AFLW Round 4: All the action from Super Sunday
Four big games of AFLW took place on Sunday, and the Sydney Derby stole the show as the Swans capped a terrific weekend for the club with a close win. Recap the action here.
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The Swans will hold bragging rights over the Giants for another 12 months after holding on for just their second win of the year in a dramatic Sydney Derby.
It was the Swans who raced out to a two-goal lead early, but the Giants’ pressure ensured they got back into the game and reduced the lead to just a single point heading into the fourth quarter.
But in a free-flowing final term, Cynthia Hamilton and Zarlie Goldsworthy both kicked two goals to keep the game in the balance until the final minute. Goldsworthy’s double came from just the Giants’ first two inside 50s in the final term.
However, the Swans did enough to hang on for the victory, as Aimee Whelan kicked the sealer to make it a 4-0 clean sweep against their cross-town rivals across men’s and women’s matches in 2024.
GOOD AS GRUNDEN
Chloe Molloy’s devastating ACL injury was a massive blow to Sydney’s forward stocks, but 19-year-old Sarah Grunden looks primed to fill the boots of her skipper.
Grunden, playing just the fourth game of her AFLW career, had two goals inside the opening 10 minutes of the first quarter. It came on the back of some strong ball movement out of defence from Scott Gowans’s side who have focused on their transition play in 2024.
The quick handballs were too much for the Giants to handle, with Montana Ham’s clever soccer off the ground adding a third for the Swans not long later. It was a strong start for Sydney who have struggled at the start of games this year and clearly had a point to prove against their cross-town rivals.
Cynthia Hamilton (11) and Laura Gardiner (11) combined for 22 disposals in the opening term, with the Swans able to assert some midfield and territorial dominance early.
GARDINER A CLASS ABOVE
In a match filled with talented midfielders, Laura Gardiner was consistently a class above her opponents. After claiming All-Australian honours last season, she was determined to take her game forward again and she did exactly that against the Giants.
She was easily the highest disposal winner on the ground (32), but she also used it with elite efficiency. Matched with her ability to find space outside of the stoppages, and immense pressure when she doesn’t have the ball, Gardiner is turning into one of the competition’s best midfielders.
With no Molloy, and no Ally Morphett this week, Scott Gowans needed Gardiner to step up and he wouldn’t have been disappointed.
GIANTS GROWING INTO GAMES
They were left heartbroken following their dramatic draw to Gold Coast, and while they might have started slowly at Henson Park, the Giants came home strong.
Cam Bernasconi’s side looked like a different team in the second half, ramping up their pressure game and finally getting a bit of joy in their forward line.
Alicia Eva got her second goal, while Georgia Garnett got her first of the afternoon early in the third quarter. Garnett was also linking up well with Tarni Evans who had returned inside 50 after a brief stint back in defence at the start of the game.
The Swans had kept superstar Alyce Parker relatively quiet in the first half, but she started to see more of the ball and combined well with captain Bec Beeson to give the Giants some midfield dominance.
They couldn’t quite capitalise on a few extra shots on goal, but they ensured Sydney’s lead was only one point going into the final break. However, the Swans got the momentum back in the fourth term and were able to see out the see-sawing affair.
SLING TACKLE STOPS HAM
The Swans’ injury concerns raised their head again with Montana Ham forced from the ground after a heavy head knock.
Ham was slung in a tackle by Mikayla Pauga who had grasped her guernsey, and after a full revolution, the Sydney midfielder fell to the ground with her head hitting the turf hard.
After 30 seconds on the ground, Ham was eventually ushered off the field where she was taken back to the rooms for a HIA. Thankfully for the Swans, she passed the test and returned to the ground.
Alice Mitchell also suffered a heavy knock in the third quarter following an incident with Zarlie Goldsworthy but was cleared to return to action. Goldsworthy was helped from the ground but returned not long after, kicking two majors in the final term.
