AFLW: News and match reports out of round 3 of the 2022 season
Expansion club Essendon looks destined for immediate success after a record-breaking first half against West Coast gave an indication of what it is capable of. All the round 3 results.
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A first half Bomber blitz has set up the club’s second ever victory, blowing the Eagles out of the water by 52 points.
Essendon were clinical in front of goal, making the most of their opportunities going forward to put the West Coast Eagles to the sword.
An AFLW record nine first half goals, including three from youngster Steph Wales and two from Daria Bannister, laid the platform for an impressive victory.
Alongside Bombers star Maddy Prespakis, Bannister was superb all day, racking up 14 touches and five marks.
Jacqui Vogt (15 touches) and Steph Cain (15 disposals) were key cogs through the middle for the Dons too.
Highly regarded Eagles captain Emma Swanson (25 disposals, six marks), breakout star Aisling McCarthy (15 disposals, one goal) and young gun Ella Roberts (17 disposals) tried to will their side back into the contest, but ultimately the damage was already done.
STEPH HAS A WALES OF A TIME
What a performance from Stephanie Wales.
The young ruck forward plucked from the Casey Demons in the VFLW broke the game open for the Bombers early, booting three goals in the first half.
She calmy slotted a set shot from 45m for the first goal of the game, before a huge, contested mark at the goal face gave her a second goal for the day.
But it was her third goal that was the most eye-catching.
Wales received a handball and waltzed inside 50, kicking an absolute beauty of a goal on the run. Even Sam Draper would have been impressed.
She also finished the match with eight disposals and 10 hit outs.
PRESPAKIS IS A STAR
It was her sister Georgie who grabbed headlines around the country after a matchwinner against the Cats, but older sister Maddy should be attracting headlines too for the way she has started the season.
She was able to shake off a shoulder scare to heavily contribute to her side’s victory, finishing with 22 disposals and two goals.
Not only does she dominate the stoppages herself, but she also has a knack of bringing her teammates into the contest, making her a dream player to coach.
Prespakis has accumulated 17 out of a possible 20 AFLW Champion Player Coaches Votes to start the season and she will likely poll highly again after her performance against the Eagles.
She ranks in the top five across the competition for disposals, contested possessions and clearances, further highlighting her dominance over the first three weeks of the season.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Essendon is by far the best performing of the four expansion clubs after three rounds of the season.
Their half-time score of 9.4 (58) to 2.3 (15) against the Eagles is the biggest at half-time of any previous AFLW game.
The other three newbies, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney, are all winless, placed in the bottom five teams on the table.
The Power’s two points earned from their draw with Carlton the only premiership points gained.
Sunday’s win takes the Bombers to sixth on the AFLW ladder with an impressive percentage of 184.
Coach Natalie Wood said the Eagles gave them something to work on, but overall, she was more than happy with how the team handled their first trip away.
“Around the contest, West Coast got really active after the start,” she said.
“They were being clean and we were having some moments where we weren’t as clean and they got a bit too much separation.
“A lot of players were playing their first game interstate.
“We were strategic with our signings and wanted a balance on the field and also difference experience the players brought in.
“Some of that is from previous AFLW clubs, but also from other sports.
“We’re rapt for the girls they came away with the result.”
The Bombers made a big improvement on their scoring efficiency on Sunday.
They booted 11.18 across their previous two outings; 4.7 costing them in their one-point loss to Carlton.
Against West Coast they booted 13.6 from 32 inside 50 entries.
LIST BUILD
Of the four expansion clubs this season, it looks as though the Bombers are the most likely to see immediate success.
While Hawthorn and Sydney in particular turned to the draft, the Bombers looked within their own VFLW program and other state leagues to build their list.
Being a large Victorian club with the lure of playing in front of big crowds for a club with rich history, the Bombers were also able to attract talent from other AFLW clubs, such as Prespakis and Georgia Gee.
Cain, Vogt, Jess Wuetschner and Sophie Van De Hueval among others, all have spent time on other AFLW lists as well.
Whilst the Hawks, Swans and Power are all winless so far, the Bombers have won two out of three games and lost by just a point last week against the Blues.
And they’ve still got their exciting young prospects too, such as Amber Clarke (16 touches, five marks) and Paige Scott (three goals, six marks).
Will the Bombers draft strategy pay dividends in the long run?
ALL ABOUT THE START
West Coast produced a goalless opening term against Essendon and were playing catch-up from the get-go.
It’s become a habit for the Eagles.
They allowed the Bombers to get out to a 30-point quarter-time lead, that blew out to 56 points midway through the second term.
