A COUPLE of massive clashes between undefeated sides, and must-win games for others provide a huge Round 3 of AFL Women’s this weekend. Kicking off with a big Friday night clash between Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, we take a look at the nine games and some of the key talking points ahead of the round.

By: Peter Williams

FORM

Both the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle come into Round 3 off differing forms with the Western Bulldogs able to pull away in their first two games to collect all eight points, while the Dockers suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Brisbane and Geelong. In a game that will be decided around the ball, the Bulldogs are running hot in terms of their ability to win it both inside and outside the contest, while the Dockers have struggled in those areas.

WHERE IT’S WON

Western Bulldogs ranked fourth in both contested and uncontested possessions, while ranks last in both categories, as well as last in total disposals. Once winning the ball, the Bulldogs give their forwards plenty of opportunities, recording the third highest inside 50 differential, compared to Fremantle whose 37 inside 50s are the second least in the competition.

TEAM NEWS

Fremantle has its reasons for struggling, with Gabby O’Sullivan (hamstring) joining Kara Antonio, Ebony Antonio and the departed Gemma Houghton as missing from the club’s front five. The Dogs have also been without Bonnie Toogood and Brooke Lochland for Season 7, and made do with the inclusion of Gabby Newton (long-term injury) and role re-purposing of Celine Moody (ruck-turned-forward) to prove effective targets inside 50. Of course the Dogs will be minus youngster Britney Gutknecht after she fractured her leg last week.

KEY PLAYERS

Given the form of skipper Ellie Blackburn – who overcame a facial injury early in last week’s clash – and the run of Isabelle Pritchard and first-year player Rylie Wilcox, the Dogs should get on top at the contest, especially at home at Ikon Park. It is a big week for Dockers leaders Kiara Bowers and Hayley Miller who both had interrupted preseasons, but are working into their seasons, while Aine Tighe and Sarah Verrier have been shining lights thus far.

PREDICTION

Fremantle coach Trent Cooper believes the side needs to find its confidence in order to get the job done. Travelling to Ikon Park could galvanise a group that has the ability to succeed, but is yet to click given the omissions prior to and during Season 7. It will be a tough ask against an in-form Doggies outfit, with O’Sullivan a key out which means the home side should pick up a solid win.

By: Alyce Collett

FORM

Both of these teams currently sit at one and one, but both teams could have just as easily been undefeated. Both teams have lost to the Dees (Adelaide in Round 1 and North Melbourne last weekend) but both had their chances to defeat the Dees. In their other respective matches, North Melbourne comfortably defeated Gold Coast, while Adelaide had to come from behind to come over the top of Richmond.

WHERE IT’S WON

With the talent both sides have in their midfield, the game is realistically won there. Realistically, whoever can get first use of the ball in the middle makes life just that little bit easier. Since the teams are pretty even across the board, but the midfielders and at the coalface will be crucial.

TEAM NEWS

Both teams have been pretty consistent across the two rounds, with not too many injuries to report from either camp. The only member of Adelaide’s injury list Ailish Considine is still a few weeks off returning, while for North Melbourne both Sophie Abbatangelo and Alice O’Loughlin are a chance to return from injury this week.

KEY PLAYERS

As previously mentioned, the midfield will be where this game is won. With the likes of Anne Hatchard and Ebony Marinoff coming up against Ash Riddell and Jenna Bruton, this is sure to be an entertaining battle.

PREDICTION

With two of the top sides battling each other, it is going to be an entertaining battle no matter what. Adelaide do have the wood over the Kangaroos in recent times in Adelaide and the match is being played in Adelaide, but the Crows are not the side that they once were. In saying that, the Crows should realistically be too strong and get over the line, but the Roos could easily pinch an upset here.

By: Alyce Collett

FORM

Both teams currently sit winless, but have both had their chances to register their first win of the season. They were impressive at times in Round 1 against St Kilda and the Bulldogs respectively, but had poorer performances last week against Collingwood and Brisbane respectively. Both teams will be very keen to get their first win this weekend, especially because it would come at the expense of the crosstown rival, and both sides would have this match pencilled in as a chance for a win.

