LADDER leader, Collingwood was given a big scare by the gallant Blues while Melbourne Uni just scraped over the line in a tight contest at Frankston. The Pies now have the NT Thunder on their heels, after they recorded a handy win over Richmond. The Thunder sit second on the ladder and will be keen to push the high-flying Pies in the coming rounds.

Williamstown 4.5 (29) defeated by Western Bulldogs 10.9. (69)

After a close first quarter that saw the Seagulls and Western Bulldogs level, Williamstown was not able to keep that momentum after that. Instead the Bulldogs went bang in the second quarter, kicking four goals to none in a display of dominance. From then on, the away team was able to flex its muscles and come away with a comfortable 40-point win.

Alyssa Mifsud performed well inside 50 for the Dogs, kicking three goals from her seven disposals. She was complemented by Greater Western Victoria (GWV) captain, Lauren Butler, who also kicked three majors for the day to go with her 13 disposals and four tackles. Sarah Jolly was a ball magnet as she racked up 23 disposals, seven marks and six tackles to go along with a nice goal.

For Williamstown, Andrea Cameron was the shining light, recording 20 disposals and kicking a goal. The other goals came from Western Jets forward, Sharnie Whiting, Emily Paterno, Jorja Rowe and Chloe Portelli. Paterno in particular attacked the ball hard, laying seven tackles and accumulating 15 disposals.

Darebin 5.11 (41) defeated Essendon 2.2 (14)

Darebin has returned to its winning ways, defeating Essendon by 27 points. The Falcons held the Bombers scoreless in the second half while managing to kick two goals themselves in a tight battle.

Melbourne AFL Women’s ruck, Lauren Pearce starred in this match, kicking two of her side’s five goals, racking up 19 disposals and taking 10 marks. Eastern Ranges defender, Lauren Szigeti also racked up the possessions with 17 touches to go along with her four marks. Greater Western Sydney (GWS) star, Jessica Dal Pos also had a good day out with 17 disposals and eight tackles.

Dal Pos’ AFL Women’s teammate, Maddy Collier was one of the Bombers’ most influential players on the day, racking up 21 disposals, four marks and six tackles. She was complemented by tackling machine, Hayley Bullas who recorded 19 touches. Monique DeMatteo and NT Under 18 representative, Danielle Ponter were Essendon’s goalkickers.

Richmond 4.5 (29) defeated Northern Territory Thunder 7.10 (52)

By: James Halley 

After an even first term which saw just two points separating the teams, Northern Territory (NT) Thunder was able take control of the contest. Richmond started the better out of the two, kicking the first three scoring shots of the game, with Courtney Wakefield kicking 1.2.

Wakefield continued to cause headaches for NT in the second quarter, booting her team’s two majors for the term. After an Emma Swanson wonder goal from the boundary it left the visitors trailing by five points at half-time. NT owned the third quarter as Thunder piled on three goals to none and attempted to build a decent lead in a low-scoring match. The last quarter continued the Thunder dominance with another two goals piled on. Richmond was held goalless in the second half in superb defending by NT.

Wakefield was one of Richmond’s best with three goals, while Phoebe Monahan was one of the Tigers’ best midfielders in a hard day against seasoned AFLW players. While there were many standouts for Northern Territory, highlighted by Ebony Marinoff in the midfield. Marinoff is a contested freak. She was helped out by the ruck dominance of Jasmyn Hewett.

Geelong Cats 10.8 (68) defeated Casey Demons 4.3 (27)

A six goals to two second half earned the Cats a convincing victory at Queens Park. Geelong maintained its lead at every quarter break and didn’t look like slowing down throughout the match, holding a two-point lead at quarter time and booted five goals to one over the next two quarters to lead by 28 points at the last change. A four goals to two final term resulted in Geelong running away with a 41-point win to continue its fantastic form.

Up forward, Maddie Boyd and Kate Darby each kicked two majors. Maighan Fogas also chipped in with one goal and was the leading disposal-getter with 25 disposals as well as six tackles. Rebecca Goring also performed well with 18 disposals and seven marks.

Casey Sherriff played a wonderful game for the Demons with 14 of her 15 disposals being kicks. She also led the way for marks with nine and laid nine tackles. Consistent performers, Madelaine Shevlin and Katherine Smith also racked up 15 apiece while Kaila Bentvelzen kicked two majors.

