By Hannah Kennelly
‘It was pretty shabby’
Adelaide overcame both the Magpies and a burst water pipe to prevail by 43 points at Victoria Park on Sunday and bolster their hopes of an AFLW top-two finish.
But coach Matthew Clarke spoke out post-game about the leaking pipe beneath the centre square that threatened to derail the start of the game.
Trainers attend to Crow Keeley Kustermann at Victoria Park.Credit: AFL Photos
“It was pretty shabby. We were here three hours before the game, and it was clearly an issue. For us not [to] have reached resolution with two minutes before the game – we need to be a bit better,” Clarke said.
“They were doing stuff [to repair the ground], but let’s get it sorted and make a clear decision earlier.
“Ultimately, [player safety] is what we have to decide on, and that’s the responsibility of the AFL to make that call. But I think we should have been able to address the issue quicker.”
The Crows dominated the game from start to finish to post an 8.8 (56) to 2.1 (13) win.
The three-time premiership side sits third after seven wins and two losses, four points behind Hawthorn after successfully dodging the sandpit covering the burst pipe.
Taylah Levy and Caitlin Gould led in attack for Adelaide with three goals each, alongside ball magnets Ebony Marinoff (36 disposals) and Anne Hatchard (28).
Their only concern will be a possible foot injury to Keeley Kustermann, sustained in the third quarter after a tackle by Mikala Cann.
“I thought the pressure from Collingwood was high. It was tough,” Clarke said.
“[I’m] really happy with the way that they (the Crows players) stuck at task. By the time the siren went, we had the outcome.
“It was a pretty good arm-wrestle.”
An injury-ravaged Collingwood (1-8) are now last on the ladder and will be battling to avoid the wooden spoon in the season’s final two rounds.
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Dominant Roos remain unstoppable
Hannah Kennelly
A ruthless North Melbourne put Essendon to the sword at Windy Hill on Sunday – winning their seventh-straight game and handing the Bombers a record-breaking loss in the process.
The ladder-leading Roos stormed to a 51-point win – 8.10 (58) to 1.1 (7) – holding the Bombers goalless until the final term and inflicting the biggest defeat in their AFLW history.
North forward Kate Shierlaw booted two majors within the first six minutes of the game – including her 50th career goal – and gave the 4336 Windy Hill spectators a sample of the team’s dominance to come.
Jasmine Garner and her Kangaroos are in dominant touch.Credit: Getty Images
Star Irish defender Erika O’Shea was also back in the thick of the action, despite an ankle injury scare that left her in a moon boot last week.
The 22-year-old’s parents flew in from Ireland on Saturday night to watch her play on Sunday.
Essendon’s best moment of the day arguably came before the match started. The club brought out a gigantic 8x18 metre banner – the largest in the league’s history – to acknowledge their milestone players.
Sunday marked the first time North Melbourne and Essendon have met during the 2024 season.
And the league’s fixture means some teams will face each other for the first time during finals.
Star Roos midfielder Jasmine Garner said the prospect of facing Hawthorn – who have only lost once this season – for the first time during finals was exciting.
“ I love the way they [Hawthorn] play, [they have] good ball movement, and they’re an attacking team,” Garner said.
“We hadn’t played Essendon until today. For us, we just worry about what we do and make good first impressions.”
The Roos remain undefeated this season and occupy top spot on the AFLW ladder, with a mammoth league-high percentage of 335.6.
Meanwhile, Geelong kept their slim finals hopes alive with a 10-point upset of the Brisbane Lions on Sunday, ending the reigning premiers’ seven-match winning streak.
Nina Morrison and Georgie Prespakis starred as the Cats kicked the opening three goals in an early blitz before holding firm for a 7.5 (47) to 5.7 (37) win at GMHBA Stadium.
It was the first home victory of the season for Dan Lowther’s side but came at a cost when Gabbi Featherston suffered a hamstring injury.
Geelong sit six points out of the top eight with two games left.
Morrison (24 disposals) and Prespakis (20 touches, 10 tackles, 10 clearances) shone, with Anna-Rose Kennedy (18 touches) and Julia Crockett-Grills (20) also influential.
