AFLW Round 7 news 2023: Every game analysed, best players and scores
A five-goal spectacle from Alyssa Bannan gave the Dees an easy win out west as the Pies continued their march towards finals footy. See all the AFLW results here.
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A five-goal spectacle from Alyssa Bannan has steered Melbourne to a thumping 70-point win over West Coast in hot conditions away from home.
The 11.16 (82) to 2.0 (12) victory at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday afternoon was the Dees fourth highest score and winning margin in AFLW history.
It is a strong response from the premiership fancies who went down to ladder leaders Adelaide last week in their first loss of the season.
Meanwhile the Eagles suffered its second straight loss and remain in 17th place with a 1-6 record this season.
BANNAN PUTS ON A SHOW
Dees forward Bannan produced a career-best five goals to join Daisy Pearce, Eden Zanker and Kate Hore for the most goals in a game by a Demon.
The winger turned forward had the chance to make it a record-breaking six or seven majors for the afternoon but her team-first attitude led to the 21-year-old passing the ball to better options.
Her stunning afternoon began in the first quarter where she scored her side’s first three goals in the space of five minutes to put the Dees 13 points ahead.
Later on the 21-year-old made it four with another goal on the run to extend the Dees advantage to five goals midway through the third term.
Bannan was electrifying throughout the entire match using her elite pace to score multiple goals on the run.
“It was an incredible job by the girls,” Bannan said.
“I can’t kick five goals without the support of the team getting it down to me so props to the team, they did amazing.
“Cramped at the last bit, the heat was a really big factor today” she laughed.
“But I think the team did really well to pull together and it was a really good game.”
Bannan finished the game with five goals, 13 disposals, four marks and two tackles.
WATT’S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Dees ruck Rhiannon Watt had an impressive debut game for the club after 595 days out of the game due to injury.
The former St Kilda captain picked up 12 disposals including 11 in the first three quarters where she also had four clearances and two inside 50s.
Watt played two games with Carlton in 2019 before crossing to the Saints in 2020 where she played 22 games.
The 35-year-old signed with the Dee last season after being delisted by the Saints following an ACL injury.
EAGLES TAKE CHANCES EARLY
The Eagles got their second goal with their only inside 50 of the second quarter.
The 100 per cent efficiency thanks to a Courtney Rowley set-shot goal came after the Eagles registered a major from just four inside 50s in the opening quarter.
It led to a 15-point deficit for the Eagles at half time against a tough opposition who many would have predicted to be further ahead.
The Dees had a dominant 25 inside 50s to the main break but the Eagles pressure forced 25 turnovers as the visitors were kept goal less in the second term.
The Dees may have been further ahead early in the encounter if it wasn’t for a 50-metre penalty from Tahlia Gillard which sent Kellie Gibson 20m out where she nailed her set-shot.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 (12)
MELBOURNE 4.1 4.3 8.10 11.16 (82)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST – Eagles: Thomas, Roberts, Gooch, Hooker, Lewis. Dees: Bannan, Hore, Purcell, Watt, Hanks, Mackin.
GOALS – Eagles: Gibson, Rowley. Dees: Bannan 5, Hore 2, Zanker 2, Mackin, Sherriff.
INJURIES – Eagles: Nil. Dees: Nil.
UMPIRES – Hughes, Laycock, Wharton.
VENUE – Mineral Resources Park
PIES VANQUISH THE ENEMY
- James Mottershead
Collingwood is hitting its straps at the right time of year as it looks to add to its AFL premiership with AFLW silverware.
The Pies made another strong statement in their push for a spot in this season’s finals series with a 17-point win, keeping Carlton to the lowest-ever score recorded in a game between the traditional arch rivals.
Collingwood will end the round in eighth spot on the ladder, with games against Geelong, Sydney and Richmond to come.
At three-quarter time Collingwood coach Steve Symonds told Channel 7 he believed the Pies’ best footy was yet to come this season and they were building at the right time of the year, having won three games in a row.
DAMAGE DONE EARLY
Collingwood pumped Carlton early, with immense pressure around the ball the cornerstone of a Magpie onslaught.
