AFLW round 8: All the latest news and updates from Sunday’s action
North Melbourne has reminded Essendon of the massive gulf between them and top four teams in a demolition at Windy Hill while the Cats dodged a late scare to keep their finals hopes alive.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Essendon has a new lowest score record as premiership fancies North Melbourne put on a clinic to continue its unbeaten season on Sunday.
The Roos were all over the Dons, keeping them goalless until the final term to record their eighth win of the season at Windy Hill.
Roos midfielder Jasmine Garner was immense with a game-high six clearances and six inside 50s to go with her 23 disposals and a goal. Ash Riddell was also top-notch with 23 disposals and five clearances. And key forward Kate Shierlaw was busy with three goals in the first meeting between the sides.
It was the third time this season the Roos have kept their opposition to a single-digit score as their defence continues to be a key feature of their game. Darren Crocker’s side smashed the Bombers in inside 50s (40-17), clearances (40-27) and contested possessions (117-94).
Despite the positive of Dons star forward Bonnie Toogood hitting the scoreboard for the first
time this season after a knee injury kept her out at the start, the Dons continue to find difficulty up forward with a sixth score this season below 30 points.
In the only negative in the game for the ladder-leading Roos, defender Sarah Wright went down with an right ankle injury in the fourth term.
ROOS GET THE JUMP
It was all the Roos in the first half as the Dons were smashed in forward-50 entries (21-5) to make it a 41-1 scoreline at half time.
Roos forward duo Tahlia Randall and Kate Shierlaw kicked two goals each and Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell were at their usual best with 25 disposals between them.
Maddison Gay was fighting hard for the Dons with a leading 17 touches in the first half but pressure lacked overall as the Roos won contested possessions 62-44 and were able to move the ball freely on several occasions.
Bonnie Toogood had a shot on the half time siren to try and give the Dons something to take into the break but missed completely to the right. She stepped up later in the game with a set-shot goal.
This is HUGE, our biggest crowd at Windy Hill since 1991.
— Essendon AFLW (@essendonfcw) October 20, 2024
Thank you all for coming down today, we can't do it without you. pic.twitter.com/gZgyXWpL7O
GAY LIFTS FOR DONS
Maddison Gay put in a top display in a positive to take out of the match for the Dons.
The 28-year-old fought all day with a game-high 30 disposals and 541 metres gained while teammate Maddison Prespakis was also influential with 28 touches.
BOMBERS AT RISK
The Bombers finals hopes hang by a thread after a disappointing loss in what adds to a season where they have not beaten a team currently inside the top eight from their five wins.
Sunday afternoon was a chance to end this blimp in their record, but they were far from it and now only just hold a spot inside the top eight with five teams chasing them.
The Bombers are in seventh position following week eight with games against fifth-placed Richmond and 14th-placed Carlton to come.
CATS KEEP FINALS HOPES ALIVE AS LIONS SUFFER FORWARD BLOW
Geelong has kept its finals hopes alive with a gutsy 10-point win over Brisbane who had its star forward exit the game in a horror blow on Sunday.
The Cats kicked the first three goals before Dakota Davidson got the Lions on the board to end the run but the two-time premiership forward later got concussed in the second term and was ruled out of the game in a big moment.
The Cats scored the next two goals to kick five of the first six majors before star midfielder Nina Morrison made it a game-high 24-point lead late in the third term as the home side held on in the final term for a 7.5 (47) to 5.7 (37) win at GMHBA Stadium.
Morrison also had a game-high 24 disposals and a goal assist in one of her best performances of the season while teammate Georgie Prespakis had 20 disposals and 10 clearances in another top performance.
Tall forward Aishling Moloney continued her brilliant campaign with two goals to help keep the Cats in the hunt for finals as their record improves to a 3-5 with two games to go.
Moloney said she was pleased to get the win following a narrow seven-point loss to Richmond last week and a season where they drew to premiership favourite North Melbourne earlier in week two.
“This year hasn’t really been our year,” Moloney said post-game.
MOLONEY WITH THE STEP AND FINISH! 😤#AFLWCatsLionspic.twitter.com/oUOvBaUsaO
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 20, 2024
“We felt like we have done ourselves unjust throughout the year, we didn’t kick home in some matches we have had.
“I mean look, we are a slim chance now of finals.
“For us winning that today meant our pride is on the line as a football club.
“It just means so much to this group because the last few weeks have been tough but we stuck together and finally got this win.”
The loss for the Lions see their record fall to 7-2 as they stand in third position on the ladder.
BOWEN SPECIAL
Cats forward Mikayla Bowen kicked a hysterical but crucial goal for her side late in the second term.
After taking an intercept mark at half forward, the 23-year-old went back the wrong way behind the mark before fortuitously being called to play on where she ran in to kick a major from 40 metres out and put the Cats up 31-9.
One of the funniest goals you'll see!! 😂
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 20, 2024
Bowen finishes beautifully! @Coles | #AFLWCatsLionspic.twitter.com/sjkiXfP1LJ
“It wasn’t intentional, but it turned out to be a very cunning plan,” Jason Bennett said in commentary.
“Mikayla Bowen got completely confused as to which way she was supposed to be kicking it. (Brisbane’s) Poppy Bolts said ‘nah, nah, you’re going the wrong way’ and quite rightly the umpire said play on and away went Mikayla.”
The Lions got one back just before halftime through Orla O’Dwyer to cut the deficit to 15 points at the main break.
MASSIVE LOSS
Lions star Dakota Davidson was ruled out of the game due to concussion after landing heavily on the surface in a marking contest early in the second quarter.
The two-time Lions leading goalkicker and premiership player came from the field immediately after the knock despite having a set-shot opportunity.
It is another disappointing blow for the 25-year-old who was previously concussed in the pre-season of 2023 and in 2022.
Cats tall Gabby Featherstone was also ruled out of the game soon after Davidson with a hamstring injury.
Dakota Davidson left the ground after this contest.#AFLWCatsLionspic.twitter.com/qwOXfQ22MF
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 20, 2024
LATE SCARE
After Aishling Moloney kicked her second goal of the game to put the Cats up by 23 points early in the fourth and her side proceeded to keep the game goalless for the next 10 minutes, everyone was backing in the Cats to get over the line comfortably.
But the Lions went bang with an Orla O’Dwyer goal with 3:51 left before Evie Long scored her first AFLW goal 18 seconds later to cut the Lions deficit to 11 points.
Eleanor Hartill could have made it another 18 seconds later although her shot on the run on a slight angle missed to the left.
After the flurry of forward play for the reigning premiers, the Cats eventually held strong at home to claim the win.
“They are an incredible team,” Moloney said about the Lions late fightback.
“I remember my hardest game last year was playing Brisbane and I have to say my hardest game again this year was playing Brisbane.
“They are so athletic, they bring the fight, they are the Lions at the end of the day.”
Originally published as AFLW round 8: All the latest news and updates from Sunday’s action
Cats, young gun get sweet revenge over old foe
A gutsy win keeps Geelong’s flickering finals hopes alive but the cherry on top proved to be in avenging last year’s preliminary final loss. Plus, Irish talent steps up in career-best performance.
WATCH: Suns end AFLW drought, Demons stake finals claim
Claudia Whitford lifted Gold Coast to a breakthrough win over Sydney, ensuring the Suns will avoid a winless 2024 campaign. Plus, Melbourne moved closer to a finals berth.