The Eagles stopped leaking goals from there, but the damage was done.
Coach Michael Prior said the whole team needed to work on their starts.
“Our starts are a concern,” he said.
“We have to look at our first quarters, in particular.
“More than anything, it is mental. The girts need to look at how they prepare for games and if it isn’t working, make some change and try some different things.
“We can’t just keep rolling over and doing the same thing.”
They don’t have to look far for some clues. The Bombers weren’t great starters in their first two outings.
But they owned the opening term against West Coast, with 71 possessions to the Eagles 40.
SCOREBOARD
EAGLES 0.2 2.3 3.6 4.8 (32)
BOMBERS 5.2 9.4 10.4 13.6 (84)
BOLCH’S BEST
Eagles: Swanson, McCarthy, Roberts, Schmidt.
Bombers: Prespakis, Bannister, Wales, Vogt, Clarke, Cain.
GOALS
Eagles: Schmidt 2; Cameron, McCarthy.
Bombers: Wales 3, Scott 3; Bannister 2, Prespakis 2, Wuetschner 2; Vogt.
INJURIES
Eagles: Swanson (ankle).
Bombers: Nil.
UMPIRES
Johanson, Dore, Simmonds
VENUE
Mineral Resources Park.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
VOTES
3 M. Prespakis (ESS)
2 D. Bannister (ESS)
1 S. Wales (ESS)
Did Dees doze off after exploding out of blocks?
- James Mottershead
Over before it begun
It was the third-best opening term in AFLW history.
The Dees blew a shellshocked St Kilda out of the water with one of the best quarters of footy you’ll see this year in their 26-point win.
Despite kicking into a stiff breeze, Narrm piled on six goals to none to open the contest on the back of elite stoppage work, winning clearances by six.
They had eight more inside-50s than the Saints and 44 more disposals (82-38).
Eliza West, who has been arguably the most improved player in AFLW this season, led the way for the Dees with four clearances and nine touches, while Eden Zanker, who had three clearances of her own, kicked two goals.
The ever-dangerous Kate Hore was nuisance up forward and kicked an early goal and dished another off, and Meg Fitzsimon, Karen Paxman and Alyssa Bannan kicked the others.
PURCELL RUNNING HOT
By her own admission Olivia Purcell had a quiet finals series for the Dees, who fell just short of a maiden flag.
But the 22-year-old continued her stellar start to the season with another dominant midfield display.
Purcell had the ball on a string, finishing with and equal career-high 27 touches to go with four clearances and 316m gained.
Her scintillating start to the season, coupled with the rise of West, has given an extra dimension to the Dees’ midfield, allowing Paxman to play on the wing and easing the load on the impressive Tyla Hanks.
SAINTS’ SIGNS
At quarter time it looked as though St Kilda was set for its heaviest defeat in its AFLW history.
But Nick Dal Santo’s side showed some grit in digging in and holding the Dees at bay for the remaining three quarters, keeping their vaunted opposition goalless.
You could point to Narrm’s inaccuracy after quarter time, but that would overlook improved ferocity and endeavour from the Saints, who laid 25 more tackles (45-20) than Narrm in the second and third terms combined.
The increase in intensity was led by Rosie Dillon and Tarni White, who both had eight tackles through three quarters, while Georgia Patrikios continued her impressive return to the Saints’ fold with seven.
SOARING SHIELAW
Kate Shierlaw is enjoying the best start to a season in her career, leading the AFLW goalkicking award having already kicked a career-high eight goals this season.
Shierlaw’s previous best was six goals in 2021, but she has taken her game to the next level this season with elite work rate and finding different ways to kick goals other than from big contested marks.
The 33-year-old is crying out for some extra help up forward, however, and if the Saints can get Caitlin Greiser firing they can take it up to the big teams.
SCOREBOARD
SAINTS 0.0 1.1 2.1 3.2 20
DEES 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.10 46
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Saints: Shierlaw, Dillon, White, Patrikios, McDonald, Patrikios.
Dees: Purcell, West, Paxman, Hore, Hanks, Mithen.
GOALS
Saints: Shierlaw 2, Matin.
Dees: Zanker 2, Hore, Fitzsimon, Paxman, Bannan.
INJURIES
Saints: nil.
Dees: nil.
VENUE
RSEA Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3 O. Purcell (MELB)
2 E. West (MELB)
1 K. Paxman (MELB)
Conti hits overdrive as Tigers cruise home
- Dylan Bolch
It was always going to be difficult coming in as an expansion side for the Hawks, but Richmond’s seasoned bodies in the midfield showed their experience in the 35-point victory.