The Pies kicked out to a 20-point lead at the first break, starving the Blues of time and space, keeping the home side to just one inside 50 while enjoying 11 of their own.
Prime movers Bri Davey and Brit Bonnici dominated around the ball, both hitting the scoreboard with a goal each, while Sabrina Frederick’s ruck work helped set the Pies up in stoppages.
All up Collingwood had 24 more disposals and 17 more contested possessions, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
CORDNER CLASS
Harriet Cordner was all that stood between Carlton and being blown out of the water in the first half.
The Blues faced 24 inside 50s but conceded just three goals in the opening two quarters, mainly thanks to the experienced hand of Cordner.
The 31-year-old had three intercepts and led the Blues for disposals with 11, but importantly shut down the red-hot Nell Morris-Dalton, who has been in stellar form for the Pies.
MILESTONE MAESTRO
Sarah Rowe became just the second Irishwoman to play 50 AFLW games during Sunday’s game, and the winger put together another vintage performance.
While it was far from her best game, she was vital to Collingwood claiming the premiership points with her ability to find space out wide.
The 28-year-old linked Collingwood’s play, but importantly dropped back to stave off Carlton forward thrusts late in the game.
Rowe finished her 50th game with 18 touches, 298m gained and three tackles.
BLUES 0.0 0.1 1.2 1.4 10
PIES 3.2 3.3 4.3 4.3 27
MOTTERSHEAD’S BESTBlues: Peterson, Cordner, Moody. Pies: Davey, Campbell, Bonnici, Allen, Frederick, Porter, Rowe.
GOALS Blues: Austin. Pies: Davey, Bonnici, Smith, James.
INJURIES Blues: Dal Pos (ankle). Pies: Porter (leg), Brazill (hamstring).
ROOS OBLITERATE POWER
- Max Hatzoglou
North Melbourne has kicked its biggest ever score to thrash Port Adelaide by 63 points at Arden Street Oval on Sunday afternoon as two stars celebrated 50 AFLW games.
Ash Riddell and Kate Shierlaw produced top-notch performances in their milestone matches to lift the Roos to an emphatic 13.9 (87) to 3.6 (24) win.
The pair helped inspire the Roos to breaking their previous highest score of 76 set in 2020 against Richmond as the home side claimed their seventh win of the season to hold a firm spot in the top three of the AFLW ladder.
Meanwhile, the Power lost their four straight game and suffered their biggest ever loss in their two-season history.
Riddell finished the game with two goals, 35 touches, five clearances, seven tackles while Shierlaw had 16 touches, a goal and five marks.
Roos midfielder Jasmine Garner was excellent with a game-high 39 touches, five clearances, goal and five marks.
Notably, the Roos dominated in possession as they won the disposal count 321 to 183, leading to inside 50 dominance with 43 to 26 inside 50s in their favour.
A nine goal to two second half saw the Roos run home in style in front of a healthy crowd on a fine Melbourne afternoon.
MILESTONE LADIES HAVE ROOS JUMPING
In her 50th AFLW game Riddell produced a stunning goal with an inch-perfect drop punt from the pocket to extend her side’s lead to 15 points midway through the second quarter.
It came in a quarter where Riddell was everywhere to help the Roos edge three goals ahead at halftime after a tied first term.
The 27-year-old had 11 touches in the second term capping off a great first half for the two-time All-Australian who led the disposals with 19 to the main break.
Following Riddell’s crowd-pleasing goal was Tahlia Randall who made an impressive snap from a similar spot on the boundary to extend her side’s lead to 20 points.
Port had the opportunity to cut the lead but missed two gettable set-shot chances on the brink of halftime as the Roos held onto their steady advantage.
Roos’ other 50 gamer Shierlaw was also in the action highlighted by a stunning mark on the goal line midway through the third term to kick her side’s sixth goal.
The 34-year-old key forward had two behinds before reaching the milestone goal.
It was Shierlaw who popped up again in the term with a goal-saving chest mark at the other end of the field, showing how important she is to the Roos outfit.
