THOUGH dominating their respective matches, Fremantle, North Melbourne and Carlton only had two players in the Draft Central AFL Women’s Round 6 Team of the Week. With the competition heating up, we also saw two players apiece from Geelong and Collingwood stand up in heavy losses. Losing side Western Bulldogs managed four players after a strong match against Melbourne, despite not getting the four points. Meanwhile the Dees had three players who stood out this week, alongside ladder leaders, Adelaide and the struggling Brisbane Lions. GWS GIANTS had another average week, with only one player selected for the Round 6 Team of the Week.

Four players were awarded a perfect 10 by the coaches this week, with Fremantle’s Kiara Bowers (16 disposals, 19 tackles, eight clearances), Melbourne’s Karen Paxman (24 disposals, seven tackles, one goal, eight clearances), Adelaide’s Erin Phillips (24 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Carlton’s Madison Prespakis (27 disposals, two tackles, six clearances) acknowledged for their dominance across the field.

Melbourne’s reliable midfield, led by Elise O’Dea (21 disposals, eight tackles) and Paxman, playing off half-back, got them over the line once again this week as the Dees narrowly escaped a loss to the Western Bulldogs. The Dogs took control of the match after quarter time, as told by the dominance of key players the likes of Ellie Blackburn (22 disposals, four marks), Monique Conti (20 disposals, seven tackles, one goal) and Kirsty Lamb (15 disposals, 10 tackles, five marks).

Full-back sees defenders, Kate Lutkins, Hannah Scott and Harriet Cordner get the recognition this week. Bulldogs defender, Scott (18 disposals, nine rebounds), and Brisbane’s Lutkins (20 disposals, seven tackles, five marks, eight rebounds) showed their strength in the backline. Though not strong on paper, Melbourne’s Cordner stood out in defence, playing a significant role in keeping the Dees in possession of the footy in the dying moments of the match.

Geelong had two players make the side this week, despite a big loss to Fremantle earlier in the round, with ruck, Erin Hoare (32 hitouts, three tackles, seven disposals) and half-back, Meghan McDonald (22 disposals, two tackles, six rebound 50s) getting the call up. Collingwood’s Britt Bonnici (21 disposals, 10 tackles) and Jaimee Lambert (20 disposals, eight tackles, seven marks) also showed their work ethic this week, while Ebony Marinoff (24 disposals, 10 tackles, eight clearances) made the cut once again this week, a familiar face to the team of the week.

Full forward sees a trio of multiple goal kickers, with Stevie-Lee Thompson managing three goals to go with her 12 disposals, while Jasmine Garner and Brooke Walker both managed two goals and 13 and 12 disposals respectively. Garner also made four tackles and Walker took four marks.

This week’s interchange could have been made up of a number of players, but Ellie Brush (17 disposals, five marks, five rebound 50s), Jenna Bruton (19 disposals, five clearances), Dana Hooker (18 disposals, 10 tackles), Alexandra Anderson (20 disposals, six tackles), Nat Exon (17 disposals, nine tackles, four rebound 50s) and Kirsty Lamb all showed their necessity in the side. Brush marks the GIANTS’ only player to make the side this week.