TWO premiership contenders got wins on the board over highly-fancied rivals, whilst the battling Blues kept their slim finals hopes alive with a third consecutive win. Though Carlton needs to win by over 100 points in the final round and hope both Collingwood and Western Bulldogs lose, there is a mathematical chance for the Blues to make the top six. In the other games, Carlton knocked off North Melbourne, and Adelaide defeated Collingwood in a thriller.

By: Alyce Collett

Brisbane’s title defence just keeps on rolling on, this time defeating North Melbourne.

They kept the Roos scoreless in the second term, which really set the win up for them, and they ultimately went on to win 7.8 (50) to 2.2 (14).

TALKING POINTS

The venue change

The game was originally scheduled as a Brisbane home game at Maroochydore, but had to get rescheduled to the Whitten Oval. That was due to the rain South East Queensland is having at the moment, with the ground at Maroochydore was underwater and unsuitable to play football on.

Despite the scoreboard dominance, most of the stats were pretty even

Despite Brisbane’s dominance on the scoreboard, many of the key stats suggested a much tighter affair. North had only a single more disposal than Brisbane, Brisbane only had three more clearances than North did while the Roos beat the Lions in the hit outs by one.

North’s chances for a top two finish are done

The loss meant that no matter what happens next week, North can no longer make the top 2. The Roose can still make the top four though, which would ensure a home final in the first week of the finals. They just need to beat West Coast next week, which they should go into the match as favourites.

Brisbane can still make top two, but need results to go their way

As for Brisbane on the other hand, their top 2 hopes are technically still alive, but results need to go their way next week.

They have to beat the Bulldogs next week, while also hoping either Melbourne or the Crows slip up in their final match, and then depending on percentage Brisbane would be able to sneak in.

Adding salt to the wound for North Melbourne

To add salt to the wound for the Kangaroos on top of their loss, their tall stocks took a bit of a hit.

Alexia Hamilton was reported for rough conduct against Sophie Conway in the second term, while Kim Rennie copped a blow to the ribs in the third, but managed to return to the action later that quarter.

Although it hasn’t been determined yet if Hamilton will miss any games, if she does it’s not great timing considering finals are just around the corner and Emma King is already out with injury.

NEXT WEEK

Brisbane are coming back to Victoria next week to face the Bulldogs, while North host the Eagles at Arden St Oval.

By: Alyce Collett

With their season on the line, Collingwood gave it all it had against Adelaide, but it was ultimately not enough, as the Crows got the win by a mere two points.

The last five or so minutes in particular were tight, frenetic and no doubt nerve wracking for all involved, but in the end Collingwood just ran out of time, going down 4.4 (28) to Adelaide’s 4.6 (30).

TALKING POINTS

Ruby Schleicher had a brilliant game in the abscense of Bonnici

In the absence of Brittany Bonnici who went down with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last weekend, Ruby Schleicher had a stellar game and really stood up. She finished with a whopping 31 touches, to go with 10 marks and five tackles.

Is this a wake up call for Adelaide on the eve of the finals?

Despite their bad start, Collingwood pushed Adelaide for much of the afternoon, so is this the little taste and wake up call the Crows needed on the eve of the finals? It seemed to be that little reminder that despite the match being at their fortress, not all will go their way.

Collingwood the walking wounded

To really add salt to the wound for the Magpies, they also picked up two injuries in the loss. Erica Fowler had to be sent off to hospital as a precaution after a neck injury, while Jaimee Lambert also suffered a blow to the ribs.

Top spot will come down to percentage

This result means that if both Adelaide and Melbourne get the chocolates in their respective round 10 encounters, it will come down to percentage as to who takes top spot.

Currently there is only about four percent that separates the two sides, so it’s still all to play for next weekend.

Collingwood have no choice but to win next week

Heading into this weekend, Collingwood only needed one win from their last two matches to secure their place in the finals.

Unfortunately that didn’t come against the Crows, so they have one last shot against the Tigers to secure that place in the finals.

NEXT WEEK

Adelaide are on the road to Victoria to face the Saints, while Collingwood face Richmond at home next week in their last chance to secure a place in the finals.

By: Michael Alvaro

Carlton extended its winning run to three games on Sunday, also ending Gold Coast’s finals chances in one fell swoop with a 30-point win at Princes Park. The Blues booted three goals in the opening 10 minutes to set up their victory, and rallied after a goalless term two to salute 7.4 (46) to 2.4 (16) in their final home game for the season.

TALKING POINTS

Suns jumped again

Gold Coast conceded a three-goal head start to its opponent for the second week running and despite working back into the contest, never fully recovered. The first period saw Carlton score its equal-best opening quarter total for 2022 – 3.1 (19) – largely thanks to a couple of Nicola Stevens snaps. The left-footer floated through majors either side of Jess Good‘s six-pointer, seeing the Blues take full toll of their early hold on the game. The Suns wrestled back momentum, but could not quite translate it to the scoreboard.

Rucks put Blues in a Good Mood’

There were plenty of eyes fixed on Sunday’s ruck battle, and it was Carlton’s combination of Good and Breann Moody which won out. Tipped for All Australian honours in a tight race, Moody earned a game-high 19 hitouts and took five running bounces to go with her 15 disposals. Good chimed in with two goals and rotated in for seven hitouts, while Gold Coast’s Lauren Bella won 17 and dropped back to take four marks behind the ball. In the end, the Blues arguably got more out of their rucks away from the contest, despite Bella dobbing more hits to advantage.

Tackling pressure helps Blues win the scrap

Lauded for its improved forward pressure over the last few weeks, Carlton again did the job in that department. The Blues laid 14 tackles inside 50 to Gold Coast’s eight, and barring the second term, gave the Suns hell with ball in hand. While clean in possession on a dewy deck, the Blues made Gold Coast rush and it proved massively beneficial as the Suns’ lack of fluency allowed Carlton’s sound defensive structure to set up beautifully behind the ball. There are some good mitts among the Blues’ defence, and they quelled the impact of Sarah Perkins and Tara Bohanna well.

The scoring end

The wind was swirling at Princes Park and did not quite seem to clearly favour one end, but all seven goals in the first three quarters were kicked to one goal. Carlton snared three to nil in the first term, before Gold Coast replied with two in the second, and Carlton nabbed its own double in the third. The Blues often did their scoring in the first 10 minutes of the term before absorbing a heap of Gold Coast pressure, but ended up breaking the trend in term four as Georgia Gee and Darcy Vescio put the cherry on top of a super win.

NEXT WEEK

Both sides will end their 2022 seasons in Round 10, with Carlton facing the daunting task of taking on Melbourne at Casey Fields, while Gold Coast travels to face Fremantle in the West.