Ellie McKenzie (16 disposals) has all of the tools to become a star of the competition. In the first term her breakaway pace and strength in the contest shone through in a big way.
Grace Egan was a key contributor with 23 touches and a goal, and she looks to be assimilating into the Tiger midfield with aplomb.
The Hosking sisters, Sarah and Jess, thrived in the conditions, whilst Meg Macdonald made her presence felt in her first match of season seven, laying some bone-crunching tackles and applying plenty of defensive pressure.
She produced one of the highlights of the match when she executed a brilliant smother before gathering the ball and finding a teammate which ultimately resulted in a Richmond goal.
Mon Conti was at her brilliant best as well, as she continues to stamp her authority on the AFLW competition.
CAN YOU STOP CONTI?
Mon Conti will go a seriously long way towards winning the AFLW best-and-fairest award this season, if her efforts against the Hawks are anything to go by.
Conti was everywhere for the Tigers, amassing 23 disposals in a best-on-ground performance.
But it was her ability to hit the scoreboard that caught the eye, booting two first half goals.
Hawthorn captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd went head-to-head with Conti throughout the evening, but Conti managed to really hurt the Hawks with her pace in offensive transition.
Lucas-Rodd (17 disposals, eight tackles) worked her way into the match as the game wore on, a testament to the hard-working heart and soul type player she is to Hawthorn.
BRIDIE HIPWELL FAN CLUB
The match was officially a sell-out approximately two hours before the first bounce and there’s a fair chance that Hawthorn debutant Bridie Hipwell’s family and friends had bought a decent amount of that allocation.
When Hipwell had her first kick of the day her supporters on the Punt Road wing roared, and they cheered on every touch and tackle of Hipwell’s throughout the day.
The Sandringham Dragon product has a unique mix of athleticism and height, which makes her a difficult player for opposition defenders to match up on.
She played forward throughout the day but has the ability to play in the midfield too.
Hawthorn’s blooded three other debutants as well, including Isabelle Porter, Ainslie Kemp and Laura Elliott.
Former Demon Ainslie Kemp made her debut in the Brown and Gold after three ACL reconstructions and finished with eight, whilst Porter had 11 touches of her own.
Laura Elliott was a late inclusion for tall defender Mackenzie Eardley, who hurt her knee in the warm-up.
INJURIES HURT THE HAWKS
Hawthorn had two key players succumb to injury last weekend in Louise Stephenson (ankle) and Tamara Luke (knee) and their presence was sorely felt within the Hawks camp.
Young Lucy Wales was left shoulder the majority of the ruck load on her own and tried her best, but it was certainly a tough assignment.
Stephenson was touted for a large role in the Hawthorn midfield this season to help Lucas-Rodd at the contest, but her loss meant the Hawks had to turn to their younger on-ball brigade against the Tigers.
Charlotte Baskaran (13 disposals) had her best game of her AFLW career, whilst Jas Fleming (11 touches) continues to develop and become a player of the future for the Hawks.
The wet weather meant the absence of Stephenson was even more profound, but the young Hawks certainly will have learnt a lot from the experience playing against some of the competition’s finest.
SCOREBOARD
TIGERS 2.0 4.0 6.1 7.2 (44)
HAWKS 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 (9)
BOLCH’S BEST
Tigers: Conti, Egan, Sheerin, McKenzie.
Hawks: Gilroy, Lucas-Rodd, Baskaran, Ashmore.
GOALS
Richmond: Conti 3, Egan, Reid, McKenzie, Wakefield.
Hawthorn: Baskaran.
INJURIES
Tigers: nil.
Hawks: Shannon (concussion), Eardley (knee), replaced by Elliott.
UMPIRES
Wallace, Mitchell, Lopes.
VENUE
Swinburne Centre.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BOLCH’S VOTES
3 M. Conti (RICH)
2 G. Egan (RICH)
1 A. Gilroy (HAW)
Port, Blues rue missed chances in draw
With scores locked at 27-27 and just three-minutes on the clock the game needed a hero.
It looked like Carlton’s Mimi Hill, last season’s Rising Star winner, would drag her side over the line as she dominated around the ball, but Port Adelaide’s defence stood tall when it mattered as the season’s first draw was played out.
The Blues had a chance after the siren to pinch but Lily Goss’s shot from 50m fell just short.
Both sides had their chances to pinch it late, but Port was left to rue a second-half fade out while the Blues’ connection late let them down.
Darcy Vescio had arguably the best chance to win it as she motored forward with a three-on-two inside 50, but her handball was a shocker, missing the chance to run in and nail an easy score and the win.
