ROUND 11 of the VFL Women’s saw Casey Demons finally break an eight match losing streak with an impressive win over NT Thunder, while Richmond’s current losing streak extended with a third loss in a row. Meanwhile, Collingwood remain at the top of the ladder after a narrow win against Melbourne Uni and Southern Saints continue to stake a claim on the competition after another confident victory.

ESSENDON 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 4.10 (34)
DAREBIN 0.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 4.2 (26)

Essendon: C. McIntosh 2, L. Stepnell, M. Collier.
Darebin: L. Arnell 2, J. D’Amato, S. Simpson.

BEST

Essendon: L. Ahrens, M. Warburton, G. Nanscawen, K. Hicks, S. Audley, E. Hosking
Darebin: L. Arnell, B. Patterson, V. Blackwood, A. Lister, E. Gardner, E. O’Dea

It was a frustrating win for Essendon, who despite getting a third win had clear issues getting on the board. However defensively the side was strong enough to keep Darebin out of the contest, leading to an eight point victory won only by the side’s 10 behinds. While Darebin will be happy with their comeback effort to get back into the contest, their slow start left something to be desired with only one point scored in the first. For Essendon, Georgia Nanscawen was impressive with 21 disposals and eight tackles, while Lauren Ahrens (20 disposals, five marks, seven tackles) and Cecilia McIntosh (two goals) were equally important in the victory. Darebin’s Lauren Pearce put in the hard yards in the ruck with 33 hitouts while Elise O’Dea was solid around the ground with 19 touches. Reni Hicks (13 touches, 13 tackles) and Annalyse Lister (16 touches, 12 tackles) impressed with their defensive tackling pressure, while Lauren Arnell‘s two goals kept the Falcons right in the contest.

COLLINGWOOD 2.0 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.4 (40)
MELBOURNE UNI 2.3 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 5.6 (36)

Collingwood: S. Alexander 2, A. Bild , K. Lee, K. Lynch, S. Chiocci.
Melbourne Uni: A. Riddell, K. Cox, K. Gillespie-Jones, S. Abbatangelo, E. King.

BEST

Collingwood: C. Molloy, G. Buchan, K. Lynch, S. Livingstone, M. Shevlin, S. Chiocci
Melbourne Uni: J. Trend, A. Riddell, J. Bruton, K. Ebb, K. Gillespie-Jones

It was a close contest between the two high-ranking sides on the weekend, with Collingwood prevailing to win by four points after a second half comeback from the Mugars. The first quarter saw Uni sit three points ahead before a goalless second term gave the Magpies a push to lead and dominate every contest. While Uni put in the hard yards defensively in the third to deny the Pies a goal, they still trailed by five heading into the final term. With both teams putting two goals on the board in the last it seemed like Uni had the ability to get the job done, however the Magpies held on well. Uni’s Ashleigh Riddell, Jasmine Garner and Jenna Bruton were solid across the field collecting plenty of ball and amassing a combined 76 disposals and 22 tackles while Riddell also got a goal on the board. Kate Gillespie-Jones had a quiet game compared to her usual lofty standards given the shared effort across the field, collecting 15 touches, 12 tackles and a goal, able to settle with the rest of the side contributing well. For the Magpies, Steph Chiocci lead the charge with 23 touches and a goal to her name, while Sophie Alexander booted two for the second week in a row and Grace Buchan racked up eight tackles from 10 touches.

NT THUNDER 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 (20)
CASEY DEMONS 3.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 13.7 (85)

NT Thunder: A. Hatchard 2, S. Thompson.
Casey: D. Wearne 3, E. Zanker 3, K. Hore 2, C. Sherriff, B. Jakobsson, H. Cordner, N. Webber, G. Howes.

BEST

NT Thunder: A. Hatchard, L. Jeffrey, D. Cox, K. Duggan, L. Roberts, K. Streader
Casey: T. Hanks, K. Smith, R. Clayton, H. Bailey, S. Heath

Casey Demons finally got a win back on the board for the season, getting a convincing 65 point victory over Thunder. It was a massive four goal second and final quarter effort that got the side over the line, with Thunder unable to take control of any aspect of the match as the Demons ran rampant across the field. The Demons had plenty of ball from the get-go, sharing around possession and finding options with ease to head downfield. For the home side, Anne Hatchard was her usual impressive self with 31 disposals, 10 marks, eight tackles and two goals as arguably Thunder’s best, leading most of the side’s stats. Jordann Hickey and Lisa Roberts combined for 27 touches, five marks and 12 tackles in an altogether lack lustre performance by Thunder. For Casey, Eden Zanker (20 disposals, eight marks) and Danielle Wearne (nine disposals) kicked three goals apiece, aided by Kate Hore‘s two goals and singles to five other players. Libby Birch (22 disposals, eight marks, three tackles) and Lily Mithen (21 disposals, five marks, three tackles) shared plenty of the ball.

