THE penultimate round of the Victorian Football League (VFL) Women’s competition saw several sides ruled out of finals contention, and just two sides set to fight it out in separate Round 14 matches to determine the last finals spot.

HAWTHORN 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 4.2 (26)
GEELONG 1.5 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 4.8 (32)

Geelong Cats threw the gauntlet down to Port Melbourne with a hard-fought win over a plucky Hawthorn to put themselves in best position for a top two spot ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with Collingwood in the final week. The Cats looked to be on top early, but could not split the big sticks, slotting just one goal from six scoring shots in the opening term. They found their range after that to slot 3.1 over the next two quarters, but a three goals to one second half in favour of the home team had the Hawks come within a whisker of victory. It was not to be however as Geelong held on to win by six points, 4.8 (32) to 4.2 (26). The Geelong AFLW midfielders in Laura Gardiner (33 disposals, three marks, four tackles and a goal), Darcy Moloney (29 disposals, eight tackles and a goal) and Renee Garing (20 disposals, three marks and 10 tackles) all had big days out, while Jess Foley was named best-on for 16 touches, seven marks and three tackles. Annabel Johnson, Madeleine Boyd and Olivia Fuller were also named among the Cats best in the victory. For the Hawks, plenty of the young brigade stood up, with Eastern Ranges’ Isabelle Khoury named best-on for her 12 disposals and eight tackles, with Gippsland Power’s Grace McRae (12 disposals, four tackles) also among the best. In her penultimate game, Meg Hutchins led from the front with 20 disposals, four marks and six tackles, while Tamara Luke had 33 hitouts to go with 13 disposals, three marks and five tackles. Sarah Perkins slotted two goals, and Dominique Carbone and Jenna Richardson were also named amongst the best in the loss.

GOALS:

Hawthorn: S. Perkins 2, D. Carbone, E. Chaston.
Geelong: L. Gardiner, D. Moloney, P. Sheppard, J. Woollett.

BEST:

Hawthorn: I. Khoury, T. Luke, D. Carbone, J. Richardson, K. Hay, G. McRae
Geelong: J. Foley, M. Boyd, A. Johnson, O. Fuller, R. Garing, L. Gardiner

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COLLINGWOOD 2.1 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 11.6 (72)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 (8)

Collingwood has put a massive dint in the Western Bulldogs’ finals chances after a dominant 64-point thrashing at the Holden Centre on Saturday. The Bulldogs had patches where they contained the Magpies and even held possession in their forward half for long periods of time, but the ease with which the Magpies scored on transition – particularly after the Bulldogs had all the momentum – drove a dagger into red, white and blue hearts. Collingwood slotted five final quarter goals which ultimately saw them run out more than 10-goal winners, but the result was done and dusted by the final break, answering every challenge thrown at them, and then storming to a big win. Imogen Barnett did her AFLW Draft chances no harm with three first half goals to go with eight touches, five marks and passing off a couple of chances too. She teamed up well with Joanna Lin who won it all over the ground but slotted two goals from 12 touches and five marks. The Magpies had eight individual goalkicker in the big win, as Mikayla Cann (25 disposals, three marks and four tackles), Ebony O’Dea (18 disposals, two marks, four tackles and a goal) and Alana Porter (14 disposals) showed their AFLW experience. Matilda Zander was terrific in the black and white with 17 touches, four marks, four tackles and a goal, whilst Stella Reid made a promising VFLW debut with 13 disposals and two marks rotating between defence and midfield. For the Bulldogs, Sarah Hartwig (17 disposals, five marks) and Danielle Marshall (13 disposals, six marks and three tackles) did well out of defence, while Britney Gutknecht (13 disposals, two marks and seven tackles), Jess Fitzgerald (12 disposals, three tackles) and Isabelle Pritchard (13 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and one goal) found their fair share of the pill in the loss.

GOALS:

Collingwood: I. Barnett 3, J. Lin 2, C. Bunker, A. Newman, E. O’Dea, G. Ricardo, A. Velardo, M. Zanker.
Western Bulldogs: I. Pritchard.

