ROUND 11 of the VFL Women’s competition will see a relatively even weekend of gameplay, with little matches being played between sides at opposite ends of the ladder. Richmond will look to bounce back from two losses in a row, while Williamstown once again have an opportunity to jump up off the bottom of the ladder with a win over Carlton. Meanwhile, two high-stakes matches could affect the top end of the ladder, with Collingwood in first taking on Melbourne Uni in fifth while Southern Saints (second) take on Western Bulldogs (fourth).

ESSENDON v. DAREBIN

Round 11 – 20/7/19
12.00
Windy Hill

Essendon may have a game on their hands this week in the round opener, coming up against a hungry Darebin side that fought tooth and nail for a second win last week. Darebin proved they can fight back from a slow start, but will be up against a completely different team in Essendon on their home turf, especially with the Bombers coming into this match off the back of a bye in Round 10. Darebin had a big confidence booster last week with the return of Elise O’Dea, so will hope to put up an equally awe-inspiring performance this round now that they know they have the ability and form to put it into practice. With both sides sitting on equal points in tenth and eleventh on the ladder, a win could mean a fighting chance of jumping Casey in the coming weeks given their questionable form.

COLLINGWOOD v. MELBOURNE UNI

Round 11 – 20/7/19
2.00
Morwell Recreation Reserve

Collingwood will surely be in for a big match this week, when they take on Melbourne Uni after the Muggars got a massive midseason win over the Tigers last round. The Magpies have reaped the reward of their immense pressure and goal-kicking ability this season, blowing sides out of the water but faltering early last round against Williamstown. However Uni have struggled with consistency where the Magpies have found their form with ease and big names across the field who are producing exceptional performances on a regular basis, so it will be an interesting battle to see which team can outlast the other to control the contest. If Uni get a win on the board this week they could leapfrog their way into the top four once more based on results pertaining to the second half of the round. Both Jaimee Lambert and Kate Gillespie-Jones are leading disposals for the season while also leading the goalkicking leaderboard (Lambert, 17 goals) and marks (Gillespie-Jones, averaging 5.5 per game) so there’s a big chance the victors will come from shutting down their opposition’s key ball movers.

NT THUNDER v. CASEY

Round 11 – 20/7/19
5.30
TIO Traeger Stadium

It’s NT Thunder’s final home game of the season this week, facing off against Casey Demons on Saturday following the West Coast Eagles versus Melbourne Demons showdown in the afternoon. While Casey have been horribly out of form in recent weeks, the fight is still there and this round against NT Thunder could be the week for them after Thunder went down to Darebin in Round 10. Thunder have produced some fairly inconsistent performances, getting some massive wins on the board but having a less than impressive track record against lower sides, losing to both Williamstown and Darebin and only beating Carlton by two points in Round 9. The Demons have been unlucky for the most part this season, losing games by an average of 16 points. If Casey can take control early and deny Thunder’s ball magnets possession across the field they could just get their foot over the line for their first win in almost two months. Thunder are looking to bring back some big names for their final home match, meaning the Demons have a big game on their hands.

CARLTON v. WILLIAMSTOWN

Round 11 – 21/7/19
10.30
IKON Park

It’s a battle of the newly formed bottom two, with Carlton taking on the Seagulls to open Sunday’s Round 11 matches. Carlton have had a frustrating season, coming agonisingly close to wins on four occasions and succumbing to a draw in Round 10 against Hawthorn. The Blues have continuously pushed the top teams but have as yet been unlucky to com away with as many defeats as they have. The Seagulls will come into this match ready and raring to go, confident with the knowledge that they have a good chance against Carlton along with the promise they will jump up a spot on the ladder with a second win on the board. Carlton will need a win this week to ensure they stay off the bottom which has been occupied by Williamstown and Darebin for much of the season. To back up the side’s chances they also have the fortune of their many close losses working in their favour on the ladder – if Darebin and Essendon drop their Round 11 matches, a win to Carlton could potentially elevate them to ninth.

HAWTHORN v. RICHMOND

Round 11 – 21/7/19
11.30
Box Hill City Oval

It will be an interesting battle between these two sides, with form suggesting Hawthorn could get a win over the Tigers despite their strength throughout the season. Both sides come into this round off the back of an average few weeks, with Hawthorn slipping down the ladder to eighth after sitting fourth at the end of Round 8, dealt a win and draw in consecutive weeks. Similarly Richmond have had an average few weeks with two losses in a row but still sit in third based on percentage given their impeccable form in the first half of the season. Richmond will surely be a big opposition this round despite their recent weeks, with the side still confident and arguably one of the most challenging teams in the competition. Hawthorn’s 4-4 win-loss record has seen them slip into the lower half of the ladder, but despite their position they are still a dominant force that other sides need to keep in the back of their minds given their firepower and dominant ruckwork.

SOUTHERN SAINTS v. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Round 11 – 21/7/19
3.10
Trevor Barker Beach Oval

The final match of the round will pit second and fourth against each other in a match that could determine early finals chances. Another win on the board to the Dogs could take them back up the ladder to their early season form, while the Saints could overtake Collingwood with a win if the Pies lose. Despite a slow few weeks the Dogs got one back on the board last week to gain some confidence back, while the Saints had a bump in the road with an unprecedented nine point loss to Geelong. The Saints will look to bounce back with big performers last round standing up despite the loss, giving the side plenty to think about this week against a side that has an ability to poke holes in their opposition’s midfield. The home ground advantage will presumably give the Saints a leg up, while the Bulldogs’ inconsistency could really work in Saints’ favour given Southern’s ability to adapt to opposition play. Bulldogs’ Tayla Dinuccio is leading the season tackle count (89, averaging 9.9 per game) with six matches left in the season, so will surely be a key player for the Dogs if she takes the field.

BYE: Geelong