WHERE IT’S WON

These two sides are the bottom two in the league for inside 50s, so this match may be a low scoring affair as a consequence and both sides will have to boost that figure if they want to get the win. One area that Sydney will need to boost to get the win this week is their disposal efficiency. The Swans were the team that saw the biggest drop across the league in disposal efficiency between Rounds 1 and 2 (24.8 per cent), while GWS were 6.3 per cent more efficient with the ball in the same time period.

TEAM NEWS

GWS will have to make a number of changes this week, with Chloe Dalton, Tait Mackrill and Pepa Randall all ruled out this week for the season with injury. Meanwhile for the Swans Maddy Collier and Ruby Sargent-Wilson are both a chance to return from injury this weekend.

KEY PLAYERS

Both teams have forwards that will have a lot of sway as to how the game goes for their respective sides. For GWS, at times they are still relying too much on Cora Staunton to kick all their goals, so the Giants have to ensure the Swans do not keep her too quiet. Meanwhile for the Swans Rebecca Privitelli and Aliesha Newman are both very dangerous forwards in completely different ways.

PREDICTION

This clash is going to be an entertaining one no matter what, as all crosstown Derbies always are, especially the inaugural one. However the Giants are far, far more experienced at this level compared to the Swans, and that experience should hold them in good stead and lead them to victory.

By: Peter Williams

FORM

In the first of two clashes between undefeated sides, much-improved Geelong hosts Collingwood down at GMHBA Stadium. The Cats enter the Round 3 match off the back of a fantastic win out West over the Dockers, following a dour struggle against the Tigers in Round 1. Collingwood ticked off its first two wins over the new-look Carlton and expansion side Sydney, though the road trip to the Cattery is predicted to be a step up in difficulty.

WHERE IT’S WON

The team that can get its running game going will have he upper hand, with both sides coincidentally recording plus-60 differentials in uncontested possessions from the first two rounds. The Magpies are big ball winners and rank second for inside 50 differentials, though only convert a disappointing 8.4 per cent of their inside 50s into scores, ranked ninth. By comparison, Geelong converts 41.2 per cent of their inside 50s, but considering Collingwood’s strong defence, the Cats will be looking for more forward half entries.

TEAM NEWS

Despite having a niggling ankle injury, Pies star Jaimee Lambert will lineup for the visitors, with the Magpies otherwise having a clean bill of health from their Round 2 win over Sydney. Geelong also escaped the win over Fremantle without any major injury concerns.

KEY PLAYERS

Geelong midfielder Amy McDonald racked up a massive 29 disposals and five clearances against the Dockers, with Fremantle opting not to tag her, which is a consideration the Pies might look at for the Round 3 clash. She has some highly-damaging players around her in Georgie Prespakis and Nina Morrison who are both in good form. For the Magpies, their list is so well-balanced that defender-turned-midfielder Ruby Schleicher has gone to another level in Season 7 and a player that the Cats need to limit with her intercepting and power through the contest, while Jordan Membrey and Chloe Molloy are both so dangerous inside 50 when given an inch.

PREDICTION

Being at GMHBA Stadium gives Geelong that slight advantage, but the Collingwood defence should hold up more than the Fremantle one did, and certainly provide greater resistance at the coalface. Collingwood in a close one to remain undefeated.

By: Peter Williams

FORM

Gold Coast got its season up and running last weekend with a vital win over West Coast at Metricon Stadium, after a forgettable first-up performance down in Tasmania against North Melbourne. The Suns will need to be on their game this weekend as they take on the all-conquering Lions, with Brisbane running hot with two wins from as many games, and aside from a couple of small lapses in games, have controlled the majority of play.

WHERE IT’S WON

Brisbane is the premier contested ball-winning side in the competition, winning 41 more contested possessions than its opponents the first two rounds. They have also controlled the hitouts (fourth) and inside 50s (first), with a massive 14 more goals than their opponents. Gold Coast on the other hand were able to turn around its form to dominate the clearances against West Coast, and move to a plus-12 for the season (ranked equal second). It is imperative that the Suns win the ball at the coalface, because once Brisbane wins the pill, it is near impossible to get it off them, with the Lions having the least turnover differential in the league.

TEAM NEWS

Gold Coast will be without Jamie Stanton for the remainder of the season, having torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) early in the loss against the Eagles. In better news for the Suns, Ellie Hampson is tipped to make her return for the game after being a late out in Round 2 with a quad injury. Brisbane escaped unscathed from its win over the GIANTS.