CARLTON 2.2 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 9.5 (59)
WILLIAMSTOWN 0.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.2 (26)

Carlton: J. Hosking 3, C. Dalton 2, B. Gurr, M. Prespakis, S. Cubasch, N. Stevens.
Williamstown: S. Whiting, M. Hope, J. Kawa, G. Anderson.

BEST

Carlton: S. Wright, S. Hosking, A. Prins, E. Woods, N. Plane, J. Nelson
Williamstown: D. Pedersen, M. Williamson, E. Straford, R. Tripodi, I. Porter, A. Melnikas

Carlton finally got their second win on the board after weeks of close margins, securing a solid 33 point victory over the Seagulls. It was a confident start and finish for the Blues, who started well with two goals to nil on the board in the first before running away with it in the last quarter with five goals to one to secure the win. The Seagulls will be rueing missed opportunities, while their defensive efforts left something to be desired as the Blues took control and did not look back. Jess Hosking (11 disposals, four tackles, three goals) and Chloe Dalton (16 disposals, four marks, two goals) impressed for the Blues, while the likes of Nicola Stevens (19 disposals, five marks, four tackles, one goal) and Maddy Prespakis (13 disposals, six tackles, one goal) held up well against the Seagulls. For Williamstown, Danica Pederson (17 disposals, six marks, six tackles) stuck it out, while Sharnie Whiting and Mo Hope combined for 35 disposals and kicked a goal apiece.

HAWTHORN 2.1 | 4.4 | 6.6 | 7.9 (51)
RICHMOND 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 (38)

Hawthorn: P. McWilliams 4, R. Dillon 2, S. Perkins.
Richmond: S. Frederick 2, C. Wakefield, A. Makur Chuot, G. Egan, G. Seymour.

BEST

Hawthorn: P. McWilliams, R. Beeson, R. Dillon, C. Dyett, G. Bevan, S. Perkins
Richmond: S. Frederick, R. Miller, G. Egan, G. Campbell, M. Brancatisano, G. Seymour

While Hawthorn got another big win on the board, it was a different story for Richmond who look a completely different side to their early season form. While it was an even contest through the first quarter, Hawthorn took control in the second and refused to let it go. They maintained their lead through the middle of the match before winning by 13 points despite a final quarter fight back from the Tigers. The Tigers are fortunate to still sit high on the ladder, with three losses in a row keeping them in third on the ladder based on percentage alone. Bec Beeson collected 35 touches, six marks and six tackles while Phoebe McWilliams was a dominant target with four goals from 17 disposals and five marks while Rosie Dillon had 19 disposals, seven tackles and two goals. Sabrina Frederick kicked two goals from 12 touches in her third match in yellow and black while Grace Egan (17 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Grace Campbell (16 disposals, 10 tackles) also made their mark on the game.

SOUTHERN SAINTS 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 5.6 (36)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 3.3 (21)

Southern Saints: C. Greiser 3, T. Bohanna, A. Brown.
Western Bulldogs: M. Ward, C. Moody, E. Blackburn.

BEST

Southern Saints: C. Greiser, S. Johnson, D. Guttridge, K. Shierlaw, C. Fitzpatrick, R. Watt
Western Bulldogs: K. McLeod, B. Hunt, K. Lamb, N. Ferres, V. Laloifi, M. Ward

The Bulldogs will be rueing a missed opportunity to jump into third with this loss, going down to premiership contenders, Southern Saints by 15 points after a slow start all but gifted the Saints an easy victory. The Saints were clinical from the start, much cleaner with the ball than their opposition to deny them easy ball and keep the Dogs off the board in the first. Despite not being able to drag out the margin, the Saints kept drilling the ball forward to stay in the lead and hold on for an all important win heading into the final stretch. For the Dogs, Kirsty Lamb (24 disposals, five marks, seven tackles) and Ellie Blackburn (20 disposals, one goal) were among the best on field while Celine Moody held her own in the ruck with 17 hitouts and a goal. For the Saints, Tilly Lucas-Rodd was up to her usual tricks collecting 24 disposals and three marks, closely followed by Allison Drennan with 19 disposals and seven tackles while Caitlin Greiser kicked three goals from 14 touches.