AFLW Week 4: Fremantle’s after-the-siren win Cats defeat Suns, Roos’ big win, Tigers maul goalless Blues

Fremantle has a new AFLW hero after coming from the clouds to pinch an after-the-siren win over Melbourne. Meanwhile, Geelong made an emphatic statement against Gold Coast.

Eliza Reilly, Mitch Bourke, Ed Bourke and Ronny Lerner

11 min read

September 21, 2024 - 6:47PM

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Fremantle midfielder Aisling McCarthy has handed the Dockers victory with a goal after the final siren against Melbourne.

But the incredible come-from-behind win has been soured by a feared serious knee injury to star forward Aine Tighe in the first quarter.

McCarthy won a free kick for holding the ball with just 15 seconds to play and scores level. The siren sounded at the top of her approach and any score would do. But McCarthy calmly slotted through a major from 30m out on a slight angle, conjuring a miracle win and jubilant scenes.

The Dockers started the final quarter 18 points down before recruit Gabby Biedenweg-Webster got one back nine minutes in.

Gabby O’Sullivan put Fremantle back within a kick with her third goal of the game, leaving the Dockers six and a half minutes to complete a come-from-behind win.

Then veteran Ebony Antonio levelled the scores from a free kick with 3:18 left on the clock, setting up a grandstand finish.

that was unbelievable ðŸ¥¹ #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/yYeMS3JAvg
— Fremantle Dockers AFLW (@freodockersAFLW) September 21, 2024

OH NO AINE

Fremantle is sweating on a right knee injury to star forward Aine Tighe after the Irishwoman left the ground in the first quarter.

Tighe, 32, took an early mark and was looking ominous against a Demons defence that conceded five goals to North Melbourne spearhead Kate Shierlaw last week.

But just minutes later, Tighe collapsed to the turf on the wing after leading up for a mark and was assisted from the field by Dockers medical staff.

Tighe, arguably Fremantle’s most important player, was taken straight down to the rooms and ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The key forward has already suffered several serious injuries, including two ACL ruptures to her left knee. She was also struck down by a significant medial meniscus tear in 2021, delaying her Dockers debut.

Tighe will be sent for scans in what looms as a bitter blow for Fremantle. The Dockers lost captain Ange Stannett to an ACL during pre-season while four-time best and fairest Kiara Bowers was placed on the inactive list after giving birth to son Luca.

Tighe’s absence left Ebony Antonio as Fremantle’s main target in attack. Coach Lisa Webb also swung Laura Pugh back into attack after the main break but the Dockers inside 50 execution suffered.

Melbourne had its own injury concern, losing Blaithin Mackin to a calf injury at half-time.

FREMANTLE SNATCH IT AFTER THE SIREN ðŸ‘

ðŸ“º Watch #AFLWFreoDees on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/8GE6Fg1f4p pic.twitter.com/2Wyxf6ITD2
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 21, 2024

DEMONS CREEP IN

Melbourne could not put a foot wrong on the scoreboard early in the game, kicking 5.0 in a little more than a quarter of football.

The Demons have not kicked more goals than behinds in any of their last nine games, making their early accuracy even more important away from home.

But just when it looked like Melbourne had turned things around, the Demons kicked 0.5 with their next seven shots at goal with two attempts failing to score.

It took a 50-metre penalty in the third quarter for Melbourne to finally get another major on the board, giving the Demons an 18-point buffer heading into the final term.

Aisling McCarthy was the hero for the Dockers. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

ANCHORED DOWN

Coach Lisa Webb told media on Thursday that she wasn’t concerned by an emerging pattern of slow starts so far this season but the Dockers failed to fire a shot again in the first quarter on Saturday.

Fremantle registered a kicking efficiency of just 27 per cent in the first quarter. The AFLW average is 52 per cent.

The Demons were much better with ball in hand, finishing the first quarter ahead for uncontested possessions 38-26 and inside 50s 11-5.

Fremantle has not led at quarter time in any of its four games so far this season, Webb crediting strong winds for the sluggish starts. Hayley Miller’s early goal was also the first time the Dockers have scored a major in the first term this season, previously kicking 0.2 across their opening three games.

FREMANTLE 1.1 2.5 3.5 7.5 (47)

MELBOURNE 4.0 5.1 6.5 6.5 (41)

BEST

Dockers: O’Sullivan, Strom, Miller, O’Driscoll, McCarthy, Newton.

