IT was a fascinating day of AFL Women’s action as top of the table Adelaide strangled the usually potent Melbourne attack to stake its claim as the team to beat, whilst Brisbane survived a scare to overcome Geelong.

In the second battle of the all undefeated sides this weekend, it was Adelaide who emerged victorious and with their undefeated run in tact.

Adelaide’s pressure and intensity was evident from the opening bounce, and Melbourne were rattled.

Despite a late Melbourne run in the last term, Adelaide had kept them goalless for the first three quarters so Melbourne’s run was too little too late.

TALKING POINTS

Adelaide was dominant from the opening bounce

Adelaide was dominant from the opening bounce, and their pressure on the ball was intense from the get go. The Crows registered 11 more tackles than the Dees, three more clearances, 13 more inside 50s and four more marks inside 50 than the Dees.

Adelaide’s intense pressure from the start also seemed to really put Melbourne off its game. They were not as well structured heading into their forward 50 and often getting out marked by the taller Adelaide defenders. They were also not as clean with the ball and often very fumbly.

Who can stop Adelaide now?

The Crows dismantled the Dees, so now the question beckons can anyone else get close to them this season? They do face Fremantle in Round 7 and Collingwood the following week, but after what has transpired already this weekend only Fremantle may be the team best suited to challenging the Crows.

How much will Randall’s injury affect the rest of Adelaide’s season?

The only sour note in what was otherwise a dominant display from the Crows was an injury to Chelsea Randall. Now she did miss last game and it was ultimately not an issue, but we have seen how much of an impact her missing has on this side, so if she’s out for several weeks how will that affect the season?

Sinead Goldrick in an underrated star

One shining light for Melbourne in the loss was Sinead Goldrick. The Irishwoman had one of her best performances in her short football career, and her tackling pressure was intense from the get go. She finished with 12 disposals and an impressive seven tackles, but also got moved into the midfield for the first time in the final term. This gave Melbourne the run and carry they desperately needed, so it might be a sign of things to come in terms of where Goldrick may play in the coming weeks.

Is this the wake up Melbourne need to really get their season going?

For the first few weeks of the season, Melbourne have played relatively easy opponents, but been challenged at times in all three games. Round 4 found the Dees against a much tougher opponent who really put them in their place. The question for Melbourne and its fans will be how do they respond from this, and only time will tell as to how they do.

NEXT WEEK

Melbourne return home to Casey Fields to host the Suns, while Adelaide travel to Melbourne to face the Blues at Ikon Park.

Brisbane survived an almighty scare against Geelong in the Lions’ first home game of the season.

Geelong held the Lions goalless in the opening term, and with the margin at seven points at the final term, a two goals to one final term saw the Cats almost cause the upset of the season but fell two points short.

TALKING POINTS

Brisbane’s stat dominance goes unrewarded

An area that the Lions’ coaching staff will have to take a look at. At full time, the inside 50 count was 38 to 12 in favour of Brisbane, yet the final margin was a mere two points. The final count for scoring shots was very heavily skewed in Brisbane’s favour too (12 to 5), so Brisbane were certainly getting plenty of the ball into their forward 50, but just unable to convert.

A narrow escape – but at what cost?

Poor Gabby Collingwood was only back in to the Brisbane side for her first match since rupturing her ACL in March 2020, and it appears she has done the same injury again. She went down in the second term clutching at her knee, and although nothing has been confirmed by the Lions just yet, it appears the football injury gods have raised their cruel hand again.

Chloe Scheer – the answer to Geelong’s scoring woes?

A much talked about issue down at Geelong has been its scoring issues. But the Cats may have found a solution, or at least a component of the solution, in Chloe Scheer. The young recruit single-handedly kept her team in it on the scoreboard in that final term. Ultimately it was not quite enough, but she may still have been the answer Geelong was looking for.

Dakota Davidson makes a shock return

Many around the AFLW community were shocked to read on Friday night that Dakota Davidson was making her return to AFLW early after her injury in Round 1. She had a good game though, with eight touches, four tackles, a goal and even some pinch-hitting in the ruck.

After thinking they probably were not going to have to deal with her, some of the Lions’ upcoming opponents will now start to get a bit worried now that Davidson is back early from the injury.

Geelong’s first win is just around the corner

It’s been said before but it will be said again – Geelong’s first win is just around the corner. The Cats have been competitive all season but ultimately just not able to get over the line. The fact that they were this competitive against the reigning premiers should get Geelong coaches and fans alike excited.