A review of all the action from Round 3 of the 2025 rebel VFLW season.
COLLINGWOOD 2.1 3.1 4.1 4.2 (26)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.5 4.6 6.8 6.13 (49)
WESTERN Bulldogs took Collingwood’s spot in the rebel VFLW top six after easing to a 23-point win over the Magpies at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The Magpies looked good early against a strong Bulldogs outfit, kicking the first two goals, but Bree McFarlane’s first in the shadows of quarter-time turned the momentum as the visitors took control with three goals to one in the second.
The visitors put the game to bed with two majors early in the third and were able to cruise to the line with Tahlia Sanger’s major just before three quarter-time being the last one of the game.
No. 8 draft pick Emma McDonald made a strong debut for the Bulldogs with 15 disposals, six marks and a goal and Analea McKee (16 disposals, 15 hitouts, six tackles, five clearances) was solid in the ruck. Meanwhile, Ellie Gavalas racked up 25 touches and a goal but would have wanted to use the ball better than 36 per cent.
Bulldogs Grand Final captain Dom Carbone starred for Collingwood in her first match against her former club with 24 possessions (11 contested) and a goal, with Charlotte Brewer’s ball use keeping the Magpies in the game for a long time and Courtney Jones being strong in the air with six marks and a goal.
BEST
Collingwood: Dom Carbone, Jordan Ivey, Jemma Ramsdale, Lily-Rose Williamson, Millie Lang, Courtney Jones
Western Bulldogs: Emma McDonald, Elaine Grigg, Analea McKee, Stephanie Asciak, Jaimi Tabb, Heidi Woodley
GOALS
Collingwood: Dom Carbone, Chloe Hunt, Courtney Jones, Tahlia Sanger
Western Bulldogs: Brianna Mcfarlane 2, Ellie Gavalas, Elaine Grigg, Emma McDonald, Louise Stephenson
DISPOSALS
Collingwood: Dom Carbone 24, Charlotte Brewer 19, Lily-Rose Williamson 16, Lauren Szigeti 16, Tahlia Sanger 16
Western Bulldogs: Ellie Gavalas 25, Analea McKee 16, Heidi Woodley 15, Emma McDonald 15
DAREBIN FALCONS 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 (7)
PORT MELBOURNE 2.0 5.2 8.4 8.5 (53)
PORT Melbourne made a statement of intent on its premiership chances this season in dispatching Darebin by 46 points at Genis Steel Oval.
The Borough received a huge morale boost when Georgia Alomes kicked the opening goal just two minutes into her first game since the 2023 premiership victory and comeback kid Laura Wright landed the second a few minutes later.
Monique De Matteo’s first goal of the year got the Falcons on the board just before the first break but it was the only joy for the home team as the Borough added 3.2 in each of the middle two quarters before Darebin managed to stem the traffic flow in the last.
Port out-tackled Darebin 82-70 despite the margin, earning a 47-21 inside-50m count as Ava Seton racked up 14 contested possessions and 14 tackles in a fierce display the home team had no answer for.
Lauren Caruso (12 contested possessions, eight tackles), Mia Caffry and Eloise Ashley-Cooper also proved too strong.
Midfielders Ange Gogos and Caitlin Bunker were again the Falcons’ best, with Lulu Beatty working overtime in defence, while Shannon Egan won 30 hitouts in the ruck.
BEST
Darebin Falcons: Caitlin Bunker, Lulu Beatty, Bella Gray, Riley Christgoergl, Angelica Gogos, Isabella Daddo
Port Melbourne: Lauren Caruso, Kaitlyn O’Keefe, Mia Caffry, Georgia Booth, Ava Seton, Molly Denahy Maloney
GOALS
Darebin Falcons: Monique DeMatteo
Port Melbourne: Georgia Alomes, Kaitlyn O'Keefe 2, Georgia Booth, Jordan Mifsud, Rachael Slater, Laura Wright
DISPOSALS
Darebin Falcons: Ange Gogos 23, Caitlin Bunker 20, Lulu Beatty 18
Port Melbourne: Lauren Caruso 20, Mia Caffry 20, Ava Seton 18, Bella Stutt 16
ESSENDON 3.1 4.2 4.5 5.5 (35)
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE 2.0 2.3 2.7 4.8 (32)
ESSENDON brought the rebel VFLW competition to life and gave hope to all teams by bringing down reigning premier North Melbourne-Werribee by three points in a thriller at Windy Hill.
The Kangaroos had been dominant in their first two games after sweeping through last year’s finals series and strengthening their list in the off-season but were brought undone by a committed Bombers outfit without the AFLW players who took Collingwood apart last week.
The upset was set in motion immediately when Christina Bernardi took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal from the opening clearance.
The Kangaroos looked likely to escape with the points when Stella Reid and Renee Tierney kicked the first two goals of the