Paired with Shierlaw’s mark was Riddell’s second goal of the game which encapsulated a match-winning period from the milestone Roos as their side’s advantage grew to 31 points with three minutes left in the third.
PORT THE BETTER TEAM EARLY
The Power got off to a dream start after claiming the first seven inside 50s of the game in the opening seven minutes.
Some strong pressure from Justine Mules set the tone early as she won a free kick at half forward which led to the opening goal of the game just one minute into the encounter.
It was key forward Julia Teakle who provided a nice option 25m out before marking cleanly and slotting her set shot chance.
But after the opening goal the visitors weren’t able to capitalise on their dominance as they missed twice including a Erin Phillips poster to climb just eight-nil ahead.
Phillips was the catalyst behind the fast start with six touches alongside Matilda Scholz who had two clearances, two touches and three hit outs.
Following Port’s strong opening, the Roos found their groove to get the next three scoring shots to match their opposition on the quarter-time scoreboard at eight apiece.
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 4.5 8.7 13.9 (87)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 1.5 2.6 3.6 (24)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST – Roos: Riddell, Garner, Shierlaw, Bruton, O’Loughlin, M. King, O’Shea. Power: Houghton, Phillips, Moloney, Scholz, Stewart.
GOALS – Roos: O’Loughlin 3, Riddell 2, Randall 2, Smith, Shierlaw, Gatt, Garner, Bruton, Pullar. Power: Teakle, Keryk, Houghton.
INJURIES – Roos: Nil. Power: Nil.
UMPIRES – Coyne, Ferguson, Mitchell.
VENUE – Arden Street Oval
DONS DREAMTIME DUB MARRED BY POTENTIAL BAN, INJURY
Essendon’s 17-point win over Richmond in the second ever AFLW Dreamtime match has been marred by the prospect of a suspension and season-ending injury to two of its stars.
AFLW best and fairest 2020 winner Madison Prespakis could come under scrutiny from the MRO after Tigers midfielder Monique Conti’s head made heavy contact with the ground following a sling tackle.
Meanwhile Bombers 2022 leading goal kicker Daria Bannister is a potential absentee for the remainder of the season after limping off the ground in the final quarter with a knee concern.
It comes as the decimated Tigers suffered their third straight loss to go 3-4 and 10th on the table following their fourth straight game at IKON Park.
The Bombers rise to fifth spot with a 5-2 record following the 8.5 (53) to 5.6 (36) victory on Saturday night.
Paige Scott secured the victory with her second goal of the game as she cleverly found space with a slight push to extend the Bombers lead to 19 points early in the fourth.
PRESPAKIS IN TROUBLE
Just after receiving a free kick for a dangerous tackle, Bombers reigning best and fairest winner Prespakis could find herself in trouble from the MRO after a sling tackle of her own.
The three-time All-Australian leading her side for possessions this season slung Tigers gun Conti to the ground where her head made heavy contact with the ground late in the first term.
Conti, who finished second in last year’s AFLW best and fairest two spots ahead of Prespakis, immediately went to touch her head after her head knocked the ground.
But she continued to play, taking the free kick and going on to complete the game with a game-high 27 touches and eight tackles.
Following a replay of the dangerous tackle commentator Jason Bennett said “that will be looked at you would think between Conti and Prespakis.”
The 2020 AFLW best and fairest winner would be a massive loss to the Bombers outfit after a top notch season where she is fifth in the competition for disposals with an average of 27.7 touches per game.
In a halftime interview after gaining 11 touches and a goal Prespakis said the attention on her from opposition players was “pretty exhausting”.
“It’s mentally challenging, it’s something I got to deal with every week,” she said.
Prespakis finished the game with the second most possessions (24), a goal and seven tackles.
The Bomber may just be out in the near future, however, depending on the MRO’s verdict.
TIGERS DEFEATED BUT LOTS TO ADMIRE
The Tigers have been hit hard by injury this season but the suffering side continues to impress with its fight and competitiveness.
With train on players rising to fill the side’s line up, the Tigers have continued to push teams to the final siren.
Just one week after losing to the Suns by a point on the final siren and two weeks after losing to the Dockers by seven points, the Tigers again made their opposition work for the four points.
