ROUND 1 of the AFL Women’s season concluded yesterday, with Adelaide, Collingwood and GWS getting up. It meant all nine favourites won their opening games, with the Crows getting up over the Lions at home, Collingwood toppling Carlton, and the GIANTS winning on the road against Gold Coast. Here are how the games went down and some of the talking points.

TALKING POINTS

• Ashleigh Woodland has a day out
• Kate Lutkins suspected ACL, Dakota Davison also injured
• Crows run out the game stronger
• Orla O’Dwyer the running machine
• Hatchard and Marinoff show rolls on

Adelaide produced a strong performance to run away from Brisbane in a Grand Final rematch at Flinders University Stadium. In what was a costly day for the Lions, the Crows kept the reigning premiers to just one goal whilst piling on six themselves. Four of those majors came after half-time – including three in the final term – as Ashleigh Woodland nailed three consecutive majors in the middle of the match and finished with four in a best-on performance. Whilst Woodland was kicking goals, ball-winners Anne Hatchard (26 disposals, seven tackles and four rebound 50s) and Ebony Marinoff (23 disposals, four marks and four clearances) were finding plenty of the ball). Eloise Jones (16 disposals, six marks and five inside 50s) and Sarah Allan (12 disposals, seven rebound 50s) stood tall up either end.

Compounding the loss for the Lions was the suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to star defender Kate Lutkins, whilst up the other end leading goalkicker Dakota Davidson was also taken from the field. Of the few positives to take from the match, Orla O’Dwyer had a day out with 21 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles and five inside 50s, with a whopping 448 metres gained. She recorded almost 100m more than anyone else on the field, with Jade Ellenger (16 disposals, three marks, three clearances and 367 metres gained) the other standout. On debut in Lions colours, ex-Tiger and GIANT Phoebe Monahan had 10 disposals, three marks and two rebound 50s.

In Round 2, Adelaide takes on North Melbourne at Norwood Oval next Sunday, whilst Brisbane host Carlton in Maroochydore on Saturday.

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TALKING POINTS

• Blues’ costly 50m penalties (three)
• Bri Davey potential ACL, Egan, Prespakis injureis
• Ruby Schleicher and Pies defence create rock
• Pies goalkicking a concern
• Collingwood uncontested marks

Collingwood won its third consecutive games against arch-rivals Carlton, with the Magpies defeating the Blues by 19 points in warm conditions at Ikon Park. Inaccuracy threatened to ruin the Pies’ day after Lucy McEvoy kicked the first goal and the Magpies kicked five straight behinds to trail by three points early in the second term. A clever goal from Sarah Rowe midway through the term got the Pies on the board, before back-to-back 50m penalties against the Blues saw Ruby Schleicher and ex-Blue Alison Downie in the dying stages – the latter after the half-time siren effectively set up the win. A third 50m penalty early in the third – and second against Elise O’Dea took away the momentum created from a lively Courtney Jones on debut. Keeping the Blues goalless in the last term, the Magpies converted two majors to win, 6.8 (48) to 3.7 (25).

The story of the match was not the result, but in fact a potential ACL injury to Brianna Davey compounding the worry from Lutkins earlier in the day. Grace Egan also came from the field early in the match after a collision with Ruby Schleicher leaving the Blues one down through the midfield. Sarah Rowe was lively throughout the match, with Jaimee Lambert a standout for the Pies, but few could look past the brick wall that was Schleicher in defence, pulling down eight marks to go with her 15 touches. For the Blues, Madison Prespakis stepped up when it counted with 16 disposals, three clearances, four tackles and seven inside 50s, whilst the likes of Abbie McKay and Jones looked lively.

In Round 2, Collingwood hosts St Kilda next Saturday at Victoria Park, whilst Carlton travels up to Maroochydore to face reigning premiers Brisbane in the Lions’ first home game of the year.

[ … STATISTICS … ]

TALKING POINTS

• GIANTS dominate possession
• GWS took strong around the clearances
• Gold Coast brings the heat and the dare
• GIANTS forwards pile on the pressure
• Alyce Parker leads the way again

Wanting to be a serious finals contender this year, GWS GIANTS achieved what they needed to achieve and defeated Gold Coast in Mackay. It was not easy, but the weight of numbers eventually won out as the GIANTS triumphed by 15 points, 5.6 (36) to Gold Coast’s 3.3 (21). Led by inside midfielder Alyce Parker (21 disposals, eight tackles, nine clearances and three inside 50s), the bigger-bodied GIANTS bullied the Suns at the coalface, winning 31 clearances to 16, including 6-1 centre clearances. The GIANTS also had 47 more disposals, with Alicia Eva (21 disposals, 11 tackles, four clearances and seven inside 50s) have ore of a contested presence in the game. The GIANTS also laid double the forward 50 tackles (12-6), but the Suns won the tackle count (83-79).

There were plenty of reasons for the Suns fans to smile though, the the home team spending 20 minutes in front on the scoreboard, and seeing the exciting number one draft pick, Charlie Rowbottom debut. Rowbottom had 11 touches – nine contested – six tackles and three inside 50s, whilst Lauren Ahrens led all-comers out of defence with 14 disposals, four marks and five rebound 50s. Jacqui Dupuy (six disposals, three clearances) won the most clearances on her side with Ellie Hampson, whilst Alison Drennan also found plenty of it. For the GIANTS, Ally Morphett looked comfortable on debut with 15 hitouts, sharing the ruck load with Erin McKinnon, whilst Cora Staunton – who officially became the oldest player to play and AFLW game – booted two goals. Rebecca Beeson and Oscar Steene shared in nine clearances to share the load with Parker and Eva.

Next week both the Gold Coast Suns and GWS GIANTS head to Whitten Oval on Sunday to play the West Australian teams in a double-header. The Suns face West Coast from 12:40pm, before the GIANTS come up against the Dockers from 5:10pm.

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