RETURNING for Round 2 of the VFL Women’s competition, fans got an early taste of action with a special Anzac Day battle between North Melbourne and Williamstown earlier today. Box Hill and Port Melbourne head out to Wonthaggi in a unique Sunday country clash, while the remaining four games are on Saturday. Our match in focus for Round 2 is the huge contest between unbeaten sides Box Hill and Port Melbourne.

REMAINING ROUND 2 FIXTURES

DETAILS

Sunday, April 27 @ 2:35pm
Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve

FORM

Box Hill signalled its premiership intentions with a crushing win over Geelong down at Deakin University in Round 1. While the Cats won the wooden spoon this year and likely won’t feature in the premiership race, the Hawks still did what they needed to do to get the job done. Port Melbourne poses a much bigger threat, having fought past a talented Essendon side at home by 19 points. Now the two teams go head-to-head in a massive contest at Box Hill.

KEY STATS

Port Melbourne had 14 scoring shots from 20 inside 50 entries in Round 1 which was an incredible feat of efficiency, though the Borough would like to get more entries if they are to match it with the scoring power of the Hawks. Box Hill piled on a deadly accurate 14.4 (88) from 29 entries and really put Geelong to the sword with that accuracy.

The danger signs for Port Melbourne heading into this one is the fact the Borough had 41 less disposals than the Bombers, as well as almost half the inside 50s (36-20), and were below in most other areas including the hitouts and clearances where they were minus-11 and minus-four respectively. Box Hill dominated the clearances 27-19 off the back of a 30-22 hitout difference and had seven more inside 50s (29-22) despite breaking even in disposals (200-apiece).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Isla Baldwin (Box Hill) crossed over from the Blues after finishing equal second in Carlton’s best and fairest last season. Endearing herself to the Hawks fans pretty quickly, Baldwin collected all 10 coaches votes in the Round 1 win – the only player in the competition to do so – with a game of 17 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s.

Lauren Caruso (Port Melbourne) is as experienced as they come, and will likely go head-to-head with Baldwin at different points around the stoppages. She was crucial for the Borough in the win, having four clearances to go with 15 disposals, two marks and 10 tackles, crashing and bashing her way around the coalface as partner in crime Ava Seton had a more outside role.

Stasia Stevenson (Box Hill) was unlucky not to get a look-in at last year’s AFLW Draft and did her chances no harm with a highly contest performance against the Cats. She won 16 disposals – 14 contested – laid eight tackles and had three clearances, though most importantly still booted two goals and had three score involvements in the match.

Kaitlyn O’Keefe (Port Melbourne) plays such a key role for the Borough, and was able to apply plenty of scoreboard pressure and important touches in the front half of the ground. O’Keefe had 14 disposals, three marks and four inside 50s, while kicking two majors and finishing with three score involvements during the Round 1 win. Is a key distributor going forward.

Olivia Fogarty (Box Hill) is a mature-age prospect on the Hawks radars having trained with the AFLW side last season. Really smart around goal and having made the move down from Ainslie, Fogarty only turns 27 in July so is hitting the prime of her career. An ex-soccer player who has a penetrating kick and adds outside class to the inside grunt of the Hawks.

Molly Denahy Maloney (Port Melbourne) shares the ruck load with Georgia Booth, but will have her hands full against Box Hill’s Maddison Torpey who is coming off representing the ‘Big V’ over in South Australia. Denahy Maloney is athletic and not only wins hitouts but clearances as well, with 19 and five in Round 1, team-highs in both. All 10 of her disposals were contested and she lies four tackles, so around the coalface she is crucial.

PREDICTION

Box Hill looks like a genuine premiership contender on paper, and while more experienced opponents than the young, developing Cats are on the way, the Hawks were undeniably very good. Given Box Hill has a great balance of experience and youth across all three lines, the Hawks looks that bit more reliable than Port Melbourne who still has plenty of talent but cannot rely on winning the way the Borough did against the Bombers in Round 1 to get the points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Saturday, April 26

Western Bulldogs vs. Darebin Falcons @ Whitten Oval, 10:05am

Western Bulldogs will look to atone for the tough loss to Williamstown after having their chances, when they tackle a Darebin side which could not quite match it with Sandringham in Round 1. Angelica Gogos was outstanding for the Falcs, and she along with Caitlin Bunker will be key players. For the Bulldogs, Stephanie Asciak thrives on winning the contested ball, while Sarah Sansonetti has made an impact coming into the side.

Essendon vs. Collingwood @ Windy Hill, 11:05am

Essendon will rue missed opportunities from the high volume inside 50s count in Round 1 when they tackle a stacked Collingwood side. The Magpies defeated Casey Demons on the road with debutant Tahlia Sanger playing a starring role. Chloe Hunt and Dominique Carbone are among a host of brilliant additions to the black and whites, while Bomber Chloe Adams showed promising signs for the year ahead and ex-Cat Brooke Plummer caught the eye.

Geelong Cats vs. Carlton @ Deakin University, 12:05pm

A much better indication for how much the Cats have developed from last season will come when they remain at home against Carlton. Both teams were blown away by premiership contenders in Round 1, and each side has some great youngsters to keep an eye on this season. A win will be confidence boost for either team with Cats skipper Mel Staunton and partner in crime Lily Jordan earning coaches votes in Round 1, while for the Blues, Octavia Di Donato tried hard and Nadia Von Bertouch earned a coach vote.

Sandringham Zebras vs. Casey Demons @ RSEA Park, 2:05pm

There’s a chance this is the closest match of the round. Sandringham was very good in Round 1 with all the key recruits firing such as Imogen Evans and Sophie Locke, but will have stiffer opposition here against Casey. The Demons went down to a red-hot Magpies outfit but will be better for the run, with Melbourne-listed prospects Megan Fitzsimon and Saraid Taylor putting in important shifts for the Demons.