SCOREBOARD
SYDNEY 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 6.7 (43)
GWS 1.1, 1.2, 3.4, 6.4 (40)
Best
Sydney - Gardiner, C. Hamilton, Hurley, Grunden, Kennedy
GWS - Beeson, Srhoj, Goldsworthy, Garnett, Eva
Goals
Sydney - Grunden (2), Hamilton (2), Ham, Whelan
GWS - Eva (2), Goldsworthy (2), Garnett, Mowbray
Injuries: Nil
Umpires: Matthew Baigent, Jordan Fry, Alysha Ramsay
Crowd: 5,530 at Henson Park
McKirdy’s Votes
3 - L. Gardiner (SYD)
2 - C. Hamilton (SYD)
1 - R. Beeson (GWS)
HEAR THE LIONS ROAR
Brisbane has powered to second spot on the AFLW ladder following a convincing 45-point win over West Coast in Perth on Sunday.
The Lions delivered a well-rounded performance, keeping the Eagles goalless in the opening three quarters while dominating in attack to score their third win of the season by a margin greater than 40 points.
It sets up a huge clash against the ladder-leading Adelaide at home for the Lions next Sunday. The 4-1 Lions will have the chance to claim top spot with a win in the top-of-the-table encounter.
Against the Eagles, Jade Ellenger was best afield with two goals, 18 touches (18 kicks), six marks and three tackles. Ally Anderson was also strong with a team-high 23 touches and five tackles.
Meanwhile, Ella Roberts never stopped fighting for the Eagles with 24 touches, 10 marks and five tackles.
The Eagles fall to eighth spot and a 3-2 record following the loss in Belinda Smith’s 50th game for the club.
SMITH GETS ON TOP
Lions tall Taylor Smith has extended her lead as the AFLW leading goalkicker following a steady two-goal performance.
The 24-year-old kicked two of her side’s first three goals to get the Lions off to a flyer as the Eagles were held scoreless in the opening term.
Smith came into week four on top of the goalkicking chart and only extended her lead in the final game of the round as her 2024 season now reads 11 goals.
The star forward’s game follows a four-goal outing against the Western Bulldogs on Wednesday.
LIONS COME ROARING
The Lions came out with a load roar in Perth as the reigning premiers took out a 39-3 advantage at the main break to set up a convincing victory.
Sophie Conway and Natalie Grider had a game-high four inside 50s each in the opening two quarters as the Lions thrashed the Eagles 25-10 in the key statistic.
The Lions were also dominant around the ball, winning disposals (143-102) and contested possessions (52-36) in the start to the game. And they had no trouble in dealing with the Eagles leading clearances 12-8 in the first half.
Taylor Smith also fired two goals in the first half to get the Lions off to a flying start.
WAYWARD CONWAY
Sophie Conway was having a tough day in front of goal, scoring 0.5 to half time, but made an improvement after nailing a set-shot early in the third term to score her first of the game.
It was a Lions’ sixth major of the game and a relief for Conway who had dominated the game with 21 touches and five tackles.
“Finally a little bit of reward for effort for Sophie Conway,” Fox Footy commentator Sarah Hosking said.
Conway scored 2.2 in her last game against the Bulldogs.
MCDONALD INJURED
Eagles key defender Sophie McDonald was subbed out of the game in the third term due to a head knock.
It is a disappointing blow for the experienced Eagle who only just returned to the side from a wrist injury.
The Eagles continue to suffer from injuries with the developing side having more casualties than most other AFLW teams.
Zoe Wakfer was helped off the field by two trainers in the dying stages of the game in another big blow for the Eagles talls.
The 20-year-old defender looked to have injured her ankle while being tackled with less than two minutes left in the game.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.4 16
BRISBANE 3.4 5.9 6.11 8.13 61
HATZOGLOU’S BEST
Eagles: Roberts, Drennan, Thomas, Swanson, Lewis.
Lions: Ellenger, Smith, Conway, Anderson, Grider, Davidson, Postlethwaite.
GOALS
Eagles: Gibson, Lakay.
Lions: Ellenger 2, Smith 2, Conway, Davidson, Hickie, Mullins.
INJURIES Eagles: McDonald (head) Wakfer (ankle). Lions: Nil.
