WITH all but one Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW) team playing over the weekend, Round 2 saw some big clashes and high scoring matches across the board.

CASEY DEMONS 1.1 | 3.5 | 6.6 | 7.8 (50)
CARLTON 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.7 (19)

Casey: M. Guerin 2, K. Oates, T. Tatterson, K. Smith, R. Clayton, B. Winbanks
Carlton: C. Leighton, C. Bromage

BEST

Casey: K. Bentvelzen, M. Hogg, R. Clayton, K. Smith, H. Bailey, E. Archer
Carlton: S. Mason, N. Plane, M. Clifford, C. Faulks, S. Wright, J. Hosking

Despite an even start to Carlton’s first match for 2019, Casey got the job done for their second win of the season, pulling off a spectacular 31 point victory to sit in second on the ladder. With dependable ball movers, Sarah Lampard (20 disposals) and Bianca Jakobsson (18) sharing the ball around, there was no shortage of inside 50 entries for the Demons with the likes of Maddy Guerin and Ruby Clayton on the end of some good kicks in front of goal. Guerin had another stellar match to kickstart her season, kicking two goals and picking up 16 touches and four tackles, while Clayton was solid kicking one goal from 14 touches, but missed three attempts on goal as the Dees peppered the goal square. With six individual goalkickers Casey will not yet be worried by inaccuracy, instead likely happy with the amount of opportunities for players in front of goal. For Carlton, Natalie Plane (22 disposals, nine tackles) and Abbie McKay (19 touches, seven tackles) stood up while Chloe Leighton and Courteney Bromage kicked one goal apiece.

GEELONG 3.1 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 7.2 (44)
ESSENDON 0.2 | 2.5 | 4.8 | 5.9 (39)

GOALS
Geelong: K. Darby 4, R. Benham, J. Ivey, C. Blakeway
Essendon: A. Moreen 2, F. Puruntatameri, L. Stepnell, A. Anderson

BEST
Geelong: J. Ivey, R. Caris, M. Boyd, R. Goring, C. Blakeway, M. Keryk
Essendon: H. Bullas, L. Stepnell, M. Fogas, S. Nalder, K. Hicks, F. Puruntatameri

The tight match between Geelong and Essendon was a close one from start to finish as Essendon put the pressure on but failed to capitalise to their full capacity in front of goal. Geelong’s Amy Mcdonald racked up 18 disposals and seven tackles in the tight clash, while Kate Darby was exceptional in front of goal, kicking 4 majors and one behind as Geelong ran away with the match. Bombers’ Arthurina Moreen kicked two goals of her own to give Essendon a leg-up, while Hayley Bullas was among the best for her side as she managed 21 touches and 10 tackles. Maighan Fogas and Maddy Collier weren’t far behind as they generated pressure on ball carriers across the field, picking up nine and eight tackles respectively, while Geelong’s Madisen Maguire (eight tackles) and Mcdonald (seven) were also solid as they forced turnovers.

COLLINGWOOD 3.0 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 8.6 (54)
HAWTHORN 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 4.2 (26)

Collingwood: J. Lambert 2, K. Newton, K. Lynch, P. Nash, A. Curley, M. Shevlin, J. Allen
Hawthorn: E. Gilder 3, C. Perera

BEST

Collingwood: G. Gourlay, R. Schleicher, S. King, J. Allen, J. Ferguson, J. Lambert
Hawthorn: C. Perera, R. Dillon, M. Hutchins, P. Peschke, K. Henderson, A. Tanner

Collingwood bounced back from an average Round 1 effort as they dominate against the Hawks, holding the side to only two goals across the first three quarters before the opposition came back to win the final quarter. Unfortunately it was a fight back that came about far too late, as the Pies’ six straight goals in the first half all but proves. Mikala Cann and Jaimee Lambert led the way for the Magpies, collecting a combined 38 touches and 18 tackles while Lambert also found the big sticks with two goals to her name. Meg Hutchins (20 disposals, five marks) and Kara Henderson (16 and four tackles) were solid for the Hawks, while Emily Gilder kicked three of the Hawks’ four goals in a bid to keep her side in the match. Abbey Tanner dominated the ruck with 34 hitouts, however Collingwood’s Sarah King put up a tough fight with 21 and six tackles.