Demons: McNamara, Goldrick, Hore, Hanks, M Chaplin.

GOALS

Dockers: G O’Sullivan 3, H Miller, G Biedenwg-Webster, E Antonio, A McCarthy.

Demons: A Bannan, T Hanks, K Hore, E Zanker, G Gall, S Goldrick.

INJURIES Dockers: A Tighe (knee). Demons: B Mackin (calf)

1633 at Fremantle Oval.

CATS REMARKABLE TURNAROUND STUNS SUNS

They say a week’s a long time in footy, and this certainly rang true for Geelong on Saturday as they trounced the Gold Coast Suns 15.6 (96) to 4.3 (27) on their home turf at People First Stadium.

You could’ve been forgiven for thinking it was Gold Coast who were held goalless last week, not Geelong, after the Cats came out firing to hold the Suns scoreless in the opening half and take a whopping 50-point lead into the main break.

The 69-point win was a far cry from Geelong’s 24-point loss to Carlton last week where they kicked 0.5 (5) for the day.

The Cats had the ascendancy all day and thrashed the Suns in the inside 50 count as they locked the ball in their forward half time and time again.

The Cats’ pressure was immense as they limited Gold Coast’s ability to find clean disposals and build momentum with chains of possessions. Geelong was also potent in transition, taking the game on up the middle and getting it forward quickly.

Georgie Rankin of the Cats celebrates a goal against Gold Coast. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Geelong coach Dan Lowther credited the turn around in performance to going “back to basics” after the disappointing loss last week.

“We couldn’t get the ball last week against the Blues so this week against the Gold Coast Suns the method was our application in contest to get the footy and obviously going forward off the back of that’s been really positive,” Lowther said to Fox Footy at three-quarter-time.

The win was Geelong’s first win of the season and will no doubt give them a major boost moving forward as they look to rescue their season and mount a finals charge.

Nina Morrison impressed in the middle with 26 disposals and a goal, while Mikayla Bowen was exceptional at half forward. She was involved in a ton of scores and had three goal assists to go with her one goal and 25 disposals. The only thin that let her down was her finishing with several missed chances.

SHELL-SHOCKED SUNS

After the promise that last season’s elimination final berth presented to the Gold Coast Suns, 2024 is shaping as a major disappointment.

There was a slither of hope after Jamie Stanton’s after-the-siren goal clinched a draw against GWS, but the Suns remain winless and will now have some serious soul searching to do following the annihilation on their home turf.

Gold Coast coach Cameron Joyce said at quarter time that his side had won enough of the ball, but needed to be cleaner with footy in hand.

Georgia Clayden of the Suns competes on Saturday. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

“In terms of our ability to move the ball between the arcs, some execution in terms of skills and also us being more bold and brave with the ball, that’s what we’re looking to do now,” Joyce said to Fox Footy.

Unfortunately, his side’s struggles would continue for much of the clash, although it must be said that they salvaged some momentum late with three last quarter goals.

The Suns were also hampered by the loss of key cog Lucy Single, who was ruled out with concussion. The loss will have major ramifications for the remainder of the Suns season with their finals hopes all but dashed. They have an 0-1-3 record, and would need to win at least six of their last seven matches to crack the top eight.

60-METRE BOMB

It’s not every day you see a drop punt and rooted from beyond 60 metres and trickle through for a goal, particularly after the siren, but that was exactly the fate of Kate Kenny’s kick as it cleared the last Suns defender and skipped through the vacant space.

Adding to the moment, the siren had sounded as the ball was in mid-air. Kate Darby’s work also didn’t go unnoticed as she put in a crucial shepherd to allow the footy to remain untouched.

Kate Kenny kicks an unbelievable goal on the siren!#AFLWSunsCats pic.twitter.com/pllXDp6me9
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 21, 2024

GOALS GALORE

It was raining goals for the Cats as they managed 15 majors at People First Stadium, and 10 came from the boots of Aishling Moloney, Shelley Scott and Jacquline Parry.

It was a special day for Parry, who celebrated her 50th match with an equal career-high three majors.

Moloney led the way with four goals, and was simply superb up forward for the Cats. Despite her height, she did the bulk of her work at ground level. Her first goal was particularly special as she showcased her exceptional pace to leave late inclusion Katie Lynch in her dust.