KEY PLAYERS

The onball brigade of Alison Drennan – whose seven clearances topped that of the Eagles’ starting midfield alone – Claudia Whitfort and Charlie Rowbottom will be critical to the Suns’ success up against the highly famed midfield of reigning W Medallist Emily Bates, Ally Anderson and Catherine Svarc. Given her form up forward, Greta Bodey could be one to pay extra attention to from the Suns, averaging two goals and 6.5 score involvements per game, ranking second and first respectively. Lauren Ahrens and Daisy D’Arcy are among the prime ball movers from the back half.

PREDICTION

It is hard to look past the superiority of Brisbane, with the Lions firing on all cylinders and arguably deserving premiership favourites. Aside from a few patches here and there, the Lions have been hard to fault so they should realistically win the midfield and put up another big score.

By: Peter Williams

FORM

Carlton returns to Ikon Park after a narrow win over the Bombers at ETU Stadium in Round 2, and will be keen to put in a better performance than their 18-point defeat to the Magpies at home. Port Adelaide has been competitive in the opening couple of weeks of the season, but some lapses in both form and discipline has hurt the Power, who suffered losses to West Coast away, and more recently, Western Bulldogs at Alberton Oval.

WHERE IT’S WON

Port Adelaide is building an identity as a contested ball-winning side, and though it is a work in progress, the bigger concern will be the amount of uncontested ball the Power allow the opposition to have. They are minus-62 in that statistic, ranking third worse in the league. The Blues rank middle of the road in both areas, but have dominated the aerial contests, ranking first in hitout differential (plus-47) and equal second in contested marks (plus-seven). Despite that dominance, the Blues have looked unconvincing at times, and survived a scare from the Bombers late which would have left Carlton 0-2.

TEAM NEWS

Port Adelaide will be minus key forward Gemma Houghton for the clash which is a massive out for the Power, given Houghton’s ability to control the air. The absence also gives Carlton coach Daniel Harford the freedom to continue his experiment of captain Kerryn Peterson on the wing.

KEY PLAYERS

With Houghton out, it gives the likes of Julia Teakle an opportunity to shine as a key target, while captain Erin Phillips may spend larger portions of time forward. Another key player could be young gun Hannah Ewings who is capable of playing permanent forward, while defender Alex Ballard and onballer Abbey Dowrick have also had promising starts to their AFLW careers. Carlton goalsneak Darcy Vescio was on fire in Round 2, slotting three of her team’s five goals to be equal second in the league, while first year players Mia Austin and Keeley Skepper impressed Harford with their forward pressure.

PREDICTION

Without Houghton, life will be tough for Port Adelaide, needing to find other sources for goal from limited opportunities, The Power need to shut down Carlton’s outside run which is doable, but more so need to win the ball and give their medium and small forwards chances to go to work inside 50. Carlton should win reasonably comfortably.

By: Alyce Collett

FORM

In the second of the clashes of two undefeated sides this weekend, either Melbourne or St Kilda’s undefeated run will come to an end on Sunday. Melbourne has defeated two of the top sides in Adelaide and North Melbourne, while St Kilda have delivered two impressive performances thus far, they were against two of the expansion sides in Sydney and Hawthorn.

WHERE IT’S WON

These two sides are the top two sides in the disposal count thus far this season, which realistically cannot continue this weekend and they are going to have to find different avenues to victory. It may come down to Melbourne’s handball game. They are currently +103 in handballs, compared to St Kilda’s +36, so if if the Saints can stop Melbourne’s tun and carry game by hand, that will certainly help them go a long away towards victory. The other way for both sides will be to stop the other’s tall forwards. Both have such dangerous tall forwards, whose influence will need to be quelled in order top ensure success.

TEAM NEWS

Both sides will have to make at least one change this week. For the Saints Jayde Van Dyk is out for the season after doing her ACL last week, while for the Dees Maddi Gay is out for a week with a calf injury. Sinead Goldrick is a chance to return from injury for the Dees though.

KEY PLAYERS

As previously mentioned, both teams have such dangerous tall forwards, whose influence will need to be quelled in order top ensure success. Caitlin Greiser and Kate Shierlaw up against Tayla Harris and Alyssa Bannan is a battle which although will not be taking place at the same end of the ground is sure to be an entertaining one.