Aisling Moloney and Shelley Scott kicked two goals each. Irish forward Moloney took her season tally to 15, just one behind Brisbane’s league-leading Taylor Smith, who was held goalless by Kennedy.
“We’re a slim chance now of finals, but for us winning that today meant our pride was on the line as a football club,” Moloney told Seven.
“It just means so much to this group because the last few weeks have been tough, but we’ve stuck together and finally got the win.”
Lowther led Geelong to a preliminary final last season.
“We need a few things to go right, clearly, above us with other teams winning and losing,” he said.
“But let’s just see where it goes.”
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‘Emotional toll’: AFLW Giants lose after men’s scandal
After a difficult week in the spotlight, GWS coach Cam Bernasconi says he is proud of his side’s performance despite a 37-point AFLW loss to Hawthorn.
The Giants capped a disappointing week with a 9.7 (61) to 3.6 (24) loss to the Hawks at Frankston.
The side’s preparation for their week-eight fixture was largely overshadowed by the fallout of the men’s post-season function that involved sexist skits and inappropriate costumes.
GWS player Josh Fahey was banned for four matches, while Jake Riccardi was among teammates who will miss two games after a joint investigation with the AFL into the men’s end-of-season function last month.
“It was a really, really difficult week,” Bernasconi said after their seventh loss of the season.
“The whole AFLW program was really disappointed with the actions of what went on, and that does filter into the footy club.
“I was really proud with how the girls could weather that this week and then come out (and play competitively against the Hawks).
“There’s a big emotional toll that has on not just the playing group, but everyone inside the footy club with the actions of what happened.
“You see a lot of emotional fatigue probably late in the game, but I was so proud that they came out and played a strong brand of footy.”
Meanwhile, Hawthorn (8-1) are closing in on a top-two finish after having all but secured a top-four berth.
Having all but secured a top-four berth, the Hawks have set their sights on hosting a home qualifying final after defeating the Giants.
Hawthorn’s Jasmine Fleming boots clear.Credit: AFL Photos
Hawthorn (8-1) could finish on top of the ladder if results fall their way this round.
It is a remarkable transformation for first-year coach Daniel Webster’s Hawks, who had not won more than three games a season until this year.
Emily Bates (one goal, 34 disposals, eight clearances) led the way for Hawthorn, while Aileen Gilroy (three goals) did the heavy lifting in attack in the absence of the injured Greta Bodey.
It was the 16th-placed Giants’ seventh loss for the season and capped a dour week for the GWS women’s team, dealing with the fallout of the men’s post-season function that involved sexist skits and inappropriate costumes.
Alyce Parker was again the shining light for the Giants.
Explosive from the first bounce, midfielder Parker finished with 27 disposals, six clearances, 13 contested possessions and eight tackles.
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Five wins on the trot for Port, who move into AFLW top eight
Surging Port Adelaide have jumped above St Kilda into the AFLW’s top eight and sealed a club-record four straight wins with a 15-point victory over the Saints.
A five-goal first quarter blitz from the home team set up their 7.5 (47) to 5.2 (32) win at Alberton.
The Saints, who started the game in eighth, slumped to a fifth loss in six games and dropped to ninth.
There was a late scare for the home team after outstanding young ruck Matilda Scholz hobbled off the ground in the last quarter.
Port Adelaide’s Piper Window gets a kick away.Credit: AFL Photos
However, Rising Star nominee Scholz who logged career-highs of 22 disposals and 16 contested possessions a game after taking one of the most talked about marks in AFLW history, downplayed the knee issue.
“I just landed on my knee. Structurally it’s fine. I’ve had a few problems like bruising,” Scholz told Fox Footy
“I’m feeling alright. I don’t even know if we need to get a scan, so I think it’s alright.”
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Bulldogs belt Blues, end AFLW goal drought
Steve Barrett
Elaine Grigg of the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
The Western Bulldogs have bounced back from a forgettable, goalless fortnight with their highest score of the AFLW season, trouncing Carlton by 33 points at Ikon Park.
The Dogs moved past the Blues (both 3-6) into 12th position with their 9.7 (61) to 4.4 (28) victory on Thursday night, which was soured by ruck ace Alice Edmonds’ ankle injury.
