JUST TWO home and away rounds remain in the 2021 NAB AFLW season, and teams are still jostling for a finals position.

Brisbane hosts North Melbourne in the match of the round, while Fremantle and Melbourne should also be a cracker.

And who will win consecutive games for the first time, West Coast or Richmond?

Friday, March 19

Gold Coast v Carlton at Metricon Stadium, 4.10pm AEST

• Frustratingly, the Suns still remain without a win, and with two rounds remaining, time is starting to run out. Maddi Levi had an instant impact in her return up forward, but the Suns have struggled to maintain possession on the outside, ranked last for average uncontested possessions.
• There's no two ways about it, it's crunch time for Carlton. The Blues have to win big on Friday night – and again the following week – and hope results go their way in order to qualify for finals. They effectively outplayed the powerful Fremantle for all but 10 minutes last week.
• Tip: Unfortunately for Gold Coast, Carlton is here on a mission and the Suns are standing in their path. Blues by 27 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Suns v Blues

Saturday, March 20

Geelong v Greater Western Sydney at GMHBA Stadium, 1.10pm AEDT

• A short turnaround for Geelong, having played in the heat in Perth on Monday. They'll be looking to rebound after comfortably their worst performance for the year, struggling with the Eagles' intensity and as has been the case all year, breaking down across half-forward.
• GWS will be full of confidence after a comprehensive win over St Kilda and have a good (but short) record against Geelong. The wet-weather specialists won't have the rain on their side this week but will be looking to out-run the Cats on the outside, an area of concern for both teams.
• Tip: It really depends on what form Geelong produces – the confidence and run against Carlton or the confusion against West Coast? GWS may have too much power out of the middle. Giants by 15 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Giants

Collingwood v St Kilda at Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT

• Collingwood was seriously tested against Brisbane last week, losing its first match for the year and integral defenders Lauren Butler (hamstring) and Jordy Allen (foot) for the season. The new defensive mix will be something to watch for, as will Bri Davey's bounce back after being well-held by Cathy Svarc.
• What a week to draw Collingwood for the beleaguered St Kilda. The Saints will be buoyed by the availability of Rosie Dillon, who copped a knock to her larynx last week, while Nat Exon (shoulder) may also boost the side who were comfortably outplayed by the Giants.
• Tip: Collingwood is still pushing for a top-two spot and home preliminary final, meaning it'll be keen to put the foot down. Pies by 32 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Magpies v Saints

Brisbane v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 4.10pm AEST

• Brisbane is flying high, winning three consecutive games – against Fremantle, GWS and Collingwood – on the road. Cathy Svarc is curating a long list of tagging victims, while the Lions are never solely reliant on one player to star, with Emily Bates, Ally Anderson and Dakota Davidson featuring in recent weeks.
• After a mid-season slip-up, losing to Collingwood and Melbourne, North Melbourne has just done what it needs to do without ever quite hitting top form. Things get incredibly difficult now, with games against two powerhouses in Brisbane and Fremantle.
• Tip: These teams are the short-kick queens of the competition, ranked first (Roos) and second (Lions). North Melbourne might have the edge in the midfield, but the Lions have the dominance around the ground. Brisbane by eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Kangaroos

Sunday, March 21

Richmond v West Coast at the Swinburne Centre, 12.40pm AEDT

• Can Richmond record a consecutive win for the first time, and its third victory overall? The Tigers showed good maturity when challenged in the third quarter by the Suns, and Katie Brennan has tapped into a rare vein of form, starring up forward.
• West Coast produced its best ever game of footy against a hapless Geelong, hassling on the inside and tearing the Cats apart on the outside. They've now shown they can pile on the goals, which will have given the team enormous confidence after a tough 18 months.
• Tip: Both teams coming into this match after a win would have raised eyebrows at the start of the season, but they're in the best form we've seen from the fledgling sides. The Tigers may have too much midfield firepower, especially with Emma Swanson suspended. Richmond by 13 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Eagles

Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval, 3.40pm ADCT

• Adelaide will be looking to rebound from a surprise and poor loss to Melbourne, beaten in the clearances and conceding a whopping 40 inside 50s. The Crows still lead the competition in contested possessions and are second for disposals.
• After two straight losses to more experienced sides in Collingwood and North Melbourne, the Bulldogs desperately need a win to keep their finals hopes alive. Izzy Huntington is averaging 2.6 contested marks a game – the next best, Maddy Boyd, is on 1.6 – but faces a fierce battle against Sarah Allan.
• Tip: Adelaide should be stung by its performance against Melbourne, and despite a healthy percentage, would prefer to wrap up a finals spot this week rather than next against Collingwood. Crows by 23 points.  

