ROUND 6 of the 2023 VFL Women’s season really had it all – big wins, little wins, big scores, little scores, the full selection.

In the final match of the round, defence was key as Port Melbourne defeated Carlton by 15 points.

High defensive intensity meant it was hard from both teams to score at time, but a decisive third term from the Borough proved to be the difference.

Scoring was very hard to come by early in the match, with defensive pressure high and much of the opening five or so minutes of the term was played within 10 metres either side of Carlton’s forward 50 line. Carlton had plenty of chances to score inside the opening half of their quarter but its shots kept falling short, and as such took it nine minutes to put even a behind on the board.

However it was doing better than the Borough, who could not even get the ball much past halfway, let along anywhere near their attacking 50.

They did eventually make it into their forward 50 but did not do much better than Carlton in terms of putting score on the board.

Stella Reid, Steph Williams and Marianna Anthony were all looking dangerous early, but not even they could help their respective sides put a goal on the board.

Five behinds combined was all that the sides were able to put on the board in the first term.

Carlton again started on the front foot in the second term but still could not convert disposal dominance into scoreboard pressure. Madeleine Di Cosmo was setting up attacks inside 50 for Carlton but then the Borough defence were holding up strong and ensuring Carlton’s attacks were breaking down after Di Cosmo’s kicks.  

Despite Carlton’s dominance in the possession time, it was Port Melbourne who scored the first goal, which was against the run of play and came off the boot of Reid 13 minutes into the term.

Reid’s goal proved to be the only goal of the term, and as such Port held a five goal lead at the main break.

It did not take nearly as long in the third term for a team to score, as Kaitlyn O’Keefe only took about three and a half minutes to put the Borough’s second goal on the board.

Federica Frew kicked Port’s third 12 minutes into the term, and Port was really getting reward for possession dominance, which is something Carlton had failed to do all afternoon.

Carlton pressed late, but still could not add to its score, and as such went into the final term 17 points down.

The third quarter proved to be the decisive one, as after both teams went goalless again in the final term and only scored six behinds between them, it meant Port went home with the victory.

In other results:

• The Southern Saints pinched their clash at the death to defeat the Western Bulldogs by only five points.

The Saints were a point behind at the death but a late goal inside the final two minutes saw them take the win.

Lucy Burke kicked two majors for the Saints, while Tahlia Meier (21 disposals) and Sarah Skinner (20) were the main ball winners for the Bulldogs.

• Speaking of matches stolen at the death, Geelong pinched their clash even later to defeat North by a goal.

Just as the match was looking like it was heading towards a draw, up pops Olivia Cicolini who slotted one through to break Kangaroo hearts.

That goal was Cicolini’s second for the afternoon, who was the only one to kick more than one goal for either team.

Renee Garing (20 touches) and Annabel Scott (22 touches) were both busy racking up plenty of ball for their respective sides.

• Collingwood got back on the winners list with a 26 point win over Darebin.

A late Darebin fightback stopped the margin being even higher, but the Magpies asserted their dominance early to take the win.

No one on the ground kicked more than one goal for either side, but Jessica Bates and Angelica Gogos led the way for their respective sides in terms of disposals.

• Out at Wonthaggi the Hawks continued Casey’s treacherous recent run, defeating the Dees by 33 points.

Casey failed to kick a goal in either the second or third term as the Hawks kicked five in that timeframe and ultimately ran away with the game.

Sophie Locke and Hannah Fosbrooke both kicked two majors for the Hawks, while Shree Fairchild and Shannon Danckert both racked up plenty of ball for the Dees but it was not enough.

• Essendon’s form turn around continued as it pinched a win over Williamstown by nine points.

Williamstown was leading at the final break, but a three goal to one final term from the Bombers set up the win.

Kendra Heil and Sarah Cameron both kicked two goals for their respective sides, while Nicole Julian and Courtney Ugle topped the disposal tally for each of the respective sides.