A review of all the action from Round 9 of the 2024 rebel VFLW season.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs CARLTON
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.4 4.4 5.6 9.6 (60)
CARLTON 1.0 2.0 3.1 5.2 (32)
WILLIAMSTOWN booted its highest-ever score at DSV Stadium and its biggest against Carlton to move within percentage of top spot on the rebel VFLW ladder with a comfortable 28-point victory.
The Seagulls have turned themselves into a genuine premiership contender with their ability to score in rushes, and they did it again on Saturday to turn what looked like being an epic finish into a runaway victory.
Williamstown controlled the match from the outset with star forward Sharnie Whiting booting two early goals either side of a major from Carlton’s Georgia Tait. The Seagulls led by 16 at the first break after Megan Williamson also hit the target.
Both teams managed just one goal each in the middle two quarters before Eliza Straford nailed a major in the opening 90 seconds of the last to set up what appeared to be a match-winning lead for the home side.
However, Emily Hurley and Amy Trindade hit back almost immediately to bring the visitors back with 11 points with plenty of time to go.
But Straford’s second and two more from Molly Simpson, who finished with three goals from limited opportunities, quickly put paid to the challenge.
Straford (18 disposals, two goals), Williamson (13 disposals, 13 tackles, one goal), Whiting (13 disposals, six marks, two goals) and Ash Thorneycroft (21 disposals, six tackles, five clearances) were hard to split for best afield honours. Full back Gabby Biedenweg-Webster (14 disposals, four marks) also deserved to be in the conversation.
Hurley’s around the ground performance gave her the edge over Cat O’Bryan in the ruck as she added 15 disposals, 24 hitouts and six clearances to her goal to be Carlton’s best.
Hannah Scott (20 disposals, eight tackles), Eliza Wood (17 disposals, five marks, 10 tackles), Izzy Khoury (12 disposals, nine tackles) and defender Steph Demeo (16 disposals, four marks) also performed well for the Blues.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs ESSENDON
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.5 4.7 8.9 10.9 (69)
ESSENDON 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 (3)
NORTH Melbourne finally rediscovered the form that had it touted as one of the premiership favourites pre-season, thrashing Essendon by a record 66 points at Arden Street Oval.
The Kangaroos were expected to be a major contender but were teetering at 3-5 before this game against a team ranked six places higher on the ladder.
But they exploded to kick their highest ever VFLW score, claim their biggest ever winning margin and restrict the Bombers to their lowest tally in a devastating display that will have the other clubs looking over their shoulders.
In fact, they didn’t even allow the 2022 premiers to score until a rushed behind 68 seconds into the last quarter, with the other two minors coming within the final four minutes of the day.
The margin could have been far greater, with North Melbourne star forward Nyakoat Dojiok (17 disposals, four marks) unstoppable in attack but leaving her kicking boots at home to finish with 2.5.
Alana Barba was surprisingly cut by Essendon’s AFLW squad at the end of last season and she responded in style, amassing 22 possessions, five tackles and two goals in a masterclass against her old team.
Reigning club best-and-fairest Audrey Rhodes (20 disposals, eight tackles, one goal) were also outstanding and Renee Tierney (21 disposals, five clearances) and Maddie Di Cosmo (22 disposals, five tackles, five clearances) did the hard work on the inside.
Essendon captain El Chaston was phenomenal in trying to repel the waves of North Melbourne attacks, recording a game-high 29 disposals, six marks and seven rebounds.
Kodi Jacques (23 disposals, six tackles), Ruby Mahony (20 disposals, nine tackles), debutant Lavinia Cox (18 disposals) and youngster Emily Tassiopoulos (16 disposals, five marks) were also able to hold their heads high.
CASEY DEMONS vs GEELONG CATS
CASEY DEMONS 4.2 5.2 6.5 7.7 (49)
GEELONG CATS 0.2 1.4 3.5 5.6 (36)
CASEY Demons climbed into the top six, blowing Geelong away in the first quarter before holding on in the second half for a 13-point win at Casey Fields.
The Demons were electric early against the out-of-form Cats, booting four unanswered goals to effectively put the game to bed and extending the margin to 30 when Jo Lin kicked her second four minutes after the break.
But Geelong gradually started to work its way back into the game and broke a 98-minute goal drought dating back to the Round 7 game against Carlton when debutant Lillie Barendsen kicked truly in the ninth minute of the second term.
Her second with 10 minutes to play cut the margin to 12 points, but they could get no closer as Lin’s third goal three minutes later put paid to any thoughts of a miracle.
Lin (10 disposals, three goals) aside, former captain Sammie Johnson was the star for the Demons, winning an equal game-high 23 disposals, taking four marks and laying five tackles.
Tegan Williams (22 disposals, eight rebounds) was marvellous in defence and Meg Macdonald (19 disposals, five tackles), Zoe Mitchell (17 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles), Shree Fairchild (19 disposals) and Sarah D’Arcy (two goals) were also important.
Poppy Schaap didn’t hit the scoreboard, but her forward pressure in winning 19 disposals and laying 12 tackles was enormous for Geelong, with Brooke Plummer (23 disposals, four marks), debutant ruck Piper Dunlop (13 disposals, 16 hitouts), Breanna Pratt (16 disposals, 10 tackles, five rebounds) and Abbey McDonald (21 disposals, six clearances) also prominent.