Venue: Mineral Resources Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MAX HATZOGLOU’S VOTES
3 Ellenger (Lions)
2 Roberts (Eagles)
1 Smith (Lions)
DOGS FIND BARK
Western Bulldogs has scored its first win of the AFLW season after kicking the final eight goals to down Collingwood by 42 points in the bottom-of-the-table clash.
The Dogs had all the answers after quarter time, keeping the Pies to a solidary point as No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner kicked two of her side’s eight majors to help lift the Bulldogs at Victoria Park on Sunday.
Ellie Gavalas also got her first goal for the club, while Elaine Grigg helped spark the Dogs with a stunning run-down tackle early in the second term.
Six goals followed Griggs’ inspiring defensive tackle on Lauren Brazzale to help boost the visitors as Isabelle Pritchard was instrumental in the midfield for the Dogs with a game-high 28 disposals and five inside 50s.
Jessica Fitzgerald (two goals and 15 disposals) and Heidi Woodley (two goals, eight touches and six tackles) were also influential in the accurate Dogs’ 9.3 (57) to 2.3 (15) win.
The Pies remain winless with a 0-5 record following the loss while the Dogs improve to 1-4.
DOGS BREAK THROUGH
The Dogs came out a different side after quarter time, keeping the Pies to a solitary point while piling on five goals in the second and third quarters to just about seal the game.
Against an injury-riddled Collingwood midfield, the Dogs won disposals (126-102) and inside 50’s (19-7) comfortably from quarter time to three-quarter time to power to a steady 22-point lead.
Dogs midfielder Jessica Fitzgerald led from the front in the two-quarter blitz, picking up seven touches, four tackles and three marks. Fitzgerald continued her stunning game, kicking the first two majors of the fourth term to locked the game away.
Dogs forward Heidi Woodley was also lively, following her crucial first-term goal with another in the second to give Tamara Hyett’s side the first lead of the game (18-15). Woodley also had six touches, four tackles and two marks during the Dogs’ purple patch in the second and third.
NO.1 PICK FIRES
No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner has had a tough start to her AFLW career but made some great progress in her comeback game.
After five touches across her first two games, the athletic tall forward was left out of the side but kicked her first AFLW goal, then another in the dying stages and had seven touches in her return game.
Excitingly, while the 19-year-old made big steps forward in her confidence-boosting performance, there is still great potential in the top pick to improve.
On multiple occasions when the ball was 50-70m out from goal, Weston-Turner was caught out further than a kick away from the ball, leaving the number 13 without a chance to make a contest.
Commentator Kate McCarthy said the Dogs needed to move the ball quicker so they could have deeper entries.
“They have got someone that is such an elite mark, an elite runner and leader at the football in a one-on-one against an opponent that’s not going to keep up with her. I just would have loved to see them take the mark, turn around straight away and give Weston-Turner the time and space to lead up to it – give her a chance,” she said on Channel 7.
“It’s a really tough role coming in as a key forward and if you’re not getting the ball delivered to you when you’re in those one-on-one situations. We saw then, by the time they got the ball in, there was plus one, plus two for Collingwood and to expect her to jump over and crash the pack against two or three players, it makes it a lot more difficult for her.”
Weston-Turner’s first goal came in the dying stages of the second term after a 50-metre penalty sent her 20m out for a set-shot goal to put the Dogs nine-point in front. Then, the up-and-comer finished the game with a stunning snap from the pocket.
BRAVE JAMES
Pies forward Eliza James got the Pies off to a flying start thanks to some brave footy.
The 20-year-old kicked the first goal of the game inside the first 21 seconds while being tackled before later taking an excellent mark running back with the flight to boot Collingwood’s second.
James had her hands at full stretch with pressure coming from behind as she launched to take the crucial grab 15m out from goal.
The lively forward finished with nine touches, three marks and two goals.
Pies midfielder Sarah Rowe fought hard for the Pies with 19 touches, including 15 kicks, and six tackles.
SCOREBOARD
COLLINGWOOD 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 15
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.0 4.0 6.1 9.3 57
HATZOGLOU’S BEST
Pies: Rowe, Cronin, Campbell, James, White, Schleicher.
