COLLINGWOOD is set for another grand final rematch with North Melbourne Werribee after surviving an epic thriller against the Western Bulldogs in the VFL Women’s Elimination Final. The Magpies secured their place in the preliminary stage with the narrowest of wins, joined in the penultimate round by Port Melbourne who rolled fourth placed Carlton to the tune of five points. The Borough will now take on arch-rivals Williamstown in the other preliminary final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collingwood 6.2 (38) def. Western Bulldogs 5.7 (37)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Collingwood produced an incredible comeback against the Western Bulldogs to snatch victory in a tense final term. The Magpies went scoreless in the opening quarter and trailed by 20 points at hte first break, only making slight inroads during the second stanza to still be 13 points adrift. The Magpies actually trailed by as much as 25 points when AFLW-listed big Analea McKee<\/a> kicked the first of her two second quarter goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, Pies recruits Ellie Brady<\/strong>, Olivia Lewis<\/strong> and Abbey Tregellis<\/a> all found the big sticks to cut the deficit to just seven points. A late settler to McKee steadied the ship for the visitors, but it would be the last goal the Dogs kicked in the elimination final. Buoyed by support from the locals, the likes of Tahlia Sanger<\/a>, Tregellis and Lily Jordan<\/a> all lead the way, while three consecutive goals in the first half of the third term helped the black and whites hit the front by the last change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bulldogs continued to pepper the goals and almost levelled the scores in the final term with three behinds to one, but fell that single point short of forcing extra time. In the end, the Magpies held on and celebrated a memorable finals win. Sanger (27 disposals – 18 contested – 15 tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s) thrived in the finals pressure, while Tregellis (17 disposals, three marks, seven clearances, four tackles and four inside 50s) and Jordan (17 disposals, six marks, four tackles and four rebound 50s) were important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, Jemma Ramsdale<\/a> stood tall in the back half with six marks and four rebound 50s from 15 disposals, while Amelia Peck<\/a> provided a target in the front half, and Sophia de Castella<\/a> ran all day and booted an important goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Bulldogs, Eleanor Bishop<\/a> and Lauren Ahrens<\/a> both racked up an equal game-high 27 disposals, while the latter picked up seven marks and six rebound 50s as a rock in the back half. McKee (17 disposals, eight marks, five tackles and two goals) was phenomenal in the red, white and blue, while Rain Dodd<\/a> and draftee Mizuki Brothwell<\/a> also had some important moments. India Barker<\/a> and Jemima Wrigley<\/a> were productive throughout in defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carlton 5.5 (35) def. by Port Melbourne 6.9 (45)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There were similarities to be drawn to the earlier final with Port Melbourne coming back from a quarter time and half-time deficit to hit the front by the final break and then hold on in a gripping fourth stanza. The Blues raced out of the blocks at Ikon Park to take a 10-point lead at the first break and maintained a nine-point advantage by half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heading into the last minute of the first half, the Blues lead by 15 points before a last ditch goal from Kaitlyn O’Keefe<\/a> trimmed the deficit back to a single-digit margin. Port then piled on the pressure in the premiership quarter with three straight goals in the first 10 minutes including two to Paris Gebel-Lamb<\/a>. While Grace Matser<\/a> responded for the Blues, that would be the last major for the Navy Blues as a goal on the edge of three quarter time to Lily Hart<\/a> gave the Borough a nine-point lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately the game was a nice symmetry with the margin differentials at each break being 10, nine, nine and 10 points, but the visitors were the ones in front at the final siren. It was a deserved win with 16 more inside 50s (40-24) despite losing the hitout count a ridiculous 70-20 and clearances 38-28. The Port Melbourne defence held up well against the onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emear Scally<\/strong> ended the day with 22 disposals – 13 contested – seven clearances, four tackles and three inside 50s, while Mia Caffry<\/a> (19 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and four rebound 50s) and Courtney Jones<\/a> (18 disposals, five clearances, 11 tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) got their hands dirty at the coalface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hannah Scott<\/a> was a workhorse once more with 24 disposals, six clearances, 10 tackles and three rebound 50s, while Blues draftee Tayla McMillan<\/a> pressed her case for an AFLW debut with eight clearances and six tackles from 17 touches. She worked well with Ellie Sbeghen<\/a> (15 disposals, 54 hitouts, five clearances, three tackles and seven inside 50s, while Matser booted two goals and assisted well with 16 hitouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRELIMINARY FINALS FIXTURES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday, September 12:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Melbourne Werribee vs. Collingwood @ Arden Street Oval, 11:35am <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williamstown vs. Port Melbourne @ DSV Stadium, 1:35pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n