PETERSON WINGING IT
We know Kerryn Peterson the All-Australian defender, but we may be witnessing Peterson the All-Australian winger.
The 30-year-old tore the first quarter to shreds playing on the outer wing of Ikon Park, nailing the role with equally impressive work behind and in front of the ball.
Her nine-disposal quarter — the most on the ground — was capped off with a beautiful running goal, the second of her career, after some sharp link up work inside 50.
So good was Peterson’s play around the ground she had 155m gained for the quarter, amazingly surpassing her total for the season in just 16 minutes of football.
But the Blues’ skipper was able to fold back into her more natural defensive role to intercept the ball three times, ensuring the Power didn’t put a goal on the board in the opening term.
Peterson finished with 21 touches, 401m gained, eight intercepts and a goal.
POWERFUL QUARTER
Port Adelaide played its best quarter of footy since entering the competition this season in a scintillating second term when they kicked four goals to none.
The Power had twice as much of the ball as the Blues as they heaped on the pressure with 10 inside-50s to two.
It started around the ball, with Hannah Ewings, Justine Mules and Kate Surman dominating the clearance battle and setting their side up with an immediate territory advantage.
Abbey Dowrick’s monster right boot was also a feature of the quarter, highlighted by a 50m pass to Jade De Melo who had made her way out the back of the Blues’ defence to kick her second of the term.
Olivia Levicki and Marian Moloney kicked the other two Port goals, while Erin Phillips – who had hardly been sighted in the first quarter – got busy with seven touches.
DAL THE TACKLING MACHINE
Jess Dal Pos is one of the cleanest kicks in AFLW, but it was her tackling that shone in game 50.
She equalled her career-best tackling return with 10 for the contest – a game-high.
It was highlighted by a huge holding the ball free kick just 15m from goal in the last quarter. The 28-year-old went back and never looked like missing, sending it straight over the goal umpire’s head to bring Carlton back to within two points.
SCOREBOARD
BLUES 2.1 2.1 3.1 4.3 27
POWER 0.1 4.2 4.3 4.3 27
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Blues: Peterson, Laloifi, McKay, Hill, Skepper.
Power: Ewings, De Melo, Dowrick, Foley, Duursma.
GOALS
Blues: O’Dea, Peterson, Moody, Dal Pos.
Power: De Melo 2, Levicki, Moloney.
INJURIES
Blues: Guerin (knee). Power: Nil.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3. H. Ewings (PA)
2. K. Peterson (Carl)
1. V. Laloifi (Carl)
Belting evidence Lions have long memories
– Greg Davis
It was more like a Q-Smash than a Q-Clash as Brisbane relentlessly and ruthlessly showed who was top dog in Queensland women’s football with an emphatic 73-point thrashing of the Gold Coast at the Gabba on Saturday.
The contest was like the adjoining Stanley St — one-way traffic — as the Suns crashed to their worst-ever loss in the AFLW while the Lions finished one-point short of their biggest ever win.
The rampaging Lions had 62 points on the board before the Suns registered any score in the third quarter through a Jacqueline Dupuy goal during a brief period of Gold Coast resistance.
The Lions roared to a 21-0 lead at quarter-time with three unanswered goals and doubled-up with another 3.3 return in the second term to establish a commanding 42-0 buffer at the main break. They held a comprehensive 61-point cushion at the last change.
By halftime, the numbers told the story as Brisbane dominated the disposal count (127-87), inside 50s (22-11), tackles (46-25), clearances (16-7) and contested possession (62-49) to set-up their third-straight win to open the season.
It was equal parts brutal and brilliant from Brisbane who warmed up for their clash with fellow powerhouse Melbourne in Melbourne next weekend.
LIONS INFLICT MORE PAIN
The Lions have long memories. And they do not forgive or forget.
The first-ever AFLW match-up between the Gold Coast and Brisbane in 2020 was a 28-all draw in with the Suns celebrating like they had won a grand final after raiding the Lions’ playing and coaching ranks in the off-season.
It did not sit well with the Lions. Since that draw, Brisbane has mercilessly belted the Suns at every opportunity.
In 2021 in sweltering conditions at the home of the Wilston-Grange Gorillas in Brisbane, the Lions cruised to a record 65-2 victory.
And they backed it up with a comprehensive 85-16 victory at Metricon Stadium earlier in 2022.
WINNERS GALORE FOR LIONS
Judges for the best-on-ground medal had their work cut-out with a host of Brisbane players staking claims for the individual hardware.
Emily Bates jumped out of the gates with nine disposals while Cathy Svarc had nine touches in the second term while Orla O’Dwyer was everywhere for the home side.