PREDICTION

This week’s game will be a huge test for St Kilda. They are undefeated so far this season but have not faced any real challenge until this weekend. No matter what happens, it will be a good test of where they are at. However, Melbourne are one of the teams to beat this season for a reason, and despite things not going their way last time the two sides met at RSEA Park, some past “demons” should be buried this weekend and Melbourne should get the chocolates.

By: Alyce Collett

FORM

Both of these teams are currently winless, but just as easily could have picked up at least a win each by now. Richmond in particular could just as easily be undefeated at the moment as opposed to the winless position they find themselves in. They fell agonisingly short against Geelong in Round 1, and led for much of last weekend’s clash against Adelaide but ultimately could not get the job done. As for the Hawks, well they matched it with Essendon for three quarters before ultimately fading, while they got comfortably beaten by St Kilda last week.

WHERE IT’S WON

Both teams will need to bring up their disposal count and improve their disposal efficiency this week as both sides saw a drop in their figures from round one to two. One area Hawthorn will also need to improve is its inside 50 count, which also dropped last weekend from the weekend prior. For Richmond, it needs to work on its final quarter fadeouts to ensure history does not repeat itself again.

TEAM NEWS

For the Tigers Laura McClelland may come back this week, but Katie Brennan and Meagan Kiely are at least one more week away from returning. Meanwhile Hawthorn is set to make at least three changes this week. It has already been confirmed that Tamara Luke and Louise Stephenson are done for the year after sustaining injuries last week, while the Hawks have confirmed that Bridie Hipwell, Ainslie Kemp and Isabelle Porter are all making their debuts this week.

KEY PLAYERS

For both sides it is their midfielders who will play a crucial part in determining the outcome of the game. For Richmond it is the likes of Monique Conti, Sarah Hosking and Ellie McKenzie who will have to battle Hawthorn’s Kaitlyn Ashmore, Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Jasmine Fleming.

PREDICTION

Richmond will be frustrated by how the first fortnight of the season has gone for them, and will come out firing at home to ensure they do not stay winless after this weekend. Not only that but they come up against a young and inexperienced Hawks side, who they should comfortably beat.

By: Peter Williams

FORM

After an inspiring win at home over Port Adelaide in Round 1, West Coast came crashing back to earth against Gold Coast in Round 2 to be sitting 1-1 heading into Round 3. That is the same win-loss record as newcomers Essendon, who almost bolted home to a second consecutive win against Carlton last week, but fell one point short. The Bombers were successful against the Hawks in Round 1, so will hope they can rekindle that form travelling outside Victoria for the first time.

WHERE IT’S WON

Both these teams have struggled in the hitouts, with West Coast (17th) and Essendon (16th) for hitout differentials. From there though, the Bombers have dug deep to be ranked second in contested possessions and fourth in tackles. By comparison, the Eagles are ranked 11th in tackles and 15th in contested possessions, so will need to turn that around. West Coast’s defence has enough experience back there to try and limit Essendon’s inside 50 marks, with the plus-14 for the Bombers ranking them first in the competition.

TEAM NEWS

Essendon escaped unscathed from the narrow loss to Carlton, with ex-Lion Jordan Zanchetta the one player pushing her case to be selected, with a test on her Achilles. It is even better news for the Eagles who had defender Belinda Smith suffer bruised ribs in a marking contest against Gold Coast, but will be available, whilst forward Aimee Schmidt is available having come out of AFL concussion protocols after missing the Round 2 clash.

KEY PLAYERS

The Eagles midfield will be hungry to bounce back after being outplayed by the Suns, so expect the likes of Emma Swanson, Dana Hooker and Isabella Lewis to have extra fire in the belly this weekend. Madison Prespakis produced the goods against her former side last round and is one that the Eagles may want to put work into, whilst Sophie McDonald could have her hands full with Bonnie Toogood. No stranger to the big stage at Under 18s level, keep an eye out for the likes of Ella Roberts to cross paths with Paige Scott and Amber Clarke, who well all members of the AFLW Academy.

PREDICTION

Essendon would be favourites in this game given form, but it is a genuine 50/50 contest, and the home ground advantage at Mineral Resources Park will tip the scales in the favour of West Coast. An expansion side is yet to beat an established side this season, and the fan support might get the Eagles over the line in a thriller.