Aishling Moloney starred for Geelong. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

KIEVIT’S FIRST

On a testing day for the Gold Coast Suns, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with Annabel Kievit kicking her first career goal the day before her 19th Birthday.

Despite the 71-point deficit the Suns were staring down after the goal, the entire team made an effort to get around Kievit and ensure it was a moment to remember for the Suns Academy product.

Annabel Kievit of the Suns shares a laugh with Katie Lynch of the Suns after the loss against Geelong. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

GOLD COAST 0.0 0.0 1.1 4.3 (27)

GEELONG 4.0 8.2 11.5 15.9 (6)

BEST

Suns: Rowbottom, Whitfort, D’Arcy, Bohanna

Cats: Morrison, Bowen, Moloney, Webster, Parry, Scott,

GOALS

Suns: Bohanna 2, Kievit, D’Arcy

Cats: Moloney 4, Parry 3, Scott 3, Rankin, Kenny, Morrison, Friswell, Bowen

INJURIES Suns: Nil Cats: Nil

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MITCH BOURKE’S VOTES

3 Nina Morrison (GEE)

2 Mikayla Bowen (GEE)

1 Aishling Moloney (GEE)

GUNS FLY IN TRYING CONDITIONS

North Melbourne’s sublime midfield double act of Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell is lifting the AFLW to new heights on the field.

It rained sideways at Whitten Oval on Friday evening, but the Kangaroos duo were tough, clean and made an impact at almost every contest in a comprehensive 36-point demolition of Port Adelaide.

Garner (29 disposals and a goal) and Riddell (30) will again be their own worst enemies when the umpires’ votes are counted at the season’s end, but the Roos’ brilliant on-ballers are currently the competition’s best selling point – making the decision to schedule this game at 5pm on a Friday utterly mystifying.

Crammed in before a men’s preliminary final and before people could arrive from work, the wild weather did its best to keep anyone else away as the clash returned a season-low crowd of 943.

Roos coach Darren Crocker said the scheduling decision “wasn’t ideal” and suggested he would have preferred a day game at the club’s Arden Street home.“ You probably should be asking the AFL that one, but a Friday night game at five o’clock out at Whitten Oval … we regularly pack out Arden Street given the right fixturing and times,” he said after the game.

Roos star Jasmine Garner had another 29 disposals in the win over Port Adelaide. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

O’DANGEROUS TACKLE

The Kangaroos shattered the all-time tackles record (109) by laying 123, with their pressure so fierce that the Power could only muster 40 uncontested possessions for the entire game.

Dynamic forward Alice O’Loughlin led the way with an uncompromising attack on the ball as she finished with 15 disposals, six tackles and two goals, but could face a second suspension this season after a dumping tackle on Port Adelaide’s Ebony O’Dea in the second quarter.

The Roos young gun was handed a 50m penalty and a second goal after O’Dea shoved her in the chest in response, but the incident could prove costly at the MRO after she was already handed a one-match ban for a tackle on Brisbane’s Shannon Campbell in round 1.

Crocker said he saw a replay of the incident and thought O’Loughlin, who also sprained her thumb just before halftime, should not have “anything to worry about”.

“(O’Dea) bounced up straight away … we’ve spoken about Alice after her previous one. At the time we thought she was a little bit unlucky, but we also do understand that she’s just got to temper her tackling technique a little bit,” Crocker said.

North Melbourne’s Jenna Bruton tackles Cheyenne Hammond of the Power. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

COULD PORT USE STAR BETTER?

Blossoming as a specialist key forward, 21-year-old Julia Teakle has been the shining light for Port Adelaide in the first month of the season.

She entered the clash with seven goals from three games and emerged with the Power’s only goal after another classy set shot finish during the third quarter.

But with coach Lauren Arnell desperate to arrest the Kangaroos’ midfield momentum, the Power rolled a forward up to the ball, leaving their star forward to battle two defenders on the rare occasions they went inside 50.

As one of their most skilful players, the Power will need to consider whether to go back to giving Teakle time in the ruck to keep her involved against the stronger teams.

So... this is the weather we've been working with â˜”ï¸#AFLWNorthPower pic.twitter.com/5gkLKp3WCD
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 20, 2024

Scoreboard

KANGAROOS 3.3, 6.5, 6.5, 6.6 (42)

POWER 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0 (6)

BOURKE’S BEST Kangaroos: Garner, O’Loughlin, Riddell, Kearney, Gatt, M King. Power: Dowrick, Brooksby, Moloney, Pope.