Jesse Wardlaw had four goals to her name while Ally Anderson was a ball-magnet in the midfield for Brisbane who had winners all over the ground.
Bates claimed the honour with 21 disposals, 10 tackles, eight scoring assists and four inside 50s as she brought up her 1000th career disposal in the AFLW early in the second term.
FARQUHARSON PROVIDES THE FIREWORKS
X-factor Courtney Hodder had a quiet night up forward for Brisbane but Zimmorlei Farquharson delivered the magic for the Lions with her first goal catching the eye.
Farquharson left her direct opponent for dead with a lightning quick lead, cleanly grabbed the Sherrin, spun on a dime and snapped the ball truly.
She proved it was no fluke with a clever goal in the second term with another nice snap.
Score:
SCOREBOARD
LIONS: 3.3 6.6 10.8 12.10 (82)
SUNS: 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.3 (9)
GOALS
Lions: Wardlaw 4, Bodey 3, Farquharson 2, Smith, R Svarc, Anderson
Suns: Dupuy
BEST
Lions: Bates, Anderson, Svarc, O’Dwyer, Wardlaw, Bodey
Suns: Rowbottom, Bella, Ahrens
VOTES
3: Emily Bates
2: Ally Anderson
1: Cathy Svarc
Pies get job done in Frederick milestone
- Jason Phelan
It wasn’t easy, or pretty at times, but Collingwood remains undefeated after the Pies fought their way clear of miserly Geelong to score a four-point win at GMHBA Stadium.
The Cats were shooting for three wins in a row for the first time in the club’s history on Saturday, but a late rally wasn’t enough to maintain their own unbeaten start to the season.
The clash of the undefeated sides produced just three goals, which was perhaps unsurprising given Geelong restricted Richmond to one major in Round 1 and kept Fremantle goalless last week.
Jordyn Allen booted the last of the goals of the intensely fought contest, her set shot from 40m out midway through the final term proving the sealer.
Allen was pivotal for the Pies with 17 possessions, with Mikala Cann and Chloe Molloy also prominent.
Rebecca Webster, Amy McDonald and Georgie Prespakis toiled hard in the trenches, but couldn’t will their side across the line in a frantic final term when Geelong went inside attacking 50 10 times to the visitors’ two.
STREAK OVER
Since her debut in Round 4 of the 2017 season, Jordan Membrey booted 14 goals without blemish, but the Magpie forward’s remarkable streak of accuracy ended in the first quarter.
Having marked strongly in front of teammate Sabrina Frederick, Membrey had a golden opportunity to make it 15 in a row from a 45-degree angle about 15m out.
Membrey had converted much tougher chances, but she pushed her shot wide to the right.
It would be her side’s only score for the term despite a dominance that saw the visitors go inside attacking 50 six times before the Cats ventured inside their own forward line where Kate Darby missed her set shot to register the home side’s only score for the first half.
Collingwood continued to enjoy the upper hand in the second term, but couldn’t break through for the game’s opening goal.
The Pies were well on top in possessions (103-88), marks (31-12) and inside 50s (17-6) but only led by two points at the end of a goalless first half.
GUNS BLAZING
The third quarter seemed a shootout in comparison to the barren first half, with both sides hitting the scoreboard.
Collingwood’s Alana Porter took matters into her own hands when she pounced on a loose ball at pace and slotted an impressive goal – the first of her career – five minutes after the restart.
But the Cats worked into the contest well and deserved their first minutes later when Sarah Rowe gave away a free kick to Georgia Clarke that she converted from the goalsquare.
SABRINA’S 50 UP
Frederick played her 12th game for the Pies and the 50th of her AFLW career, after 23 matches with Brisbane and 15 with Richmond.
The two-time All Australian was lively, finishing with 12 possessions and 11 hitouts.
“We knew that Geelong was going to come out with that pressure … they do it every week,” Frederick told FoxFooty.
“I’m just proud of our girls for sticking with it.
“It’s been an amazing opportunity to get to my 50th game with this group.
“These are my best mates, I feel like they get the most out of me, and they’re a really special group.”
SCOREBOARD
CATS 0.1 0.1 1.3 1.5 (11)
MAGPIES 0.1 0.3 1.3 2.3 (15)
PHELAN’S BEST
Cats: A McDonald, Webster, Prespakis, Friswell, Emonson, Fuller.
Magpies: Allen, Cann, Molloy, Butler, Chiocci, Schleicher.
GOALS
Cats: Clarke.
Magpies: Porter, Allen.
INJURIES
Cats: Nil.
Magpies: Nil.
