AFLW Round 7: Keep up with all the mid-week action and news

The season of one of Sydney’s best AFLW players is likely over after an innocuous incident on the weekend. Plus a gun St Kilda ball-winner is set to go under the MRO’s microscope.

The Swans’ AFLW season has gone from bad to worse with All-Australian Laura Gardiner the latest to be ruled out with a potential season-ending injury.

Gardiner suffered a knock to her hand while attempting to make a tackle in Sydney’s loss to Geelong. It was an innocuous incident but she later reported soreness.

The midfielder will see a specialist on Wednesday, but it’s expected she will miss at least four weeks. While there is some hope she could return for their final game against West Coast, coach Scott Gowans admitted it doesn’t look likely.

“We won’t know until we get the results from the specialist but it’s not looking good,” Gowans said.

Laura Gardiner (R) has likely played her last game of the season. Picture: Getty Images

“She had a tackle and just reached out and her hand bit the body of the opposition player a bit awkwardly and unfortunately she’s done some damage to her hand…she’ll be out for an extended time.

“It’s a challenge for us. Injuries are just a part of the game, but it’s not great. The good thing is it’s next player in and it gives opportunity to others.”

Gardiner, who has been Sydney’s main ball-winner with 29 disposals a game, joins an injury ward that includes fellow All-Australian players Chloe Molloy and Ally Morphett.

It will be make the Swans’ task tougher as they prepare to take on the Kangaroos in Tasmania this weekend. While players like Sofia Hurley and Tanya Kennedy have stepped up in their absence, knows they will be challenged against last year’s grand finalists.

In a boost for the Swans, Montana Ham looks set to be available for the game. But even though their finals hopes appear slim, Gowans is confident his team has plenty to play for.

“She’ll be up for selection this week,” Gowans said.

Montana Ham is set to return from injury this week. Picture: Getty Images

“We could be 5-2 if you take some of those (close) results and flip them but it is what it is. The way we’re looking at it is we’ve had the opportunity to be in those games and that’s exciting and we’ve learned a lot.

“We’ve got a job to do down there. We trust them. We’ve got a bit of belief, our effort and intensity has been really good, pressure has been through the roof, so if we bring that, then you just never know.

“It’s a big challenge, but a great challenge and we’ve got nothing to lose.”

GUN SAINT TO FACE MRO SCRUTINY AS SAINTS REIGNITE FINALS PUSH

St Kilda star Jaimee Lambert is set to go under the MRO microscope for a dangerous tackle in the Saints’ 34-point win over the Giants on Tuesday night.

Lambert held Alyce Parker’s right arm and brought her to ground, with the Giant hitting her head on the turf.

Parker played out the game and amassed 30 disposals, while Lambert racked up 27 with the pair arguably the two best players on the park.

The dangerous tackle is sure to come under MRO scrutiny despite Parker not being ruled out of the game with concussion.

It was an important win for the Saints to move them back inside the top eight, while the Giants languish in 16th spot on the AFLW ladder.

Jaimee Lambert has one arm of Alyce Parker as she tackles her to the ground. Picture: Getty Images

Lambert completes the tackle as Parker’s head hits the turf. Picture: Getty Images

The 7.7 (49) to 2.3 (15) result was much-needed for St Kilda, who made their best ever-start to a season (3-0) before losing their next three matches to drop to 10th.

The Saints started the match like a team possessed, kicking the first six goals to seal the result early.

Darcy Guttridge kicks a goal in game 50! 🙌#AFLWSaintsGiantspic.twitter.com/z2cczUcP9v

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 8, 2024

GWS COACH FEELING PINCH

As for the Giants, their finals hopes are toast as they remain entrenched in the bottom three with just one win from seven matches.

And that means GWS coach Cameron Bernasconi is under all sorts of pressure to keep his job.

Having won just seven of 27 matches since taking over the reins in season seven, he will likely fail to make the finals in each of his first three campaigns in charge.

Cameron Bernasconi’s poor coaching record is putting his position under pressure. Picture: Getty Images

WASTEFUL GIANTS

GWS actually had much more of the ball (223-182) and dominated both clearances (36-28) and centre clearances (8-3), but were nowhere near as efficient as the slicker Saints and committed more turnovers as well.

St Kilda’s transition game cut the Giants to ribbons and with their direct brand, the hosts were much more dangerous in attack.

The Saints’ aerial supremacy, particularly up forward, saw them take almost four times as many contested marks as GWS (11-3) and the visitors just could not cope with St Kilda’s marking power via Jesse Wardlaw, Ashleigh Richards and Darcy Guttridge.

When the game was up for grabs, the Giants’ defensive structure totally unravelled. The Saints had two more inside 50s (29-27) but were far more lethal in front of goal.

St Kilda’s pressure was ferocious in the opening term, as they smashed GWS in the tackle count (24-15), and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Jesse Wardlaw hit the scoreboard with three goals. Picture: Getty Images

TALL TIMBER TOO MUCH

The Saints’ aerial supremacy, particularly up forward, saw them take almost four times as many contested marks as GWS (11-3) and the visitors just could not cope with St Kilda’s marking power via Jesse Wardlaw, Ashleigh Richards and Darcy Guttridge.

When the game was up for grabs, the Giants’ defensive structure totally unravelled. The Saints only had two more inside 50s (29-27) but were far more lethal in front of goal.

St Kilda’s pressure was ferocious in the opening term, as they smashed GWS in the tackle count (24-15), and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Tyanna Smith that is unreal 🤩@Coles#AFLWSaintsGiantspic.twitter.com/VtijQJdLEA

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 8, 2024

SAINT SMITH STARS

Tyanna Smith was also a standout for the winners with 17 touches, nine tackles, six clearances and a goal of the year contender as she took a bounce on the wing, engaged in a one-two with Maddie Boyd, took another bounce, ran to 30m out and drilled it home from a sharp angle on the boundary.

Wardlaw stood tall with three goals from her 10 disposals and seven marks. Grace Kelly was also instrumental in icing the result early with her nine first-half touches.

For GWS, Parker never gave up, finishing with 29 touches (18 contested), 10 clearances and eight tackles, while Rebecca Beeson accumulated 24 disposals (13), six tackles and five clearances.