When the game nearly looked over at half time with Bombers leading by three goals, the Tigers won the next quarter 12 to seven to keep themselves in it.
With the likes of train on player Lauren Caruso stepping up for the Tigers in the absence of some key players, they have been able to continue to compete strongly.
TIGERS 2.1 3.3 5.3 5.6 (36)
BOMBERS 4.2 6.3 7.4 8.5 (53)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST –
Tigers: Conti, Yassir, Sheerin, Dempsey, Brennan.
Bombers: Prespakis, Nanscawen, Scott, Radford, Wales, Toogood, Bannister.
GOALS –
Tigers: Yassir 3, McClelland, Jones.
Bombers: Scott 2, Tierney, Bannister, Prespakis, Toogood, Wales, Alexander.
INJURIES – Tigers: Macdonald. Bombers: Bannister (knee).
UMPIRES – Manthey, Simmonds, Talbot.
VENUE – IKON Park
CAT’S ATTACK FINALS
Geelong have got their ambitions of an AFLW finals berth back on track with an emphatic 24-point victory over Fremantle at Kardinia Park on Saturday.
After losing their previous two matches, the inaccurate Cats righted their ship with the 6.11 (47) to 3.5 (23) result improving their record to 4-3.
The victory could come at a cost for Geelong, though, with two of their key players potentially having cases to answer from the match review officer.
Darcy Moloney’s off-the-ball elbow to the chest/chin area of Fremantle’s Ebony Antonio in the first quarter will surely be looked at.
While Rachel Kearns’ heavy bump on Amy Mulholland late in the final quarter not only forced the Docker from the ground with what looked like a shoulder injury, but it appeared as though the collision made contact with her head as well, possibly placing Kearns in hot water.
MCDONALD, PRESPAKIS LEAD THE WAY
Amy McDonald was outstanding for the winners, racking up 30 disposals (16 contested) and eight clearances, and Georgie Prespakis was her usual industrious self, registering 25 touches (12), eight tackles and six clearances.
Geelong’s Aishling Moloney (12 disposals and five marks) could have had a day out, but the Irishwoman had to settle for four behinds, including two posters, while another of her shots on goal failed to score.
For Fremantle, who adopted their Indigenous name Walyalup on Saturday, Aine Tighe continued her brilliant season, and was once again their best player with 17 possessions, 11 hitouts and a goal, and she found sound support in the form of Sarah Verrier (14 touches and a goal).
FREO HAVE NO ANSWERS
The Cats burst out of the blocks, but their first four scoring shots were all behinds, making it 10 consecutive minor scores for them going back to last week.
However, the weight of territory dominance finally paid dividends for Geelong as they kicked the first two goals to lead by 16 points at quarter-time while holding the Dockers scoreless in the opening term.
Fremantle put up more of a fight in the second period, and were kept in the game as the hosts continued to squander shots on goal to lead by just 12 points in the shadows of half-time.
But the Dockers couldn’t make the Cats pay, and Geelong erupted with three of the next four goals, including two to Chloe Scheer, to shoot out to a 26-point lead late in the third term.
Geelong coach Daniel Lowther said the performance was a “good response” to their back-to-back losses in the previous two rounds.
“For us to have a better second half with our opportunities to score was the main thing and to kick 6.11 showed that we’ve got the capacity to still play good consistent footy post-half-time,” Lowther said.
“I thought having shots on goal and having the game in our front half for longer periods supported that.”
Fremantle coach Lisa Webb described the loss as “a tough one”.
“(We) didn’t start as well as we would’ve liked, I thought the girls worked into the game, but just that little but of frustration,” she said.
CATS CLOSE IN ON FINALS
To finish in the top eight, the Cats will probably have to win at least two of their last three games, and with finals contenders Collingwood and Richmond still to come, as well as cellar dwellers Hawthorn, Geelong will like their chances.
Meanwhile, Fremantle’s finals bid has been made extremely difficult because they will almost certainly have to win their last three matches to be any hope. The Dockers still have to face premiership favourites Melbourne.