Dogs: Pritchard, Fitzgerald, Woodley, Edmonds, Grigg, Smith, Wilcox.
GOALS
Pies: James 2.
Dogs: Woodley 2, Fitzgerald 2, Weston-Turner 2, Hartwig, Borg, Gavalas.
INJURIES Pies: Nil Dogs: Nil.
Venue: Victoria Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MAX HATZOGLOU’S VOTES
3 Pritchard (Dogs)
2 Fitzgerald (Dogs)
1 Woodley (Dogs)
CROWS WIN AGAIN
Undefeated Adelaide moved into outright ownership of top spot on the AFLW ladder on Sunday, with another midfield masterclass from Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard propelling the Crows to a convincing 33-point win over Essendon.
The Bombers fought hard but managed just one goal in the second half, Matthew Clarke’s side kicking four unanswered goals at one stage to make it 10 wins from 10 matches at their Unley Oval fortress.
The result saw Adelaide move to a 4-0 record at the top of the ladder ahead of second-ranked North Melbourne on three wins and a draw, while Essendon dropped to a 1-3 record.
“We’re rapt to have knocked over four wins to start … it’s great,” Clarke said.
“I thought it was a really good game, they controlled uncontested possession early, and generally the contest across four quarters was at a really high level.
“After half-time our defensive pressure went up.
“Overall, I’m happy with the consistency and the way that we worked through what was a good contest.”
Marinoff and Hatchard were prominent through the middle, along with Maddie Newman, Stevie-Lee Thompson, and Jess Allan, who finished with an imposing 47 hitouts, while Maddie Gay and Maddie Prespakis led the charge for the hard-working visitors.
On the heels of her career-best five goals last week, Danielle Ponter added another two to take her season tally to eight, with Niamh Kelly and Caitlin Gould also kicking a couple of majors each.
One of few negatives for the home side occurred late in the game when Brooke Smith left the field clutching her right shoulder in pain after she copped a fierce Prespakis bump, with fears scans will confirm a fractured collarbone.
BOOKEND BLITZ
The Bombers were largely well-organised behind the ball in an entertaining first quarter, Georgia Nanscawen’s early touches pivotal as the visitors effectively curbed Adelaide’s vaunted lightning-fast transition game for long periods.
But lapses in concentration early and late proved costly.
Brooke Tonon sealed a breathtaking passage of play with a superb running goal in the first minute of the match and the quarter-time siren sounded as Kelly’s last-gasp dart sailed through the middle to put her side up by five points.
ELECTRIC EBONY
Marinoff had a quiet opening by her standards, with three touches in the first quarter, but the triple-premiership star sparked an impressive three-goal burst in the second term.
Marinoff gathered eight possessions, had two inside 50s, two clearances and had a game-high 338 metres gained by half-time – 107 more than next best player on the ground.
She slotted the middle goal of the three-major burst from a free kick after she was held while whipping past a stoppage deep in attack.
Marinoff finished with a game-high 663 metres gained, went inside 50 10 times and also laid 12 tackles in her latest impressive display.
PAIR SHARE 50TH
Teah Charlton and Rachelle Martin, premiership teammates in 2022, shared another significant milestone with the pair playing their 50th AFLW games on Sunday.
Charlton touched the ball twice in the lead-up to Adelaide’s opening goal and finished among her side’s best players.
SCOREBOARD
CROWS 2.1 6.3 6.8 9.8 (62)
BOMBERS 1.2 3.2 3.4 4.5 (29)
PHELAN’S BEST
Crows: Marinoff, Hatchard, Newman, J Allan, Kelly, Randall, Gould, Charlton.
Bombers: Gay, Prespakis, Nanscawen, Cain, Van De Heuval, Scott, Gee.
GOALS
Crows: Gould 2, Ponter 2, Kelly 2, Tonon, Randall, Marinoff.
Bombers: Scott 2, Gamble, Banister.
INJURIES CROWS: Randall (finger), Smith (collarbone). BOMBERS: Nil.
UNLEY OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Marinoff (Adel)
2 Gay (Ess)
1 Hatchard (Adel)
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