GMHBA STADIUM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Allen (Coll)
2 Cann (Coll)
1 A McDonald (Geel)
Stingy Crows return title defence to rightful place
- Jason Phelan
After a sputtering start, Adelaide’s premiership defence is back on track after the Crows ground out a 14-point win over North Melbourne.
Ebony Marinoff led all comers at Unley Oval with 29 possessions and Danielle Ponter booted two goals as the reigning premiers notched back-to-back wins.
Adelaide opened the season with a scratchy loss to Melbourne in the grand final rematch and was behind at three-quarter time against Richmond last week, but Matthew Clarke’s side overcame a sluggish start against the Roos to improve to a 2-1 record.
“It was obviously a really tough, tense, tight battle … low scoring throughout, but our ability to come through in the last quarter was really pleasing,” Clarke said.
“It’s a brand-new season, even though it is in the same year, and the reality is that we have to start again.
“We’ve come up against good quality opponents and I’m sure that we’ve got some improvement to come.
“I’m enjoying the way the team is building and embracing the challenge.”
Jasmine Garner had 17 touches in the first half and finished with 24 after Chelsea Randall applied a hard tag in the second half and Ash Riddell and Emma Kearney impressed, but the visitors didn’t manage a goal after a bright first quarter.
“It was a really good start but we felt from the second quarter it was more on their terms,” North coach Darren Crocker said.
“They play a very ballistic sort of a game and we felt they were getting the game looking that way.
“We hung in there and the game was there to be won but the most disappointing aspect was the last quarter where they really dominated.”
TURNING THE SCREWS
The question of how the Crows would cover the loss of superstar Erin Phillips in attack appeared the burning issue ahead of the season, but Clarke’s headaches were at the other end of the ground in the opening two games.
The Crows rode a stingy defence that allowed just over 19 points a game to the club’s third flag, and they were back to their miserly best against North after quarter-time.
It looked set to be a tough day for the home side’s defenders when North booted the opening two goals to lead by 11 points at the first break.
First, Alice O’Loughlin pounced on a loose ball and snapped truly in traffic then Irish recruit Vikki Wall booted her first AFLW goal after a goal mouth skirmish.
NOWHERE TO HIDE
After keeping the Crows goalless in the first quarter, North’s Sarah Wright let them into the contest with a two-fold howler.
Wright was perhaps a little unlucky that her toe-poke was ruled out of bounds on the full, but then she dropped the ball instead of giving it back to Hannah Munyard.
The resulting 50m penalty took Munyard from outside scoring range to the goalsquare where she opened Adelaide’s account.
With her side enjoying the momentum in the second term, Ponter slashed the margin to one point at halftime with a spectacular check-side goal from the boundary.
Ponter ensured a win in Indigenous Round for her side when she expertly gathered a loose ball, evaded two defenders and slotted a superb goal in the final term.
OUCH!
Amy Smith didn’t take part in the second half after she copped an accidental, full-blooded kick to the head from Marinoff.
Crocker confirmed she suffered a concussion and will miss next week’s clash against Geelong in Launceston.
Hannah Button could miss Adelaide’s clash against Collingwood depending on the Match Review Officer’s view of her tackle that left Kearney dazed in the second quarter.
The star Roo was slung full circle and hit her head on the ground, but was able to see out the match.
SCOREBOARD
CROWS 0.2 2.2 2.4 4.6 (30)
KANGAROOS 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.4 (16)
PHELAN’S BEST
Crows: Marinoff, Randall, Ponter, Hatchard, Gould, Allan.
Kangaroos: Garner, Riddell, Ferguson, Kearney, Bruton, M King.
GOALS
Crows: Ponter 2, Gould, Munyard.
Kangaroos: O’Loughlin, Wall.
INJURIES
Crows: Nil.
Kangaroos: Smith (concussion).
VENUE
UNLEY OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Marinoff (Adel)
2 Randall (Adel)
1 Garner (NM)
GIANTS PREVAIL IN HISTORIC AFLW DERBY
Daniel Garb
GIANT LANDMARK
It was a day for making history as the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants faced off in the first ever AFLW Sydney Derby, in what was Sydney’s first ever game at the SCG.
But it was the team from the other side of town that created the most desirable mark of all by kicking the highest ever score in their seventh season in the competition.
There aren’t too many areas in the AFL whereby the Giants have the jump on the Swans but as a foundation side, the women’s game is one of them and they hammered that home with a thumping 47 point victory in front of several thousand passionate fans at the iconic stadium.
In doing so, the Giants – who kicked 9.11.65 – eclipsed their highest ever score of 56 – back in round four, 2020 against Richmond.