CATS 2.4, 3.7, 5.9, 6.11 (47)
FREO 0.0, 1.1, 2.2, 3.5 (23)
LERNER’S BEST Cats: Am.McDonald, Prespakis, Webster, D.Moloney, Morrison, Emonson. Dockers: Tighe, Verrier, Miller, Runnalls, O’Driscoll.
GOALS Cats: Scheer 2, Scott, D.Moloney, Webster, Parry. Dockers: Verrier, Antonio, Tighe.
INJURIES Cats: Nil. Dockers: Mulholland (shoulder).
UMPIRES Lyon, Nippress, O’Brien
VENUE Kardinia Park
HAWKS UPSET SWANS
Kristy Stratton produced the best game of her career as she single-handedly put the Hawks in a commanding position.
The 28-year-old was inspirational in the third term, kicking a goal, setting up another and producing a remarkable tackle to run down Molloy.
It’s the first time in Stratton’s 18 AFLW games that she has kicked multiple goals and her ability to compete in the Hawks’ forward line meant they were able to make the most of their inside-50 dominance.
“It wasn’t just me, it was the team around me,” Stratton said. “It allows me to play my role for the team and kick the goals as well which is good.
“After last week, that was only my second AFL goal. Now I’ve doubled it which is exciting.”
Hawthorn ended up +12 on entries for the match and Sydney’s defence couldn’t keep up with the relentless pressure.
Stratton was one of a number of players who had a day out at Henson Park including Kaitlyn Ashmore who finished the game with 23 disposals, seven tackles and three clearances.
The Hawks might have been underdogs for the clash, but they leave Sydney with their first interstate victory in AFLW history.
“We had all the staff in the rooms to do the song with us too because those are the moments you have to celebrate, especially when you’re a new team in the competition,” Bec Goddard, the Hawks’ coach said.
“Travelling interstate, under those conditions…we’re really proud of the group.”
HAWKS KEEP ALL-AUSTRALIAN HOPEFUL QUIET
In a highly-touted ruck match-up, it was Sydney teenager Ally Morphett who just came out on top in the hit outs.
The 19-year-old continued her sensational year by dominating her battle with Lucy Wales early, but the Hawks’ youngster more than held her own as the visitors ran away with the game in the second half.
Morphett continued to work tirelessly across the ground and created a contest of any ball in her direction. However, it was a quieter day on the stat line for Morphett who wasn’t able to get near her season average of 5.8 clearances.
It was a frustrating day for the Swans whose performance was typified by the fact Morphett couldn’t quite assert herself on the game.
SYDNEY FADE OUT COSTLY FOR RUN HOME
Sydney coach Scott Gowans praised his side’s ability to come home strong against Port Adelaide last weekend, but that same tenacity wasn’t quite found at Henson Park.
The Swans’ ball movement was impressive in the opening half, but they were unable to turn it into scoreboard pressure.
With a strong breeze headed towards the northern end, the Hawks were able to make the most of their territory dominance and kicked five straight goals.
It was also a formidable performance from Hawthorn’s backline. Sydney kicked two goals in the opening minutes of the match and didn’t get another until Lucy McEvoy’s consolation in the final minute of the game.
The loss is a huge hit to the Swans’ hopes of a maiden finals berth. They’ll likely need to win all three of their remaining matches, with only one of those at home.
Gowans said that while it was a disappointing performance from his team, there was still a lot the young group could learn from the result.
“Nobody said the learning is going to be linear,” Gowans said. “It’s going to have its bumps.
“The analogy I used was that we are on a journey on a bus. And occasionally the bus hits traffic, and we hit traffic today.
“We’ll get a lot of learnings out of that and reset for next week.”
Hawthorn also put an end to their run of four-straight losses to win just their second game of the season.
SHAKE AND BAKE FROM MOLLOY
Sporting a new pair of boots with Indigenous art painted by teammate Aliesha Newman, Chloe Molloy was at her electric best early for the Swans.
The Sydney co-captain hit the ball with speed and sold some candy on a brilliant solo run to set up Cynthia Hamilton for her side’s second goal of the day.