BEST:

Collingwood: I. Barnett, A. Newman, E. O”Dea, M. Cann, M. Zander, S. Reid
Western Bulldogs: B. Gutknecht, J. Fitzgerald, A. Strahan, I. Pritchard, D. Marshall, S. Hartwig

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WILLIAMSTOWN 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 (14)
ESSENDON 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 4.11 (35)

Essendon has booked its finals spot with a strong second half performance to see off a determined Williamstown. The Bombers only led by two points at quarter time and five points at the main break, but then had seven scoring shots (2.5) to one (0.1) to run out 4.11 (35) to 2.2 (14). Mia-Rae Clifford was the only multiple goal scorer in the match with a couple of majors, as Zali Friswell and Ruby Svarc both slotted one apiece. Georgia Nanscawen (20 disposals, 14 tackles) lead the way, with Courtney Ugle (18 disposals, two marks and four tackles) and Alana Barba (17 disposals, two marks and 11 tackles) both lively. Emelia Yassir impressed from the teenage talents with 13 disposals and seven tackles, while Tara Slender had six disposals, two marks and three tackles on debut. Eloise-Ashley Cooper, Cecilia McIntosh and Jessie Davies were also among the Bombers’ best in the win. Paige Naish was best-on for the Seagulls, booting a goal from 12 touches and two marks, while Ashlea Melnikas (14 disposals) and Lana King (12 disposals, two marks and 14 hitouts) were also amongst the best for the losers. In terms of top ball-winners, Erin Meade and Ruby Tripodi both finished with the 22 touches, while Aimee Whelan (19 touches, eight tackles) was also impressive.

GOALS:

Williamstown: P. Nash, E. Fox.
Essendon: M. Clifford 2, Z. Friswell, R. Svarc.

BEST:

Williamstown: P. Nash, A. Melnikas, L. King, S. Dunell, G. Biedenweg-Webster, R. Tripodi.
Essendon: A. Barba, C. Ugle, J. Davies, C. McIntosh, E. Ashley-Cooper, R. Svarc

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CASEY DEMONS 3.3 | 4.3 | 7.4 | 9.6 (60)
DAREBIN 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 (7)

Casey Demons locked up their finals place in emphatic style with a 53-point victory over last placed Darebin Falcons at home. The Demons had control at the main break with a 20-point lead, but a dominant 5.3 to 0.0 second half saw them run out big winners, 9.6 (60) to 1.1 (7). Imogen Milford kicked a couple of goals to keep in touch with Barnett at the top of the goalkicking leaderboard, whilst Jacqueline Parry also snagged a couple of majors as part of seven individual goalkickers. Meg Macdonald was named best afield for her 16 touches, three marks and three tackles for the Demons, as Eliza McNamara (22 disposals, three marks, three tackles and a goal), Eliza West (22 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and a goal) and Megan Fitzsimon (21 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and a goal) all impressed with big numbers and hitting the scoreboard. Kate Gillespie-Jones and Winnie Laing contributed in their first run for the Demons. For the Falcons, Northern Knights duo Trinity Mills (11 disposals, five marks and four tackles) and Mikayla Plunkett (10 disposals, two marks and eight tackles) were named as the best, whilst the experience of Nicole Callinan (17 disposals, five marks and three tackles) and Alyssa Mifsud (14 disposals, three tackles and five hitouts) shone through. Gena Lawson-Tavan (13 disposals, three marks and five tackles) was also solid in defence, whilst Lucy Schneider topped the match for disposals, with 23 as well as eight marks.

GOALS:

Casey: I. Milford 2, J. Parry 2, E. West, M. Fitzsimon, K. Gillespie-Jones, G. Colvin, E. McNamara.
Darebin: R. Hibbert.