The Bulldogs’ ruck stocks, already depleted with Jorja Borg’s season-ending knee injury, suffered another blow when Edmonds suffered a nasty rolled left ankle midway through the fourth quarter.
She will undergo scans to assess the damage.
Best-afield Isabelle Pritchard, captain Deanna Berry, Jess Fitzgerald and Dominique Carruthers led a clinical midfield demolition.
Held to a heavily criticised, club-record low 0.3 against Essendon and 0.4 the week before against North Melbourne, the Bulldogs were back to their sizzling best.
“It’s been pretty brutal, to be honest, the week,” a relieved Bulldogs coach Tamara Hyett said.
“We were able to execute on a lot of things, which was very pleasing.
“Being able to get some reward for effort on the scoreboard always helps.”
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AFLW ROUND EIGHT
- Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61) d. Carlton 4.4 (28)
- Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) d. St Kilda 5.2 (32)
- Hawthorn 9.7 (61) d. GWS 3.6 (24)
- Gold Coast 7.8 (50) d. Sydney 6.10 (46)
- Melbourne 8.3 (51) d. Richmond 5.8 (38)
- Fremantle 5.5 (35) d. West Coast 1.6 (12)
- Geelong 7.5 (47) d. Brisbane 5.7 (37)
- North Melbourne 8.10 (58) d. Essendon 1.1 (7)
- Adelaide 8.8 (56) d. Collingwood 2.1 (13)
Demons coach calls for ‘thorough review’ of AFLW fixture
Hannah Kennelly
Melbourne coach Mick Stinear has called for a “thorough” review into the AFLW’s controversial condensed fixture ahead of next year’s competition.
The AFLW home-and-away season was this year expanded to 11 games, up from 10 in the previous three seasons.
Melbourne coach Mick Stinear called for a review into the AFLW’s condensed fixture. Credit: Getty
Instead of extending the length of the season, the league opted to have every AFLW team play 11 games across 10 weeks to avoid clashes with the AFL trade period and the start of the Australian summer season.
Stinear said the Demons handled the busy period well, praising their three consecutive wins in 11 days, but he wanted to see the fixture and its impacts on players analysed.
“I’d like to see it reviewed and just see the impacts of everything – were there injuries to come out of it? Was there unnecessary stress from condensing it with the shorter lists,” he said on Thursday.
“I think just a thorough review on the success of it, including broadcast and all those elements, which I’m sure the AFL is doing.”
Stinear’s calls for a review coincides with the loss of Demons star Paxy Paxman to a recurring foot injury.
Paxy Paxman has been plagued by a recurring foot injury. Credit: Getty Images
The 35-year-old is set to miss the twilight clash against Richmond on Saturday.
“It’s been such a challenging time for Paxy, with her foot, and she’s in a position this week when she’s unlikely to play,” Stinear said.
“Just not being able to come up in time – every time she plays, it flares up, and that limits her training, and limits her availability to play the next game.”
The AFLW has previously faced criticism for the condensed fixture and the heightened risk of injury, with stars such as North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney now missing after hurting her hamstring during the opening minutes of her third match in nine days.
Former AFLW coach and footy commentator Daniel Harford said the league should have started the season earlier or finished later, not “squeezed four games into three weeks”.
“As a fan and sport lover, I loved being able to watch more footy, but there was clearly an impact on groups and teams,” Harford said.
“I wouldn’t recommend they do it again.”
The AFL Players Association said they were in the process of seeking feedback from players on the condensed fixture through club visits.
“Once completed, we will engage the AFL in a review process, including providing player feedback on the condensed fixture,” a spokesperson said.
Bad News for Collingwood
Collingwood AFLW captain Brianna Davey will be sidelined for the rest of the season following an injury to her left tibia.
A statement from the club said scans confirmed Davey developed bone stress to her tibia.
Brianna Davey of Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images
“This is tough news for Bri, who worked immensely hard during the pre-season to come back into the side and make an impact across five games,” Collingwood manager Jess Burger said.
“Bri is such a strong leader for our program on and off the field, and she will continue to support the playing group albeit from the sidelines.”