Spending even more time in the midfield, Molloy tried to assert herself on the game and she had 12 touches and three clearances by the main break.
She then moved behind the ball in the second half to provide more stability to the Swans’ backline and found herself racking up the intercept possessions.
In a game where the fine margins were important, Molloy won more than her fair share but the Swans missed her on the ball in the crucial third term.
SWANS 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, 3.8 (26)
HAWKS 1.4, 1.7, 4.8, 5.10 (40)
MCKIRDY’S BEST:
Sydney - Molloy, Gardiner, McEvoy, Morphett, Tarrant
Hawthorn - Ashmore, Bates, Stratton, Lucas-Rodd, McDonagh
GOALS:
Sydney - C. Hamilton (1), R. Privitelli (1), L. McEvoy (1)
Hawthorn - K. Stratton (2), A. McDonagh (2), S. Locke (1)
UMPIRES: BLAKE EVANS, COURTNEY GIBSON, JACK HOWARD
CROWD: 4,514 at Henson Park
SAINTS EYE OFF FINALS
St Kilda has given itself the opportunity to play finals for the first time in club history, which looked almost impossible just four weeks ago, with a 13-point win against the Giants.
The Saints have now strung together their longest winning streak ever – four in a row – to sit inside the eight at the conclusion of their game.
They have games against Fremantle, Brisbane and Carlton to come, likely needing to win two of them to secure a maiden finals berth.
It came on the back of a stellar outing from Tyanna Smith who continues to impress on her return from an ACL injury that kept her out last season after finishing runner-up best and fairest in her first season.
Smith had 17 touches, eight tackles, six clearances and a goal to be St Kilda’s best.
RICHARDS DELIGHT
St Kilda dominated proceedings in the first term with 14 inside 50s to the Giants’ three but failed to capitalise until late in the quarter.
Nick Dal Santo’s side led by just three points despite the lopsided territory advantage, but a sharp piece of work between Jaimee Lambert and Ashleigh Richards handed the home side a much-needed goal in the shadows of three-quarter time.
Lambert burst away from a stoppage at half forward, taking advantage from a ruck free kick, before finding Richards deep in the right forward pocket.
The 19-year-old only had goals on her mind, piercing the middle from the unlikeliest of angles to kick the goal of the game.
GOLD CLASS
Only Zarlie Goldsworthy stood between St Kilda and a blowout in the first half.
The 18-year-old, who shapes as one of the favourites for this season’s Rising Star award, was everywhere for the Giants before the main break.
Goldsworthy kicked two brilliant goals, the only two for GWS, including the first of the game as she proved too much for the St Kilda defence to deal with.
But as the Saints got on top of the Giants, Cam Bernasconi put his young star back to shore up his defence.
Goldsworthy was everywhere, collecting 11 touches – the equal most on the ground – to go with three tackles.
It was a performance that will have Giants fans dreaming of a possible league best and fairest for Goldsworthy one day.
GOAL OF THE YEAR
While the Giants left Moorabbin empty-handed, Jessica Doyle likely didn’t thanks to one of the best goals in the history of AFLW.
Halfway through the third quarter Doyle kicked a goal that had to be seen to be believed, all but sewing up the goal of the year award.
Alyce Parker broke out of a stoppage from a forward 50 boundary throw-in and chipped it into the forward pocket where Doyle ran onto the ball.
Kicking on her left boot as she was falling across the boundary line surrounded by two Saints defenders, the ball came off her foot in a reverse torpedo motion, somehow sailing through despite the wind blowing towards the other end of the ground.
The 20-year-old’s face said it all as she got up, shocked it had gone through as the crowd was left speechless.
SAINTS 2.3 4.6 6.6 7.6 48
GIANTS 1.0 2.1 3.3 5.5 35
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Saints: Smith, Richards, Patrikios, Lambert, Wardlaw, Exon.
Giants: Parker, Goldsworthy, Eva, Beeson, Evans.
GOALS
Saints: Wardlaw 2, Richards 2, Exon 2, Smith.
Giants: Goldsworthy 2, Doyle, Garnett.
