Sydney: 2.0 2.1 4.3 4.4 (28)
Fremantle: 2.0 3.2 5.5 6.6 (42)
GOALS
Sydney: Hurley, Ham, Lochland, Privitelli
Fremantle: Webb 2, Antonio, Gore, Miller, East
BEST
Sydney: Ham, Smith, Szigeti, Lochland, A. Hamilton
Fremantle: Miller, Bowers, Runnalls, Strom, Gore
Kangaroos discover their kicking boots
After constantly booting extra behinds than targets this season – together with 10 targets to twenty behinds within the earlier two rounds – North Melbourne lastly discovered their kicking boots in a 32-point win, 9.3 (57) to 4.1 (25), over Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
Contributing to the scoreline was seven totally different goalkickers, together with two from Charli Granville, who changed an unwell Sophie Abbatangelo. With Abbatangelo again subsequent week, North Melbourne have loads of depth to select from on the subject of the ahead line.
Notably, Tahlia Randall additionally kicked two, placing a few of the yips she was plagued with earlier within the season to mattress.
Mikala Cann of the Magpies and Erika O’Shea of the Kangaroos compete for the ball. Credit score:Dylan Burns, Getty Photographs
North Melbourne’s win might be put right down to their run, unfold and carry – together with kicking straight – as they have been capable of finding and use house to their benefit and create extra avenues to purpose. The Kangaroos completed with nearly double the quantity of inside 50s – 38 to 21 – and twice as many marks inside 50.
Collingwood misplaced just a few key gamers to accidents. Ash Brazill was a late out as a consequence of a pulled adductor at coaching and Ruby Schleicher took a knock to her hip, which noticed her miss the latter half of the sport.
The great victory retains the Kangaroos within the hunt for a top-four end. Whereas nonetheless out of it on share, a win in opposition to Richmond subsequent week may see them slot in. For the Pies, a win on Saturday would have locked of their double probability, however now they’ve the powerful ask of beating Brisbane on the street subsequent weekend.
Collingwood: 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.1 (25)
North Melbourne: 1.1 6.1 7.2 9.3 (57)
GOALS
Collingwood: Molloy, James, Brown, Chiocci
North Melbourne: Granville 2, Randall 2, Eddey, E. King, Garner, Wall, O’Loughlin
BEST
Collingwood: Molloy, Allen, Lambert, Chiocci, Butler
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bresnehan, Bruton, Randall
Bulldogs set for finals, McLeod subbed out early in return sport
Kirsten McLeod made her long-awaited return after spending over 575 days on the sideline as a result of ongoing results of concussion, nevertheless it was short-lived with the Bulldogs ahead taking place with an ankle harm simply minutes into the primary quarter.
The 28-year-old was subbed out in a merciless accident, however the Canines nonetheless obtained the job achieved with out her in opposition to West Coast, securing a 32-point win on Saturday afternoon.
Kirsten McLeod was injured minutes into her return sport. Credit score:Daniel Carson, Getty Photographs
The win units the Western Bulldogs up for an excellent probability to play finals with one spherical to go, as they continue to be within the cusp of the eight – one win forward of Gold Coast, who’re in ninth spot.
Whereas the Eagles put up an excellent struggle, the Bulldogs had higher management of the ball over the 4 quarters, profitable the possessions, inside 50s, and clearances.
The Bulldogs had extra strain with 61 tackles to 37, Kirsty Lamb and Alice Edmonds contributing eight every to the rely, whereas Edmonds additionally had a formidable 23 hit-outs.
In West Coast’s final house sport for the season, Ashleigh Gomes obtained a purpose in her debut and Emma Swanson had a match-high 28 disposals, adopted by teammate Belinda Smith on 23.
West Coast: 0.3 0.3 2.4 3.5 (23)
Western Bulldogs: 3.1 3.2 6.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
West Coast: Lewis, Gomes, Hartill.
Western Bulldogs: Berry 2, Hartwig 2, Cranston, Bateman, Newton, Brown.
BEST
West Coast: Swanson, Smith, Lewis, Thomas, Roberts
Western Bulldogs: Lamb, Berry, Edmonds, Pritchard, Blackburn
Lions a category above the Hawks
Brisbane reaffirmed their premiership credentials with a dominant 54-point win in opposition to Hawthorn at Skybus Stadium in Frankston.
The Lions managed the competition from the opening minutes to drag away for the 9.7 (61) to 1.1(7) victory that cements their place atop the AFLW ladder.
A lopsided 39-16 inside-50 rely emphasised the ruthless method during which the guests boosted their already wholesome share to organize for an additional finals marketing campaign.
Jesse Wardlaw of Brisbane celebrates a purpose. Credit score:Darrian Traynor, Getty Photographs
Hawthorn fought laborious proper to the ultimate siren, however had no reply for the on-ball abilities of Lion Ally Anderson, with a career-high 30 possessions, and Emily Bates, with 22.
The Lions additionally had a much more functioning ahead arrange the place Jesse Wardlaw stretched her lead because the league’s main goalkicker with three targets.
It’s one other leap ahead for Wardlaw’s transition from netball since coming from New Zealand, and he or she’s poised to play a pivotal position within the Lions’ finals push.
“I believe having my teammates provides me a lot confidence, they again me to take these marks and kick the targets. [It] has let me develop in confidence yr after yr,” she mentioned.
The Lions carry out an uncommon ritual of dancing collectively in the course of the pre-game warm-up within the dressing rooms earlier than operating onto the bottom.
“It feels so good, everybody’s your finest buddy. We simply like to muck round earlier than video games and that’s what will get us up and about and provides us that vitality,” Wardlaw mentioned.
It was a disappointing ultimate house sport for Hawthorn vice-captain Jess Duffin who’s retiring on the finish of the season, though it was becoming that the 2019 All-Australian kicked her crew’s solely purpose.
The Hawks had tireless triers, like Jasmine Fleming, Akec Makur Chout and Lucy Wales, however the house crew have been outclassed by a slick opposition that might be laborious to cease within the finals in two weeks.
Hawthorn have been haunted by sluggish begins of their inaugural season and it proved expensive once more.
The Lions’ forwards are probably the most deadly within the competitors and targets to Ruby Svarc, Wardlaw, Dakota Davidson and Emily Bates within the opening quarter nearly put the competition to mattress earlier than the primary break.
Whereas the Hawks matched the ladder leaders in possessions and contested ball, it was the Lions’ teamwork and cleaner ball dealing with that offered the decisive edge.
Hawthorn gained the second quarter and had quite a few alternatives inside their ahead 50. However they managed solely a single purpose from a well timed Duffin mark, the house crew’s first rating solely six minutes from half-time.
So typically, the Hawk assaults have been simply repelled by a well-organised Brisbane defence marshalled by captain Breanna Koenen and the rebounding Kate Lutkins.
Hawthorn: 0.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 (7)
Brisbane Lions: 4.0 5.1 7.4 9.7 (61)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Duffin
Brisbane Lions: Wardlaw 3, Davidson 2, Bates, Bodey, Conway, R. Svarc
BEST
Hawthorn: Makur Chuot, Fleming, Lucas-Rodd, Ashmore
Brisbane Lions: Wardlaw, Anderson, Bates, Grider
-With AAP
