AFLW Season 7: Big Week For – Round 4
IN a weekly piece throughout the AFL Women’s season, we name the players and teams who will be looking to have a big week in the upcoming round. From underperforming sides to players looking to step up or continue their form, Big Week For highlights those who could be ones to watch over the weekend.
Melbourne and Brisbane
It is not a bad thing that these two have made the list this week, but they are paired together for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, they face each other this week and are many people’s tips for this season’s Grand Finalists, so this weekend’s clash will be a huge test for both sides.
Particularly for the Dees, who although are undefeated this season, have had their issues in front of goal. They play at Casey this week which will help, but are down two of their star forwards in Tayla Harris and Jordan Ivey, who will miss through suspension.
They come up against a Brisbane side who may not have positive memories of Casey Fields, but remains easily the highest scoring side this season.
Regardless, this is sure to be an entertaining clash and may paint a very good picture of where this season may be heading, not to mention the bragging rights up for grabs ahead of a potential finals meeting.
GWS
After a frustrating opening fortnight of the season, GWS was finally able to break through last week for its opening win of the season.
The Giants are under the microscope this week because the test will be if they can build on last week’s successes and maintain it for a successful run of wins.
They face West Coast in Round 4, so although they will go in as favourites, it will be a good test for them to build on last week and see how far they can really go this season.
Gold Coast and West Coast
Much like the Dees and Lions, Gold Coast and West Coast have been paired together because they make this list for very similar reasons.
Both teams had poor performances last week, well and truly outplayed by Brisbane and Essendon respectively.
This week they need to show they can respond from those subpar outings and live up to the level that saw them win matches earlier in the season. It will still be fascinating to watch how they both respond.
Time for Charlotte to cement a home
CHARLOTTE Wilson is someone who can reliably do a job, but has been struggling for game time for the past several years. After crossing from Carlton to Melbourne ahead of Season 7, Wilson struggled to break into the impressively strong Melbourne defence and was forced to watch on the sidelines as the Dees went on […]
Analysis: Verity brings variety to new code and new team
AFTER a decorated career in Australian netball, Verity Simmons retired from the sport after the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season. However her retirement from netball was not the end of her elite sporting career, with the announcement coming last week that she was going to be joining the West Coast Eagles in the AFLW as […]
Koenen’s colossal performance helps Brisbane take title
SUNDAY’s AFLW Grand Final was tight and tense, and had no clear winner until the final term. Ultimately it was Brisbane that emerged victorious, and it was thanks in large part to the exploits of its skipper Bre Koenen. Playing in both defence and in the midfield, her tireless work first helped keep Brisbane in […]
North holds nerve to break glass ceiling
NORTH Melbourne has broken its AFL Women’s Grand Final hoodoo, holding their nerve in a tense final quarter of yesterday’s preliminary final to defeat Adelaide and reach a maiden women’s decider. For the second time in the space of only a month, it was a nail-biter that was ultimately decided by one tense final quarter, […]
Midfield muscle helps Geelong earn upset
GEELONG pulled off a huge upset in the AFL Women’s yesterday afternoon, defeating reigning premiers Melbourne by five points in the second semi final. After dominating for three quarters the Cats almost let things slip away in the final quarter but held on to pull off the win and move on to a Preliminary Final. […]
Kangas hop into prelim after Dee-molition
NORTH Melbourne has had many impressive performances over the years, but few could argue that yesterday’s demolition of reigning premiers Melbourne to reach the 2023 AFL Women’s Preliminary Finals was not the finest of the lot. Consistently reminded externally of their inability to win big games – notably against the other top three sides – […]
How Geelong ensured history did not repeat itself
GEELONG made history yesterday afternoon, defeating Essendon to win its first ever AFL Women’s Final and move on to the semi-finals stage. The win completed a double turnaround for the Cats, both from last year’s elimination final and from Round 6 this season, which is when the Cats and Bombers last played before yesterday. But […]
Swans show adaptability and growth in historic finals win
SYDNEY Swans created history last night, defeating Gold Coast Suns in the first elimination final to win their first ever final from just their second season in the AFL Women’s competition. Not only was last night’s win a sign of how far the team has come in the last 12 months or so, but one […]
From cygnets to signalling their arrival: Swans claim finals place
AN ever-threatening Swans outfit broke the shackles of the Dockers late to herald a coda for an astounding 2023 turnaround after season seven’s win-less campaign. The victory shook down a cathartic thunder and sets up a tantalising first finals berth against the Suns. To the credit of the 13th-placed purple team, despite being well shot […]