INJURIES
Saints: None
Giants: Parker (ankle).
CROWD: 1402 at RSEA Park
LIONS WIN BRAGGING RIGHTS IN QCLASH
Brisbane is one step closer to clinching a finals berth after another comprehensive QClash victory over Gold Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Sophie Conway starred with two goals while reigning league best and fairest Ally Anderson shrugged off a hard tag to earn best on ground honours with 27 disposals as the Lions kicked away to a 36 point victory at Heritage Bank Stadium.
The Suns had never beaten their Queensland rivals in four attempts but looked up for the fight after the first term, trailing by a solitary goal at the break.
But Brisbane’s run and class came to the fore as the match wore on and the Lions retained the coveted QClash trophy for a fourth-straight match.
Isabel Dawes found plenty of the footy with 21 disposals – 14 of those contested – while super stopper Cathy Svarc finished with nine tackles and played a crucial role in limiting Suns star Charlie Rowbottom.
Suns skipper Jacqui Dupuy was the most dangerous inside 50 for the hosts finishing with two goals, while Rowbottom (22 disposals, four clearances) and Claudia Whitfort (18 disposals, six clearances) kept Gold Coast in the fight through the middle.
HODDERRRRRR 🤯#AFLWDeadly | #AFLWSunsLionspic.twitter.com/ABZs7PF3KT
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 14, 2023
LIONS WINGERS THE SECRET WEAPON
Brisbane’s wingers drove the agenda when the heat was on and Sophie Conway offered the early spark.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring within a minute to get the Lions off to a flyer and punctuated that with the opener of the third term to put the visitors out by four goals.
Conway should have had a third just a minute later, but shanked perhaps the easiest shot of the lot after shrugging a tackle and steadying from 20m out.
The Zillmere product finished with 14 disposals and 422 metres gained in another stellar showing that will do her All-Australian hopes no harm.
Meanwhile, Jade Ellenger put the ignominy of being dropped for disciplinary reasons behind her with one of her best games of the season, compiling 13 touches and a goal on the opposite wing.
SUPER SMOTHER SEALS IT
It wasn’t quite Dakota Davidson’s day as far as the scoreboard was concerned but the Lions’ spearhead still found a way to have an impact.
After going without a disposal in the opening term and sending a shank out on the full with her first look at goal, she found pay dirt with her third attempt to break the game open just before halftime.
But it was a superman smother mid-way through the third term to set up an Ellie Hampson goal that underlined Davidson’s class.
The Suns had just goaled through skipper Jacquie Dupuy to cut the margin back to 19 points and looked to be reloading from halfback after repelling another Brisbane forward foray.
But Davidson snuck up from behind ala Heath Shaw in the 2010 AFL grand final and smothered the clearing kick, allowing the Lions to regain and goal through Hampson to build an unassailable buffer.
FINALS BLUEPRINT FOR QUEENSLAND
Brisbane’s win means last season’s grand finalists likely need just one from their final three games to clinch the six-win hurdle for a finals berth.
But that’s far from certain given they host ladder-leaders Adelaide next week, followed by an away trip to face finals hopefuls St Kilda before a mouthwatering match-up against Melbourne to close out the regular season.
The Suns will finish the round inside the top eight and still fancy their chances of making finals given their run home.
Next up is a trip to face lowly Port Adelaide, before home games against GWS and Essendon.
LETHAL LILY SHOWS HER CLASS
Lions livewire Lily Postlethwaite showed why her return from an ACL injury was so highly anticipated with two great goals – the most of her fledgling AFLW career.
The first was a stunning snap off the right foot after picking up a hot footy from her bootlaces and turning on a dime, which drew gasps from the crowd near her pocket.
The second was the perfect small forward’s goal, with Postlethwaite floating out the back of the contest and waiting for her opportunity before another skillful snap to seal the deal.
The 21-year-old’s two goals went with 14 disposals and two clearances in what was the top game of her career.