BACK WITH A BANG
Nicola Barr is one of the star names for GWS but after missing the first two rounds with a knee injury the former number one draft pick shone in the first half and made history with the first ever goal in an AFLW Sydney Derby in her first appearance of the season. The 41 game Giants veteran, who spoke this week about how much the derby meant to her as a NWS footy product, capped of a flowing move with a right foot snap on the run from 20 metres out with the first ever major between the two local combatants.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Zarlie Goldsworthy was the Giants first pick in this year’s AFLW draft and after being forced to wait until round three to make her debut, due to injury, the 17 year old capped off the occasion with a brilliant snap from the pocket at the start of the third quarter to extend the Giants lead further. As a former young Matilda she channelled her soccer playing youth by running off to her sign waving family in the crowd to celebrate, who were parked right in front of where the goal was kicked.
A GIANT PERFORMANCE
Ally Morphett was one of three former Giants to take on her old side and so her former coaches and teammates would have known all about her quality, but that counted for little in the attempts to stop her. The Swans ruck was a dominant performer in a team that battled throughout with 18 hitouts and 13 disposals.
SYDNEY 0.2, 1.4, 2.5, 2.6 (18)
GWS 3.4, 5.5, 8.6, 9.11 (65)
GOALS:
SYDNEY: A.Hamilton, Lochland
GWS: Barr, Goldsworthy, Staunton 2, Garnett, Doyle, Pease
BEST:
SYDNEY: Morphett, Eastman, Sheppard, Szigeti, Woodward
GWS: Parker, Barr, Eva, Brazendale, Pease, Evans, Goldsworthy
Injuries: Cynthia Hamilton (Sydney) head knock
VOTES:
3 – Alyce Parker- GWS
2 – Alicia Eva – GWS
1 – Madison Brazendale - GWS
Blue suffers horror leg injury in freak training incident
- Tarquin Oakley
Carlton young gun Mia Austin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a broken fibula and ankle syndesmosis injury.
The 18-year-old forward played the opening two games of the season and kicked two goals, but went down on Thursday night at training with severe damage to her leg and ankle.
GM of Carlton Women’s Football Brett Munro said while Austin is devastated to be missing out on so much football, the club is staying optimistic about her future.
“To see her now sidelined for the rest of the year is clearly disappointing for Mia but we see her as a long-term player for the Carlton Football Club and one our members and supporters will enjoy seeing develop in the coming years,” Munro said.
“She will get all the support she needs during her rehab to ensure she is ready to go in 2023.”
ROUND 3 MATCHES – LAMB LEADS DOGS TO THRILLING TRIUMPH
AFLW has a new star in its midst.
Gabby Newton dragged her side over the line by three-points with a huge last quarter goal following a stunning contested mark against two Fremantle opponents.
The former number one pick sat last season out after having a dual shoulder reconstruction but has reinvented herself as arguably the most versatile forward in the game.
Not only is the 21-year-old elite above her head but her forward pressure and clean hands at ground level set her apart from other forwards.
And her ability to step up in clutch moments is perhaps her best attribute, not only kicking the winner, but hauling in a huge mark with time running down to ice the game for the Dogs.
FINALLY FOR FREO
As a perennial premiership threat, Fremantle isn’t used to going even just one quarter without a goal let alone five.
But the purple haze hadn’t kicked a major since the third term of their opening game of the season against the Lions, going goalless in the wet against a stingy Geelong outfit last week.
Despite the Bulldogs dominating the ball in the first quarter – leading the disposal count 78-43 – Freo was able to win the territory battle which gave them plenty of scoring opportunities.
And it was a beautiful snap from Aine Tighe from a stoppage that brought an end to the Dockers’ baron run.
Tighe got the ball and from 30m out threw it on her boot, bending it back expertly to split the middle, the fifth goal of her career.
WILCOX’S STUNNER ON THE RUN
Rylie Wilcox is an excitement machine and has been a major reason for the Dogs’ exceptional start to the season.
But the speedster’s biggest highlight of the season may land her a goal of the year nomination after sending the blue, red and white faithful into raptures at IKON Park.
A Naomi Ferres intercept mark on the Bulldogs’ defensive side of the wing turned into a slick bit of ball movement through the corridor.
A Katie Lynch kick inside 50 into the path of Wilcox sent the 17-year-old on a sprint after the ball.
The high-school student burned her opponent, picked the ball up cleanly and running toward the boundary line 25m from goal on the wrong side for the right footer somehow managed to kick the ball across her body and bend it through for her first AFLW goal.
