A review of all the action from Round 5 of the 2024 rebel VFLW season.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs WESTERN BULLDOGS
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.2 2.3 5.4 7.4 (46)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 (25)
WILLIAMSTOWN put down the hammer in the second half to run away from Western Bulldogs by 21 points at DSV Stadium on Saturday, claiming a fifth-straight win over their neighbour and regaining a spot in the rebel VFLW top six a third of the way through the season.
The teams traded blows in the first half, going goal for goal as the Bulldogs twice answered a Seagulls major within six minutes, but the visitors missed their chances to build a lead by kicking 2.7 to the main break.
And it proved fatal as Williamstown sparked into gear, slamming on three unanswered goals in the third term and adding another two in the last to record its highest score against the Bulldogs as Renee Saulitis’ strike four minutes from full-time proved to be their rival’s only score of the half.
Emily Eaves was a powerhouse through the middle for the Seagulls, winning eight clearances among her 15 disposals and kicking two goals.
She had plenty of support with Ash Thorneycroft having 16 touches, five clearances, 10 tackles, while Megan Williamson picked up 15 disposals, nine clearances and seven tackles. Up forward, Molly Simpson and Teagan Brett booted two goals each.
Keeley Hardingham (15 disposals, 30 hitouts, five tackles) was the Bulldogs’ best in a terrific battle with Chloe Bain (26 hitouts, 11 tackles) as Sarah Skinner (17 disposals, eight tackles), Dom Carruthers (16 disposals, eight tackles), Cassidy Mailer (16 disposals, five marks) and Dom Carbone (18 disposals, five tackles) all put their hands up.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs NORTH MELBOURNE
BOX HILL HAWKS 3.0 6.5 9.7 11.11 (77)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1 2.2 3.3 4.3 (27)
CHARLOTTE Baskaran bounced back from a quiet game against Williamstown with a classy display as Box Hill Hawks smacked down a genuine challenger to their premiership favouritism in a 50-point destruction of North Melbourne at Fenjiu Stadium.
AFLW rising star Baskaran was subdued by Seagull Mikayla Plunkett last week but revelled in the lack of a tag from the Kangaroos to gather 25 quality disposals (10 contested) and six clearances to drive the Hawks to their fifth and most impressive win of the season.
It was a tough battle early as two teams likely to be right in contention when the whips are cracking traded blows, with the Hawks taking their chances better to lead by five points at quarter-time.
Tamara Luke’s powerful mark and goal right on the siren sparked her team and they booted 3.5 to 0.1 in the second term and another three in the first six minutes of the third to blow the game wide open.
North fought it out from there and only allowed Box Hill to extend the margin by one more goal, although Roos coach Brett Gourley will be looking for ways to increase his team’s scoring given it finished with four goals for the fourth week in a row.
Baskaran was best afield but tall forwards Luke (14 disposals, three goals) and Bridie Hipwell (18 disposals, two goals) were unstoppable in the air. Last week’s matchwinner Rosie Dillon (20 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances, one goal), defender Matilda van Berkel, tackling machine Danika Spamer and debutant ruck Paula Pavic also starred to lead Box Hill to its highest score and biggest win against the Kangaroos.
Best-and-fairest Audrey Rhodes was terrific for the Roos, kicking the opening goal on her way to 18 touches, seven tackles and six clearances before being helped off with what looked like an ankle injury in the third quarter. Maddie Di Cosmo and Essendon premiership player Renee Tierney did all they could to keep their team alive.
GWS GIANTS vs GEELONG CATS
GWS GIANTS 4.7 7.8 10.9 14.10 (94)
GEELONG CATS 0.0 0.2 1.3 1.3 (9)
GWS made Geelong’s trip north a difficult one, blowing the Cats away by 85 points at Tom Wills Oval.
The Giants ended the contest in the first quarter with a 4.7 to 0.0 blitz and they booted at least three goals in each quarter on their way to the highest score and biggest win of their first three matches while inflicting the highest score and biggest loss in Geelong’s history.
The Cats had no answer for rising champ midfielder Zarlie Goldsworthy, with the best-and-fairest winner racking up 28 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances and three goals to lead a stats sheet that remarkably had 14 Giants in the top 15 ball winners.
No.3 draft pick Kaitlyn Srhoj (27 disposals), Lions AFLW premiership player Mikayla Pauga (23 disposals, two goals), Irishwoman Eilish O’Dowd (24 disposals) and Tasmanian product Madison Brazendale (20 disposals) excelled, while Tarni Evans (four goals) was brilliant up forward.
Geelong’s best in club stalwart Breanna Pratt 50th game were defender Jo Sunderland (15 disposals) and ruck Caitlin Reid (11 disposals, five clearances, nine tackles, 31 hitouts) as GWS conceded only 133 disposals and 10 inside-50s.
SYDNEY SWANS vs CASEY DEMONS
SYDNEY SWANS 8.2 11.2 15.6 16.7 (103)
CASEY DEMONS 0.1 2.3 2.3 2.6 (18)
SYDNEY brushed aside its third straight opponent and set up a mouthwatering clash with undefeated Box Hill Hawks this week, booting a stunning eight first-quarter goals on its way to an 85-point thrashing of Casey Demons at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Cynthia Hamilton started the rout within 37 seconds and the Swans led by 49 points at the first break and booted another 4.4 to 0.0 in the third term, but the Demons fought the game out well, conceding just one goal in the last quarter to avoid a second triple-figure defeat of the season.
Sydney’s ball-winning ability was almost devastating, falling only three short of having twice as many disposals on its way to a 42-21 inside-50 dominance as Casey conceded its highest away score and biggest away defeat.
Best and fairest Laura Gardiner did it again, stuffing the stats sheet with 42 disposals, six marks and six clearances, while Montana Ham (26 disposals two goals) and Sofia Hurley (23 disposals, six marks, five entries, one goal) also dominated and Hamilton (three goals), Giselle Davies (three), Bella Smith (two) and Montana Beruldsen (two) cashed in up forward.
For the Demons, Meg Macdonald and Lily Johnson had 15 touches each, the former adding 10 tackles, while Tahlia Gillard (14 disposals, 26 hitouts) won the ruck battle and Shree Fairchild did a great job to restrict Chloe Molloy to 14 possessions and one goal.
CARLTON vs PORT MELBOURNE
CARLTON 1.3 3.4 4.4 5.6 (36)
PORT MELBOURNE 0.1 1.1 1.4 4.4 (28)
CARLTON breathed life into its finals aspirations with an impressive eight-point victory over a fast-finishing Port Melbourne at IKON Park.
A Blues team featuring a host of AFLW stars led by 19 points just before three quarter-time but had to withstand a blistering charge from the reigning premiers to claim their second win of the season.
The Borough was aiming to celebrate the 50th games of Lauren Caruso and Jessie Williams but found themselves chasing tail after falling 21 points behind midway through the second quarter.
They only had one goal on the board at three quarter-time but charged home with the first three majors of the last term to get within a point with four minutes to play, but the Blues held firm and star goalkicker Darcy Vescio finally broke the shackles to kick their only goal on the final siren to seal the win.
It was the Blues’ AFLW talent that made the difference, with 2022 best-and-fairest Mimi Hill on fire with 26 disposals and a goal, young gun Lily Goss having 19 touches and two goals, Keeley Sherar adding 21 touches, five marks, five clearances and six tackles and experienced defender Gen Lawson-Tavan giving nothing away.
Maddie Shevlin was terrific for Port with 22 touches and six marks, while Eloise Ashley-Cooper (17 disposals), milestone woman Lauren Caruso and Laura McClelland also did well.
DAREBIN FALCONS vs COLLINGWOOD
DAREBIN FALCONS 0.0 0.1 0.1 2.1 (13)
COLLINGWOOD 1.3 2.4 5.4 6.5 (41)
COLLINGWOOD rolled out its AFLW talent and duly saw off Darebin, keeping the Falcons just one behind for three quarters on its way to a 28-point victory at Genis Steel Oval.
Despite the talent on the park, the Falcons got as close to the Magpies as they ever have, even though they were never a chance of winning the game.
Carly Remmos (30 disposals, 12 clearances) put on a show in a career-best display for Collingwood, with Alana Porter and Sarah Ingram also showing their class, Lily Pearce winning 42 hitouts and Lauren Brazzale kicking two goals.
Darebin star Ange Gogos was once again her team’s best player, racking up 22 disposals, 15 clearances and 11 tackles in another remarkable display.
Meanwhile Victoria Blackwood worked hard in defence and Alyssa Mifsud, Riley Christgoergl and Sam Baisas did their best to keep their team in the game in Monique De Matteo’s 50th VFLW match.
ESSENDON vs SOUTHERN SAINTS
ESSENDON 3.3 3.6 4.8 4.10 (34)
SOUTHERN SAINTS 0.1 1.3 3.6 3.7 (25)
ESSENDON bounced back from last week’s loss to Western Bulldogs to attack the Southern Saints early before hanging on for a nine-point win at the NEC Hangar.
The Bombers kicked three unanswered goals in the first quarter to secure the momentum and then saw off a third-term rally that brought the Saints back within two points just before the final break.
Emily Gough kicked the game-breaking goal in the final minute of the third quarter to re-establish an eight-point lead and the Bombers held firm in a goalless final term.
Playing her first game for the club, Bailey Hunt was crucial in building Essendon’s early lead with two goals, while skipper El Chaston (21 disposals), star midfielder Georgia Nanscawen (20 disposals), Amy Gaylor (17 disposals) and Isabelle Porter (17 disposals) were also important.
Gabby De Angelis had claims to best afield in a losing cause for the Saints for her 20 possessions, seven marks, six tackles, five entries and a goal, as did Charlotte Ryan, who led all comers with 22 touches, seven marks and five clearances.
Other Saints to impress were defender Natalie Plane (18 disposals, five tackles, five rebounds), while Ali Hynes laid 10 tackles in her 50th match.