NT THUNDER 1.0 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 7.4 (46)
SOUTHERN SAINTS 1.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.8 (32)

NT Thunder: D. Ponter 2, K. Rosenzweig 2, J. Hickey, J. Baird, A. Considine
Southern Saints: J. Vogt, D. Jolliffe, T. Bohanna, C. Greiser

BEST

NT Thunder: H. Martin, A. Hatchard, M. Roberts, L. Roberts, K. Streader, K. Irvine
Southern Saints: C. Phillips, R. Neaves, O. Vesely, J. Kelly, D. Jolliffe, E. Keaney

Another relatively close affair saw NT Thunder get their second win on the board for 2019, stronger in front of the big sticks than their opposition. The Saints had a solid start to lead by three points at half time, before a fantastic second half from the Thunder blew the Saints out of the water, unable to capitalise on their early lead. Northern Territory’s dominant pairing of Danielle Ponter and Katelyn Rosenzweig combined for four goals, while Ebony Marinoff racked up 23 touches and six tackles in a solid day out. For the Saints, Alison Drennan (28 disposals, five marks, six tackles) Cat Phillips (20) were good on the ball, while Deanna Jolliffe kicked a great goal to be named in the best.

WILLIAMSTOWN 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 (9)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.5 | 2.6 | 7.7 | 8.8 (56)

Williamstown: S. Whiting
Western Bulldogs: M. Ward 4, D. Marshall 2, S. Jolly, M. Sandral

BEST

Williamstown: E. Meade, S. Dixon, R. Dardengo, S. Whiting, A. Shannon, A. Melinkas
Western Bulldogs: B. Toogood, N. Ferres, M. Sandral, M. Ward, K. Betts, N. McMahon

In what was the first match of the 2019 season for both sides, it was a particularly frustrating way to start the season for Williamstown, while the Western Bulldogs will be very happy with their first win for the year. A quiet and inaccurate first half saw the Dogs fail to capitalise in front of goal, however some good composure and game smarts saw the side kick 6.2 in the second half to run away with an easy win, keeping Williamstown to only the one major. In a match that didn’t see many good things for the Seagulls, Sharnie Whiting kicked the side’s only goal, also picking up 12 touches against the immense defensive pressure of the Bulldogs, while Erin Meade finished with only five touches but a solid seven tackles to her name. Dogs’ Mikayla Ward kicked four goals alone, while Danielle Marshall kicked two of her own to add to the tally as the side ran over Williamstown, relegating the Gulls to the bottom of the ladder. The likes of Bonnie Toogood (24 disposals, six marks) and Mary Sandral (14 touches, four tackles, four marks, one goal) were among the Bulldogs’ best.

MELBOURNE UNI 3.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 11.8 (74)
DAREBIN 0.1 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 6.2 (38)

Melbourne Uni: J. Garner 2, K. Angelis 2, A. Price 2, V. Saad, H. Whitford, J. Grierson, A. Riddell, K. Gillespie-Jones
Darebin: G. Hammond 3, S. Simpson, J. Stanton, S. David

BEST

Melbourne Uni: A. Riddell, V. Saad, A. Runnalls, J. Bruton, J. Garner, K. Angelis
Darebin: L. Pearce, G. Colvin, R. Hicks, J. Stanton, E. Honybun, K. Roe

In the highest scoring match of the round, Melbourne Uni ran away with their second win of the season against a slow-starting Falcons outfit. Ash Riddell racked up 30 touches, six marks, nine tackles and a goal to star for Uni, putting on a show alongside the likes of Jasmine Garner (26, two goals, six tackles) and Jenna Bruton (23). Asha Price and Katie Angelis also pitched in on the scoreboard, kicking two apiece as the Muggars shared around the footy inside 50. For Darebin, Lauren Pearce was phenomenal in the ruck dominating with 28 hitouts, also picking up 17 touches. Georgia Hammond kicked three of Darebin’s six goals, while Jamie Stanton (23 disposals, four marks, two tackles and one goal) and Reni Hicks (14 touches, four marks, four tackles) also put in a valiant effort against the classy Uni side.