BEST:

Casey: M. Macdonald, E. McNamara, M. Hogg, G. Colvin, A. Brown, K. Gillespie-Jones
Darebin: T. Mills, M. Plunkett, G. Lawson-Tavan, K. McNiece, K. Roe, N. Callinan

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CARLTON 1.0 | 1.2 | 6.5 | 6.5 (41)
SOUTHERN SAINTS 2.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 7.5 (47)

Southern Saints have held off a fast-finishing Carlton side to kick away in the last term and give themselves pole position for a finals spot. The Saints needed a win to realistically have the best chance of making finals, and they did just that, pouncing on the Bulldogs’ loss to the Magpies to defeat the Blues by a goal and all but end the Blues’ chances. After the visitors booted four goals to one in the first half, Carlton slotted five goals in the third term to roar to a 14-point lead with a term to play. Just as the points looked to be headed the Blues’ way, the Saints kicked into gear in the final term, booting 3.2 to 0.0 to run over the top of the home team and win, 7.5 (47) to 6.5 (41). The AFL Women’s trio of Tyanna Smith (22 disposals, eight marks, six tackles and two goals), Alice Burke (18 disposals, four marks and eight tackles) and Jess Matin ( eight disposals, three marks, four tackles and two goals) wrecked havoc on the Blues, whilst Deanna Jolliffe (19 disposals, five marks and 12 tackles), Madison Capalis and Gabi De Angelis were also among the better players for the red, white and black. Lucy McEvoy was outstanding for the Blues with a team-high 21 disposals and seven tackles to lead the way for the home team, whilst Bry Gurr (15 disposals, three tackles) and Paige Trudgeon (14 disposals, four marks and seven tackles) were next best, and both Steph Lawrence and Jennifer Lew had 14 disposals, two marks and slotted two goals. Northern Knights’ Maeve Chaplin also played her best VFLW game with 10 touches and five tackles.

GOALS:

Carlton: J. Lew 2, S. Lawrence 2, M. Wilson, E. Wood.
Southern Saints: J. Matin 2, T. Smith 2, T. Bohanna, A. Peck, K. Ripari

BEST:

Carlton: L. McEvoy, P. Trudgeon, E. Honybun, A. Klingbeil, M. Chaplin, B. Gurr
Southern Saints: A. Burke, T. Smith, M. Capsalis, J. Matin, G. De Angelis, F. Hocking

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PORT MELBOURNE 1.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 8.7 (55)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 (12)

In the final match of the round, Port Melbourne snuffed out North Melbourne’s chances of making finals with a dominant 43-point win at ETU Stadium yesterday. At the same time, the Borough kept their hopes alive of finishing inside the top two and getting a double chance to take on Collingwood in the first week of finals, thanks to a five goals to zero final term. It was neck-and-neck for the most part, with the Roos understrength due to border restrictions and therefore missing a host of Tasmanian talents, but North kept the fight up for three quarter to be within 10 points at the final break, before the home team kicked away win the last with 5.1 to 0.0, to win 8.7 (55) to 2.0 (12). Sarah D’Arcy was sensational up forward with two goals from 17 disposals, seven marks and nine tackles, as Alice Edmonds (14 disposals, four marks, two tackles and 33 hitouts) and Claire Dyett (15 disposals, three marks, seven tackles and one goal) also impressed. On VFLW debut, Ellie McKenzie (14 disposals, four marks) and Brooke Vickers (13 disposals, two marks) both stood out, while Amanda Ling kicked a goal from 10 touches, three marks and four tackles, and Ash Richards had 11 disposals, four marks and a goal. For North, Meagan Kiely led from the front yet again with a ridiculous 34 disposals, seven marks and six tackles, matched by Airlie Runnalls who also had 34 touches, as well as eight marks and two tackles, Molly Eastman (27 disposals, seven marks) and Reni Hicks (22 disposals, three marks and 16 tackles) were ball magnets, while Alexia Hamilton (13 disposals, four marks, eight tackles and 12 hitous) and Laura Wright (seven disposals, four marks, two tackles and two goals) did their part for the Roos.

GOALS:

Port Melbourne: S D’Arcy 2, C. Dyett, A. Edmonds, A. Ling, L. McClelland, A. Richards, E. Wilson.
North Melbourne: L. Wright 2.

BEST:

Port Melbourne: A. Edmonds, C. Dyett, S. D’Arcy, B. Vickers, C. Bromage, O. Barton
North Melbourne: M. Kiely, R. Hicks, A. Hamilton, A. Runnalls, L. Wright, M. Eastman