Carlton 4.7 (31) defeated by Collingwood 6.12 (48)

By: Peter Williams 

Collingwood survived a scare from arch rivals Carlton to remain unbeaten, following a 17-point win over the Blues at RAMS Arena in Craigieburn. With the famous RAMS breeze blowing from the Grand Boulevard end, it meant nearly all the goals were kicked up the other end. In fact, Stacey Livingstone can hold claim to the only player to kick majors into the wind, booting two in the space of a couple of minutes, which were vital in the end. Carlton led by eight points at quarter time, but found themselves trailing at the half by five. It could have been a lot worse given the Magpies had eight scoring shots, but converted just the one goal, as the ball was trapped inside their forward half for the majority of the 20 minutes. Carlton nudged ahead with three goals to two in the third quarter, was Kristi Harvey and Livingstone both booted two, while young Blues star Tyla Hanks converted a tight-angled set shot from the boundary. The final term saw the Magpies predictably run away with it courtesy of the breeze and Sophie Alexander booted two majors and ensured the Magpies returned to the top of the table.

Harvey was a star at both ends, camping up the end with the breeze, converting when in attack and rebounding when in defence. Sarah Hosking was her usual dominant self around the stoppages and probably the best midfielder on the ground. Tilly Lucas-Rodd was also impressive, while Hanks and fellow TAC Cup Girls’ captain Madeline Brancatisano also showed glimpses of what they are capable of, as did Mika Sukuzi who came in as the 23rd player and showed good hardness at the ball.

The Magpies did not have a standout, rather having many contributors in the win, as Alexander and Livingstone both booted two majors, while Iilish Ross was impressive with her run and carry out of midfield into attack. Brittany Bonnici‘s attack on the football from half-back, and Nicole Hales‘ work in defence was also admirable. Ruby Schleicher used the ball well by foot in tough conditions, while Emma Grant, Chloe Molloy and Sarah D’Arcy worked hard through midfield.

Southern Saints 5.6 (36) defeated by Melbourne University 6.3 (39)

By: Peter Williams

In a thrilling contest that was never quite over until the final siren, Melbourne University toppled the Southern Saints in chilly conditions at Skybus Stadium in Frankston. The game brought plenty of AFL Women’s recruiters to Frankston, with some of this year’s top prospects battling away for their VFL Women’s sides. Melbourne Uni had all the ascendancy in the first term, booting the only two goals of the quarter, including a pin-point curling on-the-run goal from Calder Cannons star Madison Prespakis who set the tone for the match, right after fellow TAC Cup Girls player Caitlin Greiser had got on the board early. The second term was a tight affair, with both sides slotting a goal and competing relatively well with the blustery conditions. A two goals to one third term gave the Mugars a three-goal advantage heading into the final term and looked to have done enough. But when Ashleigh Allsopp and Tara Bohanna slotted goals, the deficit was less than a kick. Bohanna would have been kicking herself, missing two more gettable chances, as the Mugars’ Imogen Milford made them pay with the visitors only score of the final term – a goal. Bohanna kicked a major in the dying minutes, but great work from Melbourne Uni to hold up play in the final minute and ensure a narrow three-point win. There was some controversy at the end with young gun Courtney Jones going down with an injury in the final seconds of the game and the umpire called time off, but the siren sounded a few seconds later. With reportedly five seconds left on the clock, it mattered little what could have happened and all concern from both teams was with Jones’ injury which eventually saw her limp from the field a promising sign from first glance.

Prespakis was the clear standout once against for the Mugars, finding the ball everywhere and copping knocks left, right and centre and just getting straight back up again. Asha Price was impressive up forward, constantly leading for the football, while the likes of Elizabeth Keaney and Hannah Ibrahim were also named in the best. Captain Ashleigh Riddell lead from the front, while Sophie Abbatangelo and Elyce Hay were also good around the ground.

For the Saints, Rhiannon Watt was massive in the ruck and around the ground, while Bohanna, Kayla Ripari and Gabriella De Angelis formed a dynamic trio up forward, all offering something different to the Saints’ set-up. Eleanor Brown was ultra-impressive with her ability to read the play and chop off a number of passes directed inboard by her opposition. Jones was also good in transition, while Jemma Owen stepped up around the contest and put her body on the line on a number of occasions.