LIONS 2.0, 4.5, 6.7, 8.9 (57)
SUNS 1.0, 2.0, 3.2, 3.3 (21)
GOALS
Lions: Conway 2, Postlethwaite 2, Ellenger, Davidson, Hampson, Campbell
Suns: Dupuy 2, Whitfort
BEST
Lions: Conway, Ellenger, Postlethwaite, Hickie, Anderson
Suns: Saad, Whitfort, Dupuy, Rowbottom, Girvan
INJURIES: Lions: Nil Suns: Nil
VENUE: Heritage Bank Stadium
CROWD: 1873
DOMINANT CROWS STILL UNBEATEN
Star Adelaide trio Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard and Niamh Kelly shone brightly at Norwood Oval on Friday night as the unbeaten Crows rumbled to a 42-point win against the brave Bulldogs in a clash marred by injuries.
It was the top-of-the-ladder Crows against the last-placed, winless Bulldogs, and despite plucky resistance by the injury-ravaged visitors, Matthew Clarke’s classy side improved to a 7-0 record.
The Dogs’ tale of woe this season continued, Nathan Burke’s side losing three players to injury in the first half.
Marinoff, Kelly and Hatchard amassed over 80 possessions between them, while Caitlin Gould took her season’s goal tally to 13 with three majors, as the clinical Crows wore down their depleted opponents.
Dogs skipper Ellie Blackburn was quiet early, but finished strongly in a brave display by her side against the odds.
UNLUCKY 13th
Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day by many and the injury-plagued Bulldogs suffered more misfortune, with three players knocked out of the game in the first half.
Youngster Keely Coyne went down clutching her left knee without contact three minutes into the clash, Kirstie McLeod was ruled out with a concussion after a first-quarter knock and Dominique Carruthers was crunched in a bone-jarring marking contest.
Coyne was able to test her strapped knee on the sidelines but will undergo scans after she was ruled out.
Carruthers showed great courage to go back with the flight, but came off second-best when Eloise Jones cannoned into her shoulder to mark strongly.
Carruthers’ head struck the turf firmly and she was later ruled out with a concussion.
The bad luck wasn’t restricted to the visitors, with Abbie Ballard inconsolable as she was helped from the ground shortly before halftime after a knee gave way as she contested a loose ball.
Ballard had kept prolific ball-winner Blackburn statless in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs were right in the fight early.
The Crows led the inside 50 count 8-1, but the Dogs hit back to lead the count 10-8 at quarter-time and trail by four points.
KELLY KICKS A CRACKER
Kelly’s pace was a feature of Adelaide’s play and that was never more evident than in the second quarter.
The Irish star took possession on the defensive side of the centre square and took off.
She gave a slick handpass to Hatchard, received it back as she blazed past, took a bounce as she stormed inside 50 and slotted a stunning goal-of-the-year contender on the run.
FLOODGATES OPEN
Kelly was in the thick of the action again in the third term as the Dogs’ brave resistance faltered.
Kelly had 11 possessions at halftime and she added another 11 to her tally in a blistering third quarter.
Marinoff led all comers with 26 touches and Hatchard 21 by three-quarter time after a three-goals-to-nil third term that blew the margin out to 34 points.
Eloise Jones, who slotted her 10th goal of the season in the first, showed off her impressive speed when she chased down her own kick inside 50 and set up Rachelle Martin to scuff home her first goal.
Kell’s pace was again pivotal when she blazed inside 50, took a bounce and gave a slick handball off to Maddie Newman who coolly slotted her side’s seventh major.
CROWS 2.0 4.2 7.2 9.5 (59)
BULLDOGS 1.2 1.4 1.4 2.5 (17)
PHELAN’S BEST CROWS: Marinoff, Kelly, Hatchard, Jones, Gould, Randall, Newman. BULLDOGS: Blackburn, Lamb, Ferres, Wilcox, Fitzgerald, Newton.
GOALS CROWS: Gould 3, Jones, Randall, Ponter, Martin, Kelly. BULLDOGS: McFarlane, Hartwig.
INJURIES CROWS: Ballard (knee). BULLDOGS: McLeod (concussion), Carruthers (concussion), Coyne (knee).
NORWOOD OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Marinoff (Adel)
2 Kelly (Adel)
1 Hatchard (Adel)
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