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Bulldogs

Fremantle v Melbourne at Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST

• Fremantle should be riding high after its come-from-behind win over Carlton. Kiara Bowers is seemingly unstoppable in the midfield at the moment, rebounding from a quiet first quarter where she had just four disposals to finish with 28. She's now favourite for the AFLW best and fairest.
• The equation is simple for Melbourne – its currently in the top six but is vulnerable to dropping out if the Dogs or Blues get on a roll. Pinching a win here would be ideal, but if the Dees are to lose, keeping it to a manageable margin will be key.
• Tip: Fremantle rarely loses at Fremantle Oval, but Melbourne pulled one out of the box against Adelaide at Casey Fields last week. Saying that, the Dockers may have too many forward targets. Freo by 14 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Demons

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MELBOURNE has booked its spot in the NAB AFLW finals series with a nail-biting five-point victory over Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons led by four goals at half-time and looked on their way to an easy victory, but had to withstand a spirited second-half comeback from the highly rated Dockers to register the 5.7 (37) to 4.8 (32) triumph.

DOCKERS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

Kate Hore kicked two goals for the Demons in an excellent display up forward, veteran Karen Paxman collected a game-high 24 disposals, while Lauren Pearce (21 touches and 16 hitouts) was dominant throughout in the ruck.

Roxy Roux booted two goals for the Dockers and was the spark the hosts needed to get them back in the contest, but she failed to receive much support as the Demons notched the upset victory and moved up to fifth in the process.

Hore gave the Demons the perfect start by booting the first two goals of the match and, when Eliza McNamara also kicked truly, the visitors led by 19 points at the first break.

Daisy Pearce got the Demons' fourth midway through to second term to increase their buffer, but Hayley Miller and Kiara Bowers started to win more of the ball in the midfield as the momentum started to change.

Gabby O'Sullivan hit the post early in the third, only to be rewarded for her persistence when she kicked truly moments later as the Dockers had their first of the afternoon.

A Brenna Tarrant turnover on the stroke of three-quarter time led to Roux's first as tempers flared on both sides and set-up the thrilling final term.

Gemma Houghton put the Dockers in front with a major midway through the last, but Maddison Gay hit back for the Dees shortly after following a lovely pass from Daisy Pearce to ensure the visitors held on.

Did you see that?
Daisy Pearce may not be as electrifying as she once was, but the 32-year-old can still make the footy talk when gifted with time and space to utilise her excellent skills. Pearce turned back the clock when she kicked a lovely snap in the second term when the Dees were on top and then helped set up Maddison Gay for the sealer in the final quarter to cap off yet another strong performance.

The difference
While gun midfielder Kiara Bowers is regarded as one of the favourites for the AFL Women's best and fairest this season, the Fremantle superstar was well held by the Demons on Sunday afternoon. The Demons used a few different players against Bowers during the clash and restricting her to just 12 disposals went a long way in deciding the match. To Bowers' credit, she fought hard and did manage to lay 11 tackles.

The ladder now
The Demons' victory means just one win separates top-placed Brisbane and fifth-placed Melbourne as we head into a thrilling final round of AFLW. While the Kangaroos currently occupy the final spot in the top six, there is still a chance they could be usurped on the final day of the regular season. If the Dockers can defeat the Kangaroos in Melbourne on Saturday, then Carlton will head into its final round clash against the Giants knowing they could still snatch sixth with a big victory.

Say what?
"I missed a few the last few rounds and was a bit nervous and a bit shaky, but I just had to relax, breathe, go through my routine and put it through for the girls," Melbourne forward Maddison Gay on her goal in the final term.

"It was always going to be tough coming over here and beating Freo in this heat, but I am just really proud of the girls. "

What's next?
The Dockers are back on the road to tackle on North Melbourne at Arden Street on Saturday afternoon, while the Demons finish the regular season at home against the Lions at Casey Fields on the same day.

FREMANTLE      0.1     0.5     2.7     4.8     (32)
MELBOURNE     3.2     4.5     4.7     5.7     (37)

GOALS
Fremantle: Roux 2, O'Sullivan, Houghton
Melbourne: Hore 2, D.Pearce, McNamara, Gay

BEST
Fremantle: Roux, Miller, E.Antonio, O'Sullivan, Haynes
Melbourne: L.Pearce, Paxman, Scott, D.Pearce, Gay

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Melbourne: Goldrick (hamstring)

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