AFLW round 9: All the latest news and results from Sunday’s action
Carlton has held off a Collingwood comeback for their first win over the Pies in five years, while the Saints’ finals hopes have been officially dashed after falling in heartbreaking fashion.
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Carlton has survived a late fightback to defeat Collingwood for the first time since 2019 in an intense clash at Victoria Park.
Before holding on for the narrow four-point win on Sunday, the Pies came from 15 points down to get three point ahead midway through the final term.
But a stunning first AFLW goal from Dayna Finn lifted the Blues back in front by three points with seven minutes left where they managed to hold on to score their fourth win of the season.
Keeley Sherar was immense for the Blues in the midfield with a game-high 24 disposals, a goal and 339 metres gained while Brittany Bonnici was excellent for the Pies with 21 touches and seven clearances.
Madeleine Guerin also had a solid outing for the Blues, picking up 17 touches, six inside 50s and five clearances.
It was the closest winning margin between the sides in their nine meetings and the fourth time their encounter was decided by single figures.
In the end, the bottom-placed Pies struggled to give themselves enough opportunities, losing inside 50s (36-23) as they couldn’t make the most of centre clearance dominance (7-1).
Blues key forward Celine Moody was proud of the win following her 50th AFLW game.
“Very happy with that one,” Moody said post-game
“Love having a milestone in the navy Blue and even better to get the win especially with this group of women.”
“We have had a little bit of an inconsistent season, we really want to finish the season strong so it does mean a lot that we get over the line.
The 4-6 Blues will get the chance to put an end to the Essendon’s season on Saturday night when they meet for their final home-and-away game of the season.
SPECIAL FINN
What a time to bring up your first AFLW goal.
Dayna Finn struck a stunning floating snap from 30 metres out to put the Blues up by three points with seven minutes left.
The Blues midfielder from Ireland finished the game with 13 touches, a goal and five tackles.
PIES BREAK TREND
The Pies have built a reputation of falling away after half time, but they stepped up in the second last game of the regular season to avoid a third-quarter loss for the first time this campaign.
The Pies matched the Blues in the third quarter, drawing it 7-7 as they put through their second goal in the term for the season with Imogen Barnett’s set shot.
NOT GIVING UP
In a low scoring game, it looked like the game could almost be over when Keeley Sherar scored a terrific drop-punt goal on the run to make it a 25-10 advantage midway through the third term.
But Barnett quickly responded with a goal at the other end less than two minutes later to cut the margin back to nine points and keep the Pies in it.
DOGS END SAINTS’ SEASON AFTER STUNNING WIN
St Kilda’s season is over to the sound of a stunning come-from-behind one-point win by the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Down by 14 points early in the third term, the Dogs proceeded to kick three goals in a row to get their first lead of the game in the final term where they held on for a 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35) win on Sunday.
Saints’ Tyanna Smith and Jesse Wardlaw both had long range set-shot opportunities in the final 80 seconds but missed them completely to hand the Dogs a thrilling fourth win of the season.
A smother from Britney Gutknecht in the middle of the ground to prevent a Saints inside 50 with 20 seconds left sealed the victory for Tam Hyett’s side in a hotly contested game.
After Ashleigh Richards levelled the scores for the Saints with just under 10 minutes left, it was a Heidi Woodley point shortly after which proved to be the match-winning score in the end.
The Dogs impressed throughout despite not leading for the majority, with the up-and-coming side winning disposals (254-209), inside 50s (33-28) and clearances (33-25).
The Dogs lost No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner in the second term after the tall forward suffered a corky. Meanwhile, the Saints lost vice-captain Bianca Jakobsson to a potential serious knee injury.
Dogs midfielder Jessica Fitzgerald was a strong contributor for the victors in her 50th game with a game-high 26 touches and a goal in the fourth term which put her side ahead for the first time in the match. Deanna Berry also had a tremendous game with 21 touches and a goal of the year contender.
Serene Watson was handy for the Saints with 21 touches while Wardlaw had a solid outing with 18 disposals.
The 4-6 Saints are yet to make the finals since entering the competition in 2020.
CONTROVERSIAL CALL
The Saints may have been robbed of a goal when an intercept wasn’t called for front-on contact late in the third term.
Saints’ Hannah Stuart would have had a shot just in front of goal but instead the umpire deemed Jasmyn Smith’s play as legal as the ball was rushed behind to make it an eight-point lead for Nick Dal Santo’s side.
“That’s got to be front-on contact, Smith had no eyes on the football and made contact with Hannah Stuart who was ready to take the grab,” Kate McCarthy said in commentary.
STUNNING SNAP
Dogs midfielder Deanna Berry backed up her excellent nine-disposal first term with a contender for the goal of the season in the second.
Berry’s snap in tight space deep in the pocket cut the Dogs’ deficit to two points just before halftime.
“That’s got to be a contender for goal of the year,” McCarthy said in commentary.
De Berry from the tightest of angles! 🤯#AFLWDogsSaintspic.twitter.com/wxdidw4XcD
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 27, 2024
JAKOBSSON INJURED
Saints vice-captain Bianca Jakobsson went down with a knee injury late in the opening term after stepping on Elaine Grigg’s foot deep in defence.
Play then stopped as the two-time All-Australian defender was helped off the ground by trainers in what look to be an injury to her left knee.
SCOREBOARD
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.1 2.1 4.5 5.6 (36)
ST KILDA 1.2 3.3 4.5 5.5 (35)
HATZOGLOU’S BEST
Dogs: Fitzgerald, Berry, Carruthers, Pritchard, Georgostathis, Grigg.
Saints: Watson, Wardlaw, Exon, Richards, Smith.
GOALS
Dogs: Fitzgerald, Hartwig, Berry, Carruthers, McKee
Saints: Exon 2, Richards 2, McDonald
INJURIES Dogs: Weston-Turner (corky). Saints: Jakobsson (knee).
Venue: Victoria Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MAX HATZOGLOU’S VOTES
3 Fitzgerald (WB)
2 Hartwig (WB)
1 Watson (STK)
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