JUST one undefeated team remains in 2022, while only one side continues to search for its first win.
The pressure valve might have released for the Western Bulldogs after a hard fought win last weekend, but now they must travel to South Australian to take on Adelaide, meanwhile the winless Saints will host a very confident Brisbane outfit.
VFLW MATCH OF THE ROUND: WATCH CASEY DEMONS v PORT MELBOURNE LIVE FROM 10.35am AEDT ON SATURDAY, FEB 12, ON AFL.COM.AU AND THE AFL LIVE OFFICIAL APP
On top of all of this, Western Australia will get its first taste of footy since round one after approval was given for Carlton and Collingwood to enter the state — briefly — to take on Fremantle and West Coast.
Gold Coast v Geelong at Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
- Final-quarter surges have become Gold Coast’s signature in recent weeks, kicking 44 per cent of its score in fourth quarters this year. Despite finding themselves in tricky positions in second halves at time this year, the Suns have developed a real grit, proving they can change the momentum of games and really persist. While they have been exposed a little in defence due to injuries, their ability to defend higher up the field and adapt to player availability within games has been a testament to their maturity as a unit, despite a very young list.
- Despite being just 19 and 21 years old respectively, the loss of Darcy Moloney and Annabel Johnson will hurt Geelong. Both players have impressed this year with their attack at the ball and have played significant roles in both defence and attack. Their game style will be hard to replace this weekend.
- Tip: This will go down to the wire, but the Suns’ drive to the final siren will see them narrowly take the victory. Gold Coast by two points.
WATCH IT LIVE Suns v Cats
Richmond v North Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, 2.10pm AEDT
- Injuries to key players are mounting for Richmond. Already without key position players Harriet Cordner and Courtney Wakefield, the Tigers have now lost winger Hannah Burchell and midfielder Laura McClelland for the season. Providing more support to Monique Conti through the middle of the ground will be vital if they’re to protect a weakened backline from the speed and precision of North Melbourne’s attack.
- The Kangaroos have started to hit their straps in recent weeks, settling into some positional changes designed to take the side not just to finals this year, but find consistency in coming seasons as older players move on. In front of goal it’s their small and mid-sized forwards who are doing the damage. Key forward targets Tahlia Randall and Emma King have combined for just two goals so far this year, whereas the likes of Daria Bannister, Ellie Gavalas and Daisy Bateman have been really proactive at ground level. Shutting those smaller forwards down will be important if Richmond are to limit the Roos.
- Tip: North Melbourne is gaining momentum, while the opposite is true of Richmond. North Melbourne by 25 points.
WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Kangaroos
Melbourne v GWS at Casey Fields, 4.10pm AEDT
- Melbourne has been strong at the contest this year, losing the clearances just once—in its loss to Adelaide in round four. Lauren Pearce, Eliza West and Eden Zanker are the trio leading the way in that regard for the Demons and it’s the versatile makeup of their midfield that helps them combat most opponents. Pearce will be key to winning it at the source against the Giants. Both Erin McKinnon and Ally Morphett are very strong in the air and position themselves well around the field, but where Pearce will get the upper hand is at ground level.
- Greater Western Sydney was forced into some unusual positional changes in its last match due to several players being unavailable, and it breathed fresh air into a side that has been fairly stagnant in recent seasons. It’s important that the Giants take that perspective into this game against Melbourne because the rigid Giants of past years doesn’t have the edge to consistently challenge good teams.
- Tip: Melbourne is on a 10-game winning streak at home, and this will likely continue this weekend. Melbourne by 15 points.
WATCH IT LIVE Demons v Giants
Fremantle v Carlton at Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST
- Fremantle has returned home after a successful hub experience, winning four of its five matches, and playing an extra game compared to the rest of the competition. The Dockers’ forward pressure has become a real signature of their game, averaging nearly 18 tackles inside 50 and 36.7 inside 50s each game. This has led them to create repeat opportunities at goal and average the second-most scoring shots each game in the competition.
- On the flip side, Carlton is really struggling to apply pressure, particularly in the forward half. The Blues are averaging just four tackles inside 50 this year — the fewest in the competition — while also conceding the most inside 50s of any side each week with 36.8. A lack of defence in the forward line and midfield is really putting what is typically a composed backline under immense pressure and, in turn, leaking 45.2 points a game. Fremantle’s ability to control territory, and Carlton’s inability to do the same spells trouble for the Blues.
- Tip: Fremantle is playing at home in front of their fans for the first time in a month, there’s no better time to get back on the winners list. Fremantle by 35 points.
WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Blues
St Kilda v Brisbane at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Oval, 1.10pm AEDT
- An opportunity to register its first win of the season went begging on Tuesday for St Kilda, unable to control play despite having more of the footy and soundly beaten at stoppages without important midfielder Olivia Vesely being rested despite a 17-day layoff between games. The Saints are up against one of the toughest midfields in the competition in Brisbane and simply cannot let the Lions transition easily from stoppages to outside run. That second layer around the contest needs to be really strong for the Saints if they’re a chance to contain Brisbane.
- Brisbane is on the charge now it’s played three consecutive games with limited disruption. The composure of experienced players on the ball is vital, but the Lions have deep stocks when it comes to run and carry, which makes them super adaptable to conditions within games. Orla O’Dwyer, Greta Bodey, Sophie Conway and Cathy Svarc can all cut defences open with power and speed, and have good connection with contested ball players, so are very hard to shut down.
- Tip: The Lions will continue that momentum. Brisbane by 20 points.
WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Lions
West Coast v Collingwood at Mineral Resources Park, 12.10pm AWST
- West Coast is fresh off its first win of the year and home for the first time in a month, but the question is whether the side will be able to take those positives into its match against Collingwood. The Eagles are very good at winning clearances but struggle to make that control effective once the ball is outside the contest, which is not too dissimilar to Collingwood this year. Whichever side can create more effective attack out of the contest will have the upper hand in this game.
- The Eagles use the ball by foot more than most sides this year, whereas the Magpies are heavily reliant on moving the ball by hand, which makes it tough to gain ground when players aren’t finding enough space to run and carry on the outside. They win plenty of the ball, but simply aren’t using it in a way that is dangerous in attack, averaging the fewest inside 50s in the competition with just 20.2 per game.
- Tip: This one will be a battle of game styles, but the experience of Collingwood will see them win out. Collingwood by five points.
WATCH IT LIVE Eagles v Magpies
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval, 4.40pm ACDT
- Adelaide has been squeezing the life out of opponents slowly but surely as the clock ticks on, trapping the ball in its forward half and really limiting opponents’ opportunities to attack. The Western Bulldogs defensive unit has proven it can withstand a barrage of inside 50s for long period of time, but never across a full four quarters. This will be a big challenge for the Dogs.
- What the Dogs have conceded, however, is plenty of disposal, and they've allowed opponents to use the ball by foot around the ground. This is exactly what the Crows excel at. The Bulldogs need to force a messy, chaos game if they’re to push Adelaide, not allow the home side to use the neat kicking and uncontested ball to maintain control of the game.
- Tip: This is a tough ask to back up the Bulldogs’ first win of the season. Adelaide by 30 points.
WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Bulldogs
Did you head to the footy over the weekend? Tell us your thoughts! Take the survey now
