play finals again this year. The Hawks have also beat the finals-bound Dockers. The same argument can be made for the AFL fixture. Brisbane was handed what was deemed to be the hardest 2024 fixture draw after losing the grand final to Collingwood. The Hawks had the eighth hardest. Both turned out to be easier than expected and both played finals, but we all know how September finished. The Hawks have absolutely improved and deserve to finish in the top four. But if Brisbane goes back-to-back next month and brings home the club’s second premiership this calendar year, you can’t argue that Hawthorn has been the better team.
INJURY CARNAGE
You never like to see players go down with serious injuries, especially not on the eve of finals. It was utter carnage in the last five minutes in Darwin as Richmond lost forward Sarah Hosking to a serious hamstring injury, not long before Essendon ruck Steph Wales succumbed to a knee. Scans have since confirmed that Wales has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured ACL, which is unfortunately no surprise based on the way her knee buckled. Wales has had a superb 2024 campaign, averaging 13.4 disposals, 2.7 clearances and 23.4 hit-outs a game this season and is a player the Bombers could ill afford to lose given there’s no obvious solution waiting in the wings. Wales has won 234 hit-outs this year, the next best being Sophie Alexander with 12. While Hosking joked post-game that she knew it was bad when she turned around and realised that nobody was within 5m of her. Both injuries will undoubtedly impact their club’s finals hopes.
HITS
TELL HER SHE’S DREAMING
Dreamtime in Darwin – make it an annual fixture. I was lucky enough to be up in the Northern Territory on the weekend for the historic clash between Essendon and Richmond. Even before the ball was bounced at TIO Stadium, both clubs and the AFL threw their support behind the continuation of the occasion. The Tigers and Bombers touched down on Thursday and immediately headed out to local schools and clubs to conduct footy clinics.
That afternoon, they took part in a traditional saltwater welcome on the Darwin foreshore. The next day, they signed autographs after open training. Essendon staged a goalkicking competition with locals, one young girl surprising everyone when she snapped truly from beyond the boundary. Mon Conti gave her boots to a fan. Bonnie Toogood promised and produced a Bomber-inspired celebration for another.
Bonnie Toogood steps up for Essendon!
— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 26, 2024
11 disposals, five marks and this goal already tonight 📈 pic.twitter.com/MENK9xruEp
That’s not to mention the game itself, which was an enthralling contest befitting of a draw. Around four per cent of AFLW players are Indigenous. Our oldest living culture isn’t represented at the top level nearly as well as it should be. It’s what makes spectacles like the Dreamtime game so important, giving aspiring AFLW players a window into the future. Long shall it continue.
BREED IT AND WEEP
Mattea Breed saw Port Adelaide ruck Matilda Scholz’s spectacular grab against Collingwood and thought ‘Anything you can do, I can do better.’ Unless anyone else decides to soar into the stratosphere this weekend, we’ve got a month to debate and determine which of the two is the 2024 mark of the year and deserves $50,000 and two million Velocity frequent flyer points. It was only fitting that Breed, a product of the Tiwi Islands, saluted in Indigenous Round, soaring onto the shoulders of Demon Georgia Gall, who stands at 183cm.
MATTEA BREED. WHAT A GRAB 🤯#AFLWHawksDeespic.twitter.com/W69FPyAl75
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 24, 2024
The grin as she hit the deck said it all. It wasn’t the only outstanding performance in week 9. Gemma Houghton, a proud Yindjibarndi woman, was electric with two goals for Port Adelaide. Danielle Ponter single-handedly got Adelaide back into the game with two goals in the final quarter against North Melbourne. Aliesha Newman gave the Giants a sniff against the Dockers with two goals. Beyond the individuals, all 18 clubs embraced Indigenous Round and the guernseys, along with the stories behind them, are always a highlight.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
If results go as scripted in week 10, the AFLW top eight is in essence already set and it’s just a matter of who plays who and where in week one of finals. But when has a final round gone to script? Eight of the nine games this weekend are live and involve teams either fighting to scrape into finals or jostling for position in the top eight. Geelong has the keys to the weekend. The Cats have won their past two against West Coast and Brisbane and are the only team to take points off last year’s grand finalists, drawing with North Melbourne early in the season. Against Adelaide on Friday night, Geelong has the opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the weekend and put pressure back on Essendon.
The path of least resistance for most clubs is clear. The Cats need to win to stay in contention and so do the Demons. The Bombers must win to play finals. The Crows must win to secure a top-four spot. Brisbane is just about there, but could still finish in the top two if the Hawks lose. The Tigers could help there, given they need to beat Hawthorn to get a home elimination final against Port Adelaide. The Hawks can still finish first. The Power can secure elimination final hosting rights if they beat the Giants. North Melbourne needs to beat Gold Coast to sew up the minor premiership. And Fremantle might still be in with a chance at the top four by the time they play the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Following? Good. Now sit back and get the popcorn out.
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