It came at the perfect time for the Dogs who battled to convert their possession dominance into scores in the first half.
BATTLE OF THE BIG GUNS
Four of the league’s most elite midfielders went at it in a scintillating contest that had it all.
A first-time All-Australian last season, Kirsty Lamb, led the way for the Bulldogs and found herself head-to-head with a competition best and fairest winner in Kiara Bowers.
The battle of the bullocking duo was box office as Lamb found more of the ball (23 disposals), but Bowers pipped her in clearance work (eight clearances).
Ellie Blackburn, in her 50th game was at her high-pressure best, clamping the Fremantle engine room with eight tackles.
Hayley Miller was thrown forward late but still had 16 touches which she used to gain her side 369m, the most of any Docker.
DOGS 1.0 2.1 2.3 3.5 23
DOCKERS 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.2 20
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST Dogs: Lamb, Newton, Blackburn, Fitzgerald, Grant, Pritchard. Dockers: Bowers, Miller, Gore, Strom, O’Driscoll.
GOALS Dogs: Cranston, Wilcox, Newton. Dockers: Tighe, East, Kauffman.
INJURIES Dogs: nil. Dockers: nil.
IKON Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3 K. Lamb (WB)
2 G. Newton (WB)
1 E. Blackburn (WB)
PRESPAKIS EXPLAINS MATCHWINNING FREE-KICK MADNESS
Lauren Wood
Georgie Prespakis maintains she didn’t know it wasn’t meant to be her kick.
As the Cats young gun sealed Geelong’s season-opening win – the first of what has been a so-far seamless season – the 19-year-old just went with the flow.
With less than a minute to go in the game against Richmond, the 2021 No. 2 draft pick received a controversial free kick after a Monique Conti tackle, with Prespakis also taking the down-field free kick that should have been teammate Chloe Scheer’s.
The rest, as the classics say, is history and for laid-back Prespakis, she knows there’s no point playing it over.
“I didn’t realise there was so much going on afterwards until I saw all my social media (saying) ‘Prespakis shouldn’t have taken the kick’,” she said this week.
“But I was like, well, it’s over with now!
“To be honest, I actually had no idea (whose it was).
“It was initially the tackle had happened and I’d kind of handballed it, and I actually didn’t initially understand why it would be down-field.
“I’m not entirely sure of the rule. But I thought because it was on me, that it would be just my free kick. I think it was (Tiger) Grace Egan, she was holding the ball up and I was like, I don’t want the umpire to ball it up here or turn the free kick, so I was like, I’ll just quickly claim this as quick as I can and just went back, really.”
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She kicked the goal, of course, and now sits equal second in the AFLW coaches’ voting for the player of the year – sharing the tally of 17 votes with her older sister and best and fairest winner, Maddy, who sensationally crossed from Carlton to Essendon during the off-season.
Whether both sisters could be in red and black had been floated by some.
But much like the famed free kick, the younger of the game’s power duo said she had largely stayed out of what her sister had been considering.
“I really hadn’t known what Maddy wanted to do,” Georgie said.
“I knew her contract was over and the Bombers were coming into the competition … it’s a funny relationship that Maddy and I have, because a lot of it’s not based around footy.
“I was thinking, like, ‘am I a bad sibling for not knowing what Maddy is wanting to do?’.
“(Moving clubs) didn’t really cross my mind.”
The recent new pay deal for AFLW players that resulted in a significant wage jump has meant Georgie – who now lives in Geelong- has been able to fully focus on football rather than also having to work.
Even if that means a bit less “fun stuff” in her previous job at Geelong Adventure Park, manning the water slides.
“That was a pretty good gig over the summer,” she laughed.
“There was a few times I was recognised – people would say ‘Oh, do you play for Geelong?’
“Last season I found I was working a lot prior to the season commencing, but this season, once I moved back here, I shifted to doing no work. It just meant I had more time to come in through the day and do another touch session or do extra recovery, and put all my attention into the footy season and just working out what works for me.
“It’s just about finding that balance, really.”
The Geelong women’s sit team atop the AFLW ladder ahead of Saturday’s clash with Collingwood.
In the first week of the league’s Indigenous round the Cats, including Georgie, who herself has Indigenous lineage on her mother’s side, will wear the team’s Corrina Eccles-designed Indigenous guernsey.
Geelong’s men’s side is also flying after securing a preliminary final berth next weekend.
Prespakis said the club was buzzing amid the current state of play for both sides.
“You can feel it, through not only the playing group but also the staff,” she said.
“Everyone’s just as excited as one another and it brings everyone that little but more together and has that excitement around the club and wanting to support each other.”
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