AFLW 2022: Stay up to date with latest news ahead of Round 10

It all comes down to this weekend, and it’s season on the line for Collingwood. Who will make the finals? We have predicted how the final round will play out.

With one round to go, there is plenty of intrigue as to how finals will shape up in AFLW.

Here’s what is still to come for your team — and where they might finish.

Footy’s back! Everything you need to know for 2022 is in the Herald Sun footy magazine. On sale now for $7.95 with the Herald Sun. Click here for more details.

The Crows are currently on top of the AFLW ladder. Picture: Getty Images

1. ADELAIDE

Played: 9, Record: 8-1, Percentage: 203.5%

Last Game: v St Kilda, RSEA Park, Sunday March 13, 1.10pm

Predicted finish: 1st

The Crows are odds-on to secure a second minor premiership in as many years as they search for a third AFLW premiership cup. A one-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 6 has been Adelaide’s only blemish this season. St Kilda has won its past two matches against fellow strugglers Geelong and Gold Coast, but has not beaten a team in the top-eight this year.

2. MELBOURNE

Played: 9, Record: 8-1, Percentage: 199.1%

Last Game: v Carlton, Casey Fields, Saturday March 12, 7.10pm

Predicted finish: 2nd

The Demons have been neck-and-neck with the Crows at the top of the ladder for most of the season and their only loss came by 14 points against Adelaide in Round 4. Coming off a crushing 88-point win over Fremantle last weekend, the in-form Demons should have little trouble accounting for Carlton and locking in a home preliminary final.

3. BRISBANE

Played: 9, Record: 7-2, Percentage: 197.2%

Last Game: v Western Bulldogs, Mars Stadium, Sunday March 13, 3.10pm

Predicted finish: 3rd

The reigning premiers are right in the mix again this season, with their only two losses having come against the top-two sides. They should be too good for the Western Bulldogs, whose season is on the line. However, the Lions still won’t finish top-two like they did last year unless Adelaide or Melbourne suffer a surprise loss. That means any premiership defence will have to be done the hard way with three consecutive finals wins.

4. NORTH MELBOURNE

Played: 9, Record: 6-3, Percentage: 125.3%

Last Game: v West Coast, Arden St Oval, Saturday March 12, 5.10pm

Predicted finish: 4th

The Kangaroos have had back-to-back losses against Brisbane and Melbourne, but get an opportunity to bounce back against West Coast as they head into finals. The end to the season can’t come quickly enough for the Eagles, who are coming off a 60-point loss to the Western Bulldogs after posting a 74-point defeat to Brisbane in their previous game. Win or lose, a qualifying final awaits North Melbourne next week.

The Roos have had back-to-back losses entering the final round, but are predicting to remain fourth. Picture: Getty Images

5. FREMANTLE

Played: 9, Record: 6-3, Percentage: 122.5%

Last Game: v Gold Coast, Fremantle Oval, Sunday March 13, 5.10pm

Predicted finish: 5th

The Dockers kicked only three goals in an 88-point belting at the hands of second-placed Melbourne last weekend, but you would expect them to hit back in a home game against the ninth-placed Suns. Fremantle will be looking to put Gold Coast to the sword as they will be eyeing fourth spot and a home final. If Brisbane and North Melbourne also score wins, percentage will decide whether the Dockers or Kangaroos finish in that fourth spot.

6. COLLINGWOOD

Played: 9, Record: 5-4, Percentage: 109.7%

Last Game: v Richmond, Victoria Park, Saturday March 12, 3.10pm

Predicted finish: 6th

It is season-on-the-line for the Magpies, who were gallant in a heartbreaking two-point loss to ladder-leader Adelaide last weekend. To ensure a third finals berth in as many years, they must now defeat 10th placed Richmond in the final round. Collingwood will be favourites, but the Tigers have shown they can be dangerous at stages this year.

7. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Played: 9, Record: 4-1-4, Percentage: 104.6%

Last Game: v Brisbane, Mars Stadium, Sunday March 13, 3.10pm

Predicted finish: 7th

Premiers in 2018, the Bulldogs have not played AFLW finals since and don’t look like snapping that drought this year. To make the top-six, they would need to beat third-placed Brisbane and rely on Collingwood losing to Richmond. A drawn match against Gold Coast might be looked back on as a major opportunity lost.

8. CARLTON

Played: 9, Record: 4-5, Percentage: 82.6%

Last Game: v Melbourne, Casey Fields, Saturday March 12, 7.10pm

Predicted finish: 8th

The Blues are mathematically a finals chance, but that’s it. To make the top-six, they would need to thump second-placed Melbourne by a considerable margin, Collingwood would need to lose to Richmond and the Western Bulldogs would need to lose to Brisbane. While Carlton has won its last three games in a positive run, you can’t start a 10-game season with a 1-5 record and expect to feature in finals.

The Blues would need a miracle to make the finals. Picture: Getty Images

Radical date pushed to take heat off AFLW

— Lauren Wood

North Melbourne skipper Emma Kearney has pinpointed September as the perfect time to play the AFL Women’s season as players combat stifling playing conditions in the height of summer.

Players — many of whom had only recently recovered from Covid — have played a number of matches this season in temperatures higher than 35, which Kearney said is “far too hot”.

The league continues to consider when to begin the AFLW competition, with Kearney’s vote for spring.

Emma Kearney has been critical of the timing for the AFLW season. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Not in the middle of summer. It’s hot,” she said at the launch of KFC SuperCoach 2022.

“It’s far too hot.

“We’ve had conditions where we’re playing in 35-plus degrees, when we’re part-time athletes.

“I think the perfect timeslot would be that September through to December, straight after the men’s season.”

The star and 2018 league best and fairest winner said “there’s a reason why it’s a winter sport”.

Emma Kearney says a cooler timeslot has the backing of the players. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“(With) the amount of running that we do at high speed, it’s exhausting,” she said.

“So I’d like to see them shift it to a cooler timeslot.”

Kearney backed the players’ association and the league to reach an appropriate outcome for players, and said that players would continue to make their views clear when canvassed in regular surveys.

“A lot of the players prefer it in a cooler timeslot,” Kearney said.

The Kangaroos fell six goals short of the rampant Lions on Sunday as finals loom large after this weekend’s final home and away round, where Kearney says the team will need to draw on its midfield to impact.

“There’s another three teams that we fear in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane,” she said.

“Whoever wins it will be a really worthy winner.”

Originally published as AFLW 2022: Stay up to date with latest news ahead of Round 10