GOALS Kangaroos: O’Loughlin 2, Garner, Shierlaw, Gatt, Tripodi. Power: Teakle.

UMPIRES Ritchie, Talbot, Whetton

INJURIES Kangaroos: O’Loughlin (thumb). Power: nil.

CROWD 943 at Whitten Oval

Conti brings up 50 in style as Tigers maul Blues

– Ronny Lerner

Carlton have been held goalless for the first time in an AFLW game as Richmond provisionally entered the top three courtesy of an empathetic 33-point win at Princes Park on Thursday night.

The Blues, a foundation club, had never failed to split the big sticks in their previous 72 matches, but the historic 6.3 (39) to 0.6 (6) result changed that as they were restricted to their equal-lowest score.

And Carlton’s dirty night was compounded by captain Kerryn Peterson exiting the game in the first quarter with what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

MCKENZIE IN HOT WATER?

But the shine of Richmond’s fantastic win could be taken away somewhat by a potential suspension to young gun Ellie McKenzie for a sling tackle on Carlton’s Dayna Finn in the third quarter.

Finn was able to play out the game but the fact that her head made contact with the ground will surely put McKenzie under scrutiny from the match review officer.

Seriously, how about tonight. AFLW, NRLW, T20 international, netball international, boxing from just up the road & NBL underway. All live with a few pretty handy golfers in action too. What do people who donâ€™t like sport even watch? ðŸ¿ ðŸ“º
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) September 19, 2024

MAGNIFICENT MON

Mon Conti became the first woman to play 50 AFLW games for the Tigers and marked the auspicious occasion by running rampant.

Curiously, Carlton decided to let her run free in the first half and the five-time All-Australian was head and shoulders above everyone else with 20 disposals (12 contested) and seven clearances already to her credit at the main break.

Monique Conti celebrated her 50th game on Thursday night. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

She finished up with a magnificent 32 touches (18) and 10 clearances to be the best player on the ground.

Richmond thumped Carlton for inside 50s (39-25) and were far more potent in attack with Caitlin Greiser (three) and captain Katie Brennan (two) combining for five goals.

Grace Egan also had a super game, accumulating 24 possessions (15 contested), and McKenzie shone too with 20 disposals (10).

All smiles for Ally Dallaway's first AFLW goal ðŸ˜#AFLWTigersBlues | #gotiges pic.twitter.com/BjJ30DHGOu
— RichmondW (@RichmondWomens) September 19, 2024

TIGERS IN CONTROL

Richmond adapted to the wet conditions quicker, kicking two goals in the first quarter on the back of immense pressure which saw them smash Carlton in tackles (26-15) in the opening term.

The heat Richmond applied made the Blues’ disposal sloppy and they controlled the tempo of the first half with a massive lead in marks (17-4).

After a putrid second quarter, which produced just one behind from Carlton, the Tigers put the foot down with another two goals in the third period to lead by 23 points as they doubled the Blues in forward entries (11-5) for the term.

Caitlin Greiser and Monique Conti celebrate a goal against Carlton. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

SHERAR SHOCKER

At the nine-minute mark of the third stanza, with only two goals kicked for the match to that point, Carlton’s Keeley Sherar had a brain fade as she encroached the protected zone after Greiser took a mark in the middle of the ground. The bonus real estate brought Greiser to within striking range and the former Saint made Sherar pay the full price from 40m out.

great crowd in for #AFLWTigersBlues @aflwomens pic.twitter.com/yHpWPYGbZe
— luke ðŸ‰ (@lucrious) February 7, 2020

BRENNAN GOES BANG

Brennan got the Tigers off to the perfect start inside five minutes when she unloaded from 40m out on a 45-degree angle with a heavy ball for a six-pointer. Although she was done a big favour by some horrible Carlton defending which saw them fail to have anyone on the goal line to get a hand on it.

Brennan then sealed the Tigers’ third consecutive win in the final quarter with a magnificent goal as she grabbed the loose ball, danced around Ciara Fitzgerald and snapped truly from 25m out under pressure from Harriet Cordner. The opportunity was created by Kate Dempsey who spoiled Fitzgerald on the Tigers’ 50m line and then tapped the ball in Brennan’s path.