A review of all the action from Week One of the 2024 rebel VFLW Finals Series.

FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL: BOX HILL HAWKS vs PORT MELBOURNE

BOX HILL HAWKS     1.0        2.1        3.4        4.7 (31)
PORT MELBOURNE  1.4        3.5        4.7        7.7 (49)

PORT Melbourne’s premiership defence remains alive after it overcame the loss of its best player to suspension to bundle the Box Hill Hawks out of the rebel VFLW finals with an 18-point win in the rain at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.

The Borough became the third sixth-placed team in a row to advance past the opening week of the rebel VFLW by eliminating the third seed, and they did it in style, leading almost from post to post to win running away.

Led by two first-half goals to former Hawk Jessie Williams, Port grabbed an early lead and then responded when headed in the second term.

Box Hill fought back again in the third term, getting within a point but being unable to reclaim the lead due to desperate Borough defence.

Third-gamer Rachael Slater’s 45m set shot late in the third term gave the visitors the impetus to go on with the job, even though they had lost tackling machine Courteney Bromage to a leg injury shortly before.

Another ex-Hawk in Lambert-Pearce medallist Jordan Mifsud booted the first goal of the last as her new club nailed the first three of the term to ensure their progression to a first semi final showdown with the Western Bulldogs at Mission Whitten Oval this Saturday.

Lauren Caruso is building a reputation as a finals specialist and backed up her Hardeman Medal-winning performance in last year’s Grand Final with a 23 disposals, eight clearances, nine inside-50s and a goal.

Meanwhile, Mifsud (18 disposals, five clearances, seven tackles), Georgia Booth (15 disposals, 11 tackles, one goal) and Eloise Ashley-Cooper (16 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles) called on all their experience.

Star ruck Tamara Luke couldn’t have done any more to keep Box Hill’s season alive, and her team looked infinitely more dangerous when she was around the ball on her way to 13 touches, 29 hitouts and a goal in what turned out to be her final VFLW match.

Danika Spamer stuck 15 tackles in a tireless effort, Rosie Dillon stood up with 18 touches, 10 clearances and six tackles and Ellie McLinden (14 disposals, five tackles, six rebounds) fired in defence.

SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL: NORTH MELBOURNE vs ESSENDON

NORTH MELBOURNE            3.1        5.2        10.2     12.4 (76)
ESSENDON                                 1.0        1.0        2.1        2.1 (13)

NORTH Melbourne showed absolutely no nerves in its first rebel VFLW finals appearance, charging into the second semi final and dumping finals specialist Essendon out of the race with a 63-point thumping at Arden Street Oval on Sunday.

The Bombers made a great start to the second elimination final with Sarah Perkins kicking the first goal inside two minutes.

But once the Kangaroos settled down it was all one-way traffic. They booted three goals before the opening break and then outslugged their rivals in a tight second term.

Nyakoat Dojiok was unstoppable and her second goal in the last minute of the opening half sent the home team into the sheds buoyant and left the visitors shellshocked.

The first three goals of the third term were all kicked by North Melbourne and ended the match as a contest. And although Perkins kicked her second to become just the fifth player to reach 100 goals in VFLW history, the margin blew out to 49 points turning for home.

Dojiok’s third major took her to 50 goals in the competition and she added a fourth in response to Perkins’ milestone, before the Roos cruised to the line in the final term, with Matilda Zander putting the exclamation mark on things with 30 seconds to go.

Alana Barba was cut from Essendon’s AFLW list at the end of last year and she made the Bombers pay with a stunning display in her 50th VFLW game, winning 24 disposals, nine clearances and five inside-50s while laying 17 tackles.

Fellow milestone woman Elisabeth Jackson was quieter with nine touches but still did some important things.

Maddie Di Cosmo (29 disposals, 11 clearances, eight tackles, five rebounds, one goal) and Audrey Rhodes (28 disposals, eight clearances, 15 tackles, one goal) were also a class above, while Dojiok finished with 4.2 from 16 possessions to also vie for best afield honours.

Another Essendon delistee in Renee Tierney (14 disposals, seven tackles, two goals) also gained a big slab of satisfaction as North Melbourne earned a double chance and a shot at Williamstown for the first spot in the Grand Final.

Bailey Hunt (24 disposals, five clearances, seven tackles) was the Bombers’ best player, with Ruby Mahony (17 disposals, nine tackles) and skipper El Chaton (15 disposals, five tackles, six rebounds) also trying hard.

Jaimee-Lee Morrow outpointed Kate Reynolds in the ruck despite losing hitouts 45-35, holding the big Roo to just three disposals while gathering 11 herself.

QUALIFYING FINAL: WILLIAMSTOWN vs WESTERN BULLDOGS

WILLIAMSTOWN                      1.1        2.1        5.3        7.3 (45)
WESTERN BULLDOGS          1.0        2.2        2.2        4.3 (27)

WILLIAMSTOWN found another gear in the second half to charge within one victory of a Grand Final berth in an 18-point triumph over the Western Bulldogs in the qualifying final at DSV Stadium.

Both teams traded blows in an absorbing battle in wet and windy conditions, matching a goal apiece both with and against the wind in the first half.

But the Seagulls lifted in their second turn with the advantage, with an early goal from Megan Williamson being immediately followed by a major to skipper Eliza Straford when she was marched to the goal square on the back of a 50m penalty.

And when Neve Crowley took a strong contested mark in the goal square and converted eight minutes later, Williamstown had a significant 18-point lead, which looked even harder for the Bulldogs to haul in when important midfielder Millie Klingbeil was forced out of the game just before the final break.

Coming home with the wind gave the visitors hope though, and early goals to Ellie Bishop and Renee Saulitis cut the margin to just seven points with 12 minutes still to play.

However, Crowley responded with her second and when Teagan Brett burst from a pack and hit the scoreboard to kick her first, the Seagulls were home.

Williamson was tireless through the midfield for the Seagulls, laying 10 tackles on her way to 13 disposals and a goal in a low possession contest.

Ash Thorneycroft (15 disposals, nine tackles) was also influential, while Lori Stepnell (14 disposals, four marks) and Sharnie Whiting (13 disposals, five rebounds) got the job done in defence and all of Crowley’s four disposals (two goals) came from contested marks.

Keeley Hardingham starred again for the Bulldogs with 15 touches, 25 hitouts, seven clearances, five tackles and six inside-50s, even though O’Bryan could hold her head high against the best ruck in the competition.

Sarah Skinner was very good apart from her crucial error which handed Eliza Straford a goal courtesy of the aforementioned 50m penalty, leading all comers with 18 possessions and skipper Dom Carbone (16 disposals) and Jaimi Tabb (15 disposals, six tackles) were also influential.