TONIGHT is the beginning of the end of the Home and Away portion of AFLW for 2023, and sees a clash that could have huge bearings on how the Top 8 looks come the end of the weekend.

7:45pm
Great Barrier Reef Arena

Recent Form

Tonight sees sixth host fifth in a real do or die match.

The implications for this match are pretty straight forward for both teams. Win and they are guaranteed to play finals. Lose, and they have to hope other results go their way to ensure they play finals in 2023.

History

A little bit of history is set to be created tonight, with these two teams playing each other for the first time in the AFL Women’s.

Key Stat Areas

Both of these sides tend to handball the ball more than they kick it, so how that clashes tonight will be interesting to watch.

Gold Coast has been getting more inside 50s than Essendon this season, but Essendon have been more efficient once inside 50.

Key Match Up/s

Lauren Bella vs Stephanie Wales

As the saying goes, everything starts with the ruck, and this ruck battle is a particularly interesting one. Two of the best young rucks in one of the biggest matches of their respective careers to date, but who will ultimately prevail?

Claudia Whitfort vs Madison Prespakis

The number one midfielders of their respective sides, everything truly does start with them when it comes to clearances and really getting the ball moving in attack. The interesting thing will be to see if either cops a tag from the opposition, with it not out of the realm of possibility.

Alison Drennan vs Georgia Nanscawen

The two experienced midfield bulls of this match, and the midfield sidekicks of Whitfort and Prespakis. Drennan in particular has a bigger role tonight with no Charlie Rowbottom in the Suns’ side.