THE Victorian Football League (VFL) Women’s Round 11 saw plenty of tight results including a draw between the bottom two sides, and the Western Bulldogs kept their finals hopes alive.

SOUTHERN SAINTS 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 5.5 (35)
GEELONG CATS 0.2 | 1.10 | 1.10 | 6.10 (46)

GOALS:

Southern Saints: G. De Angelis 2, C. Whitfort, T. Bohanna, A. Jordan
Geelong Cats: R. Cranston 2, O. Barber, A. Johnson, G. Clarke, C. Gunjaca

BESTS:

Southern Saints: M. McDonald, G. De Angelis, A. Hynes, H. Stuart, T. Bohanna, A. Burke
Geelong Cats: T. Smith, S. Van De Heuvel, C. Leonard, B. Beckley, R. Webster, P. Sheppard

Geelong notched up a handy 11-point win over Southern Saints on Saturday to hold onto second spot on the ladder. Despite a slow and inaccurate start to the game Geelong worked their way back into the contest to hit the lead in the second quarter given that they peppered away at the big sticks for majority of the term. But the Saints hit back in the third, revitalised after the half time break to pile on two goals while rendering Geelong scoreless. With the game in the hands of the Southern Saints it was the Cats’ time to shine and that they did piling on five goals in the final quarter. It was the first time in the game that Geelong scored multiple games with the visitors riding a real wave of momentum in the last to steal a come-from-behind win.

Laura Gardiner was a ball magnet picking up 26 disposals for the Cats while partner in crime Rebecca Webster was also impressive amassing 25 touches and a staggering 12 tackles. AFLW gun, Darcy Moloney was strong around the contest finishing with 18 touches as both Sophie Van De Huevel and Tamara Smith struggled to hit the scoreboard with two and three behinds respectively but found plenty of the footy. Richelle Cranston spurred her side on inside 50 with two majors as Georgia Clarke also got busy with a goal of her own to accompany her 11 possessions. Father-daughter youngster Alice Burke was arguably one of the best on-field for the Saints picking up 20 touches as Molly McDonald also inserted herself in the thick of things with 18 disposals. Tara Bohanna, Gabriella De Agelis and Abbey Jordan managed to keep things ticking along nicely on the scoreboard for the Saints with the trio all kicking a major apiece.

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CASEY DEMONS 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 (25)
CARLTON 0.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 8.3 (51)

GOALS:

Casey Demons: C. Sherriff 2, I. Simmons
Carlton: B. Walker 3, M. Guerin, A. Micallef, S. Lawrence, O. Madden, C. Hammans

BESTS:

Casey Demons: C. Sherriff, E. Birch, E. McNamara, S. Johnson, A. Brown, M. Macdonald
Carlton:  M. Guerin, S. Lawrence, J. Borg, B. Walker, N. Plane, L. McEvoy

Carlton flexed their muscles in an impressive display against Casey Demons to run out 26-point victors. The Demons blew Carlton out of the water in the opening term nailing three goals and really could have put them to the sword had they been more accurate. But their inability to convert in front of the big sticks cost them in the end as Carlton fought their way back into the contest. The Blues slotted three goals in the second term however Casey still had the upper hand albeit by two points. But the real damage came in the final term as Carlton found their kicking boots, stacking on five goals to run out victorious.

Lucy McEvoy was a force to be reckoned with for the Blues as she racked up 25 disposals with 17 of them kicks along with seven tackles. Maddy Guerin also had a day out picking up 22 touches and a goal while Natalie Plane also made her presence felt for the navy blue amassing 19 touches. Brooke Walker could not be denied inside 50 for Carlton as she nailed a handy three goals while Charlotte Hammans hit the scoreboard as Amber Micallef slotted her first major. Eliza McNamara was influential across the ground for Casey collecting 20 disposals and five tackles. Teammate Libby Birch was also up to her usual tricks amassing 19 touches as Megan Fitzsimon plied her trade with 17 touches and 11 tackles. Casey Sherriff brought her kicking boots for Casey as she banged home two majors while Isabella Simmons also chimed in with a goal of her own in the loss.

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PORT MELBOURNE 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 (10)
COLLINGWOOD 0.2 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 8.4 (52)

GOALS:

Port Melbourne: M. Kuys
Collingwood: I. Barnett 4, M. Zander 2, H. Bowey, C. Bunker

BESTS:

Port Melbourne: J. Anthony, C. Dyett, A. Edmonds, K. Jacques, S. Sansonetti, C. Bromage
Collingwood: K. Lee, M. Cann, I. Barnett, H. Bowey, J. Lambert, C. Bunker

Collingwood made light work of Port Melbourne running over the top of their third placed opponents by 42 points. Neither side could buy a goal in the opening quarter as Collingwood could only manage two points while Port Melbourne were rendered scoreless. Things started to heat up a little bit more by the time second quarter came around as the Pies booted two unanswered goals to hold a 14-point lead heading into the main change. Having been held scoreless for the opening half the Borough finally got onto the board albeit with a behind. In the meantime Collingwood continued to motor as they added another three goals to their tally. With the game all but won and done the Magpies put the final nail in the coffin slotting another three goals and while Port Melbourne got their first on the board it was too little, too late.

There was no stopping Imogen Barnett who proved to be a handy option inside 50 for the Pies, snaring four goals from her 11 touches. Hot on her heels was Matilda Zander who was also influential in front of the big sticks nailing two majors while Hannah Bowey also effectively added to the total. It is no surprise that Jaimee Lambert was a force to be reckoned with for Collingwood picking up a game-high 26 disposals as she received support from the likes of Mikala Cann (25 touches) and Maddy Shevlin (17) to keep the Pies ticking along nicely through the midfield. Marla Neal was a tackling machine laying 13 for the match as Amelia Verlado showcased her strong hands to clunk five marks to accompany her 16 touches. Sophie Molan worked gallantly in her sides defeat accumulating 18 possessions as Kodi Jacques also dug deep to rack up 16 touches and six tackles. Melissa Kuys was the lone goalkicker for the Borough and also got her hands dirty thanks to her nine touches.

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WILLIAMSTOWN 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.10 (16)
DAREBIN 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 (16)

GOALS:

Williamstown: R. Tripodi.
Darebin: T. Mills, S. Simpson.

BEST:

Williamstown: L. Steane, A. Whelan, J. Doyle, E. Straford, L. Suleiman, A. Melnikas
Darebin: S. David, K. Roe, T. Mills, K. Hazlett, J. Dal Pos, A. Lister

Williamstown and Darebin Falcons have played out the first draw of the VFL Women’s season in a low-scoring tight tussle. Only one goal was kicked in the first three quarters as the Seagulls kicked nine consecutive behinds in that period before finally getting a last quarter major. Darebin also kicked their second goal in the final term, with both teams level on 16 points apiece.

Lisa Steane had 30 disposals as a clear standout for the Seagulls, with young gun Sydney Swans Academy member Jess Doyle collecting the 15 touches and laying three tackles. Aimee Whelan (13 disposals, two marks and three tackles) was also named amongst the best, whilst Ruby Tripodi, Erin Todd and Emily Pease also stood out. For Darebin, Jess Dal Pos had a team-high 19 touches and 15 tackles, whilst Annalyse Lister finished with 16 and 13. Samara David clunked four marks and laid nine tackles to go with 15 touches, whilst Sidney Cubasch, Kathleen Roe and Katelyn Hazlett also stood out. Northern Knights debutant Trinity Mills kicked a goal in the match.

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ESSENDON 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.4 (10)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.1 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:

Essendon: M. Clifford.
Western Bulldogs: E. Friend 2, A. Scott, I. Grant.

BEST:

Essendon: E. Ashley-Cooper, M. Clifford, A. Morcom, Z. Friswell, A. Barba, E. Yassir
Western Bulldogs: S. Ruedin, A. Tessari, E. Georgostathis, N. Dojiok, A. Gogos , I. Pritchard

The Western Bulldogs kept their finals hopes alive with an 18-point triumph over Essendon at the aptly-named Windy Hill. The conditions were not suited to clean possessions, and it was the Dogs who made the most of it, restricting the Bombers to just three behinds in the first three quarters to lead by 24 points at the final break, then Mia-Rae Clifford booted the final goal of the match to cut the deficit to a straight three goals at full-time.

Simone Ruedin (eight disposals, 21 hitouts) and Amanda Tessari (13 disposals, 24 hitouts) took control in the ruck, whilst young guns Ella Friend kicked two goals and Nyakoat Dojiok was lively in defence, intercepting everything that came her way. Jess Fitzgerald (22 disposals, nine tackles) and Angelica Gogos (22 disposals, 11 tackles) were the busiest ball-winners for the Dogs. For Essendon, midfielder Georgia Nanscawen stood up with 20 touches and four tackles, while Eloise Ashley-Cooper (16 disposals, three marks and seven tackles and Clifford (12 disposals, three tackles, one goal) also impressed. The young combination of Zali Friswell and Emelia Yassir were also named amongst the best in the loss.

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HAWTHORN 2.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.2 (26)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 4.10 (34)

GOALS:

Hawthorn: P. McWilliams 2, J. Williams, E. Chaston.
North Melbourne: B. Slaney, A. Hamilton, A. Smith, L. Wright.

BEST:

Hawthorn: G. McRae, K. Cox, T. Luke, C. Perera, E. Chaston, M. Hutchins
North Melbourne: A. Hamilton, R. Hicks, S. Skinner, M. Kiely, D. Bannister, M. Eastman

North Melbourne has knocked off Hawthorn at Box Hill after kicking the only two goals in the second half. The Kangaroos kicked away with 14 scoring shots to six, as Phoebe McWilliams slotted two goals for the Hawks, but the shared load at the Roos got them home. Hawthorn looked to be on top at half-time, but North Melbourne refused to give in and eventually took home the points on the road.

Meagan Kiely had 25 disposals, five marks and six tackles in another big effort, sharing the load with Molly Eastman (22 disposals, four marks and six tackles) and Sarah Skinner (19 disposals, six marks and three tackles) for the Roos. Daria Bannister (18 disposals, nine tackles) and Alexia Hamilton (16 disposals, four marks, five tackles and 14 hitouts) were others who found plenty of the ball with Reni Hicks (15 disposals, eight tackles) also named amongst the best.

Tamara Luke racked up 43 hitouts from 18 touches, seven marks and two tackles, whilst AFLW Draft hopeful Grace McRae with six disposals and seven tackles was named the Hawks’ best. Jenna Richardson (15 disposals, six marks), Meg Hutchins (12 disposals, two marks) and Eloise Chaston (six touches, four marks and one goal) were also strong in the match, Ex-Roo Katelyn Cox stood out against her former side, with Chantella Perera returning to the brown and gold from out west and was named amongst the best.