THERE'S been a few alterations since Monday, but it's still a blockbuster round of footy.

We'll have a much better picture of how sides are placed at the conclusion of round three of the NAB AFLW competition, with a series of games between relatively even sides.

GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS

7.10pm AEDT, Friday, February 12
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, Vic

• Of immediate concern to Geelong is scoring just three majors across two matches (admittedly against pace-setters North Melbourne and Collingwood), including six goalless quarters. Despite losing two matches, the Cats have laid the equal-second fewest tackles this season.
• A third Friday night match for the high-scoring, free-flowing Dogs, who are starting to hit their groove, and confidence will be up after a breakthrough win last week. The Bulldogs aren't getting too much of the footy (ranked second-last for disposal), but using it well when they have it.
• Tip: Two sides who have had contrasting fortunes so far this year, and who have historically struggled with consistent form. The Dogs' momentum might carry them over the line here, eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Bulldogs

GWS v GOLD COAST

3.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Blacktown International Sportspark, NSW

• After weeks on the road in pre-season and round one, two consecutive home games are just what the doctor ordered for the Giants. Coach Alan McConnell has highlighted the team's disposal (41 per cent efficiency against Adelaide) as an area of concern.
• The Suns will be desperate to get at least one goal after the board after a dismal two-point effort last week against Brisbane. They took just one mark inside 50 for the game and allowed 22 up the other end.
• Tip: A difficult one to call, with both sides coming off a poor performance. The last time these played resulted in a one-point win to the Giants, but the Suns might just get over the line here. Four points.

WATCH IT LIVE Giants v Suns

ST KILDA v CARLTON

5.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
RSEA Park, Moorabbin, Vic

• St Kilda have alternatively dominated and been dominated in its games this year. With Caitlin Greiser, Jacqui Vogt, Kate Shierlaw and Darcy Guttridge, the Saints have the potential to score quickly, but struggled to translate their possession into a meaningful tally against North Melbourne.
• It's starting to get a little serious for pre-season premiership fancy Carlton, sitting at 0-2 in a nine-round season. The inclusions of defenders Mua Laloifi (concussion) and Gab Pound (hand) and midfielder Lucy McEvoy (cheekbone) will help enormously.
• Tip: Patrikios v Prespakis, yes please. The two former Calder Cannons teammates will face off in the middle of the ground, but it's the latter looking likely to finish with the choccies. Blues by 17 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Blues

MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE

7.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Casey Fields, Vic

• Melbourne has done everything asked of it in the first two rounds of the season, seeing off second-year clubs Gold Coast and Richmond. Conceding early majors would be a bit of a concern, but the number of goals they've created at their end (16 in two weeks, equal-second highest) would please coach Mick Stinear.
• Similarly, North Melbourne has ticked every box in front of it thus far. The Roos are winning plenty of the footy (ranked second for disposal), controlling play (second for marks) and converting inside 50 (equal-second for goals).
• Tip: By the end of this match, one team will have lost their first game for the season. Despite the somewhat chaotic conditions the blustery Casey Fields can throw up, the powerful Kangaroos should hold firm. North by 22 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Demons v Kangaroos

ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE

12.40pm ACDT, Sunday, February 14
Norwood Oval, SA

• Is the rampaging Adelaide back as one of the premier sides of the competition? Early signs indicate yes, although their two wins have come against strugglers West Coast and GWS. Danielle Ponter's habit of converting one goal into three is proving to be a dangerous one for opposition sides.
• The all-conquering Dockers head to Adelaide, having just overtaken the Crows' own record for consecutive wins (now nine straight). There'll be a few battered bodies after playing in a torrential downpour, and accuracy will be front of mind after kicking 2.11.
• Tip: Will Chelsea Randall return to her defensive roots to take on the equally athletic Gemma Houghton? This match is very much a flip of a coin, but the Crows' midfield depth may be too much. Crows by five points.

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Dockers

RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD

3.10pm AEDT, Sunday, February 14
Swinburne Centre, Vic

• We're fast becoming accustomed to rescheduled games, and at the start of the week, Richmond was drawn to play West Coast and Collingwood to make the trip north to face Brisbane.
• Despite boasting some high-profile forwards in Katie Brennan and Sabrina Frederick, the Tigers have kicked just three goals across two games. Inaccuracy and supply have been issues, but they simply need to get on the board more to win games.
• Collingwood steadily dismantled Geelong, proving they have too many threats all over the park. Ruby Schleicher is becoming a genuine rebound defender, while the pacey Sarah Rowe slotted in perfectly across half-forward after missing round one with a shoulder injury.
• Tip: The Tigers were hoping to break their duck against West Coast, but a fixture reshuffle proved that was not to be. Unfortunately, that win is now unlikely to come this weekend. Pies by 28 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Magpies

BRISBANE v WEST COAST

4.15pm AEST, Monday February 15
Hickey Park, Qld

• Brisbane nearly played a perfect match against Gold Coast, holding their intrastate rivals to just two points while kicking 10 goals. The Lions appear to have a good mix of experience and youth, with the latter – led by Nat Grider, Belle Dawes, Jesse Wardlaw and Dakota Davidson – beginning to dictate matches.
• West Coast lost no admirers for its tough performance in soggy conditions against Fremantle, with Mikayla Bowen and a much-improved Belinda Smith among those trying their hearts out. After needing to dip into top-up players to fill the emergency slots, Melissa Caulfield (hamstring) and Maddy Collier (concussion) are now available.
• Tip: Lions have too much momentum at the moment, and the Eagles are making one of the longest trips in footy from Perth to Brisbane. Lions by 32 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Eagles

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BRISBANE might start wishing it played every game on a Monday after a crushing second-half performance against West Coast to win by 45 points at Hickey Park. 

The 10.5 (65) to 2.8 (20) victory keeps the Lions undefeated and on top of the ladder ahead of what should be a sterner test against Adelaide at the same venue on Sunday.

LIONS v EAGLES Full match coverage and stats

Although the final margin was comfortable, Brisbane only led by a point at half-time and was lucky to be in front.

The Eagles dominated the clearances and inside 50s in the first two quarters but could not capitalise and it came back to bite them after the main break.

That's when things changed in dramatic fashion.

Whatever coach Craig Starcevich said at half-time he'll wish he could bottle, as the hosts kicked four goals in the opening six minutes of the third to put the game away.

The Lions started winning the ball out of the middle and their forwards capitalised, with youngster Taylor Smith (three goals) and Dakota Davidson (two) finishing off some fine play upfield.

Veteran Lauren Arnell (18 and one goal) continued her exceptional season, as did Sophie Conway (15 and five tackles).

Kate Lutkins and Bree Koenen were largely responsible for keeping Brisbane in the match during the first half as the defence held up despite conceding 18 inside 50s to eight.

More to come  

Five minutes of madness
From the opening bounce of the third quarter, Brisbane was a different team. After struggling to win a clearance in the opening half the Lions began waltzing the ball out of the middle and giving the forwards plenty of opportunities – and boy did they cash in. Dakota Davidson kicked the opening goal of the quarter from a tight angle, and when Ally Anderson cleverly snapped from close range and Jesse Wardlaw converted a set shot, the home team was away and never looked back.

All the play but nothing to show
West Coast could have had the game on ice by quarter-time but failed to cash in on their dominance. They absolutely destroyed a flat Brisbane around the contest, winning the clearance count 13-0 in the opening term. It led to 11 inside 50s to Brisbane's two, but unfortunately the polish wasn't there. They kicked 1.5 and missed another two shots to go to the first change with a narrow five-point lead.

The difference
For the past couple of seasons Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich has generally stuck to a tried-and-tested midfield rotation – but not this time. With his on-ball brigade of Emily Bates, Ally Anderson and Cathy Svarc being slaughtered in the first half, Starcevich threw some new players into the middle with great success. Speedster Courtney Hodder, in just her third game, lively Sophie Conway, and hard-nut Bree Koenen all took stints around the contest and helped turn the tide for the Lions. 

Say what?
"You have to expect good teams to come at you and we were a little bit flat early. We were right in a contest and it was valuable for later on in the year…to get some composure and try to find a solution to this." - Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich

"I’ve been really proud of their effort for periods of the game … but against good teams you need to play for four quarters. Brisbane are at the top of the table for a reason and they made us pay. It could have been a completely different game (if West Coast kicked straight in the first term). Brisbane kicked pretty straight in that third and got put on the back foot a bit and we didn’t handle it." – West Coast coach Daniel Pratt

What's next?
Brisbane will be out for a fourth straight win when it plays its third straight match at Hickey Park on Sunday against Adelaide at 12.10pm (AEST). West Coast also has a six-day turnaround and another trip east to play Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown International Sportspark at 5.10pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

BRISBANE        1.0      3.1       8.5       10.5 (65)
WEST COAST    1.5      2.6       2.6       2.8 (20) 

GOALS
Brisbane: Smith 3, Davidson 2, Anderson, Arnell, Bates, Bodey
West Coast: Gilmore, McCarthy

BEST
Brisbane: Arnell, Conway, Smith, Bodey, Grider, Lutkins, Koenen
West Coast: McCarthy, Laurie, Swanson, Lewis 

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Nil
West Coast: Gilmore (head)

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: N/A at Hickey Park

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