COLLINGWOOD has delivered its fanbase some joy on Saturday after upsetting minor premiers North Melbourne-Werribee in the VFL Women’s qualifying final. The black and white army had something to cheer about as a six-goal first half helped the Magpies topple the impressive Roos for the second time this season and booking their spot in the major semi-final next week.

Played at the Roos’ spiritual home of Arden Street, North Melbourne-Werribee went into the clash as hot favourites despite Collingwood knocking the top side off earlier in the season. The Magpies struck early in the contest as Amelia Peck booted the first of what would become four goals just two minutes into the match. Ex-Pie Nyakoat Dojiok responded not long after to give the Roos the lead, but it would be the only time the minor premiers held that advantage.

Tahlia Fellows – who will face her former Hawks teammates next week – chimed in with a major and the pies took a narrow five-point lead into the main break. Despite Alana Barba‘s best efforts around the ball, Collingwood dominated the efficiency inside 50, piling on four of the next five goals to build a 25-point lead heading into the main break.

Peck had booted four of her side’s six goals and looked unstoppable inside 50, with the Roos having no answers for the ex-Tiger. Inclusion Sienna Courtney also added her name to the goalkickers list, while Tahlia Meier kicked the first of two against the flow.

Though the premiership quarter did belong to the Roos, they were inaccurate, kicking 1.3 to not really punish the Magpies who failed to score, though the 16-point deficit at the final break was just enough to leave the door ajar for the top side. However despite peppering the goals early with another behind and then a Meier major, the Roos were hurt by not capitalising on that third term ascendancy.

In what had been anticipated to be a tight contest, the Magpies held the rampaging Roos at bay despite just the one score in the second half. It was enough to secure safe passage through to the major semi-final against Box Hill, while North Melbourne-Werribee takes on Williamstown in the minor semi-final.

Peck’s four majors came from 14 disposals and seven marks, while Tahlia Sanger (19 disposals, four marks, fie tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) continued her brilliant VFLW campaign. She was well supported around the ball by Dominique Carbone and Lauren Szigeti who combined for 10 clearances, while the latter also got back to assist the defence with Tamara Henry (18 disposals, three marks and six rebound 50s).

Barba was clearly the best Roo on the day with an enormous 20 contested possessions among her 28 disposals, while laying nine tackles and having a game-high 10 clearances. The likes of Stella Reid (19 disposals, five marks, four tackles, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s) and Maddie Di Cosmo (16 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and five inside 50s) helped on the outside, while Matilda Zander (16 disposals, three clearances sand six inside 50s) tried hard against her former team.

NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 4.8 (32)
COLLINGWOOD 2.1 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 7.3 (45)

GOALS:
North Melbourne: T. Meier 2, C. Ryan, N. Dojiok
Collingwood: A. Peck 4, T. Fellows, S. Courtney, T. Christensen

BEST:
North Melbourne: A. Barba, S. Reid, M. Di Cosmo, M. Zander, R. Tierney
Collingwood: A. Peck, L. Szigeti, T. Sanger, D. Carbone, T, Henry

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Box Hill 4.5 (29) def. Essendon 4.4 (28)

Box Hill earned itself a double chance now and moved within one win of a VFLW Grand Final following a nail-biting one-point victory over Essendon. Despite just one point separating the teams, the Bombers are now eliminated, while the Hawks will have at least two more matches when they face the Magpies next week.

The Hawks lead by a goal at quarter time before Essendon turned it around to hold an eight-point buffer at the main break. By the last change, the teams were level before a fourth term goal to Jessica Matin and behind to Mia Zielinski gave Box Hill the all-important seven-point buffer. Essendon responded through Christina Bernardi, but despite there being more than enough time to get over the line, neither team scored and the Hawks enjoyed a relieving victory.

Tess Cattle (21 disposals, three marks, four clearances and four inside 50s) lead all-comers, with the likes of Nat Exon and Isla Baldwin fantastic once again. Baldwin and Stasia Stevenson combined for 16 tackles in the victory, while Matilda Van Berkel was an aerial threat. For the Bombers, Lucy Thompson and El Chaston were prolific, while Ashlea Melnikas had game-highs of seven clearances and 10 tackles.

Sandringham 0.6 (6) def. by Williamstown 2.6 (18)

Williamstown punished a Sandringham Zebras side that could not make the most of its chances in the third term, as the Seagulls kept their premiership dreams alive with a 12-point win at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. The Zebras booted four behinds in the premiership quarter when they had the ascendancy and kept Williamstown scoreless, and though they even held the Seagulls to just one behind after half-time, kicking 0.5 (5) in that period.

Skipper Emily Eaves was enormous in the win, racking up 23 disposals – 19 of which were contested – eight tackles and nine clearances, often battling against multiple Zebras who were having big days out. Eaves was supported by midfield inclusion Megan Williamson (13 disposals, seven tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s), while Ashlee Thorneycroft laid a ridiculous 20 tackles and had five clearances from 12 disposals.

For the Zebras, the work around the ball from Abbey Tregellis (17 disposals, nine tackles and four clearances), Grace Hodder (17 disposals, 14 tackles and six clearances) and Zoe Barbakos (15 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearances) was great, but not enough to get the Zebras across the line due to the missed opportunities. While Sandringham is eliminated from premiership contention, Williamstown will go on and face North Melbourne-Werribee in the minor semi-final next weekend.