COLLINGWOOD vs WESTERN BULLDOGS
COLLINGWOOD 0.1 1.1 2.2 2.2 (14)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 3.4 3.8 6.8 (44)
WESTERN Bulldogs could lay a claim to premiership favouritism after showing the strength of their VFLW list in a 30-point win over Collingwood at Victoria Park.
Both clubs put their AFLW stars in cotton wool to prepare for the season ahead and it was the Bulldogs who proved they needed them less as they wore down then broke away from the Magpies in the final quarter to climb into a share of the ladder lead just 24 games after a winless 2022 season.
The Bulldogs kicked their highest score and enjoyed their biggest win over the Magpies, who equalled their lowest tally head-to-head on the back of a 43-20 inside-50 domination.
Star midfielder Dom Carbone (19 disposals, six clearances, nine tackles, one goal) was electric for the visitors alongside Courtney Ugle (20 disposals, four marks, six tackles), former Swan Sarah Skinner (17 disposals, seven tackles, one goal), young ruck Keeley Hardingham (19 disposals, 14 hitouts, five clearances, six tackles, one goal) and Renee Saulitis (15 disposals, five marks, one goal).
Collingwood’s hero from the win over Sydney a fortnight ago, Kaitlyn Day, was her team’s best with 16 touches, six clearances and five inside-50s. Jaide Anthony (17 disposals), Kasey Lennox (15 disposals, seven rebounds), Maya Ellin (13 disposals, nine tackles) and Lilly Pearce (33 hitouts) all performing strongly in a defeat that cost them their place inside the top six.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs DAREBIN FALCONS
BOX HILL HAWKS 2.1 2.3 2.3 3.4 (22)
DAREBIN FALCONS 1.0 2.2 3.5 4.6 (30)
If you didn’t see it, you wouldn’t believe it, but the sleeping giant of women’s footy might just be starting to rise like a phoenix from the ashes.
The Darebin Falcons remembered how to win last week after more than two years, and they backed it up with the biggest possible scalp, usurping Collingwood’s claim to the upset of the season with an unbelievable eight-point shock of ladder-leader Box Hill Hawks in the rain at Fenjiu Stadium on Sunday.
And they did it in style, resisting the Hawks’ punch of two goals late in the first quarter to keep the flag favourites goalless for an hour before breaking the home team’s back when it would normally be themselves who yielded.
A scoreless period from the 10th minute of the second term until the 17th minute of the third kept the door open for Darebin and after three consecutive behinds gave the Falcons the lead, Amy Kane booted a goal in the shadows of three quarter-time that provided the belief they needed to go on with the job.
Ella Southgate’s goal 11 minutes into the last quarter ensured the visitors wouldn’t lose, and although Sophie Butterworth broke Box Hill’s drought at the death, the scenes on the final siren were almost premiership-like.
Ange Gogos again proved a class above for the Falcons, racking up 30 disposals, 10 clearances and nine tackles in another best-afield performance. Returning legend Nicole Callinan showed she has lost none of her ability in two years off the park in gathering 18 touches and five marks.
Alyssa Mifsud (21 disposals, seven clearances) was also outstanding for Darebin, full-back Victoria Blackwood (10 disposals, nine tackles) worked herself to a standstill and Riley Christgoergl (16 disposals, six rebounds) were also important.
Nadia von Bertouch did her best to hold out in defence for Box Hill with 18 touches, eight marks and eight rebounds, Bridget Deed (22 disposals, five clearances, six tackles, five entries) was terrific in the middle and Danika Spamer (18 disposals, 11 tackles), Caitlin Thorne (16 disposals, nine tackles, one goal) and Ellie McLinden (16 disposals, six tackles) continued their fine seasons.
SOUTHERN SAINTS VS PORT MELBOURNE
SOUTHERN SAINTS 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.5 (11)
PORT MELBOURNE 1.0 2.0 2.1 2.3 (15)
PORT Melbourne moved back into the top six and all-but ended Southern Saints’ finals hopes, hanging on to win by four points in a low-scoring struggle at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
The Borough booted two unanswered goals in the first half and then held on despite not adding another, with the Saints’ only major coming in the 15th minute of the last quarter, with the Port defence managing to knock Kiara Henry’s late shot through for a behind.
Gabby Seymour was huge for Port Melbourne in her first VFLW game for three years with 20 disposals, eight marks, five entries and five tackles, while the stocks of Ava Seton (19, eight clearances, five tackles, five entries, five rebounds, one goal) continue to rise.
Eloise Ashley-Cooper (21, five clearances, 10 tackles), Lauren Caruso (14, nine tackles) and Belinda Woolcock (13, seven tackles, one goal) were others to shine through the Sunday afternoon gloom for the Borough.
Saints teenager Ahlee Penry (10, 25 hitouts) impressed in the ruck against premiership tall Beth Wilson (nine, 26) in just her second game, with best-and-fairest Winnie Laing (24, eight tackles) and Deanna Jolliffe (17, seven tackles, eight rebounds) firing to keep their team in the game and Ali Hynes (seven tackles) leading a defensive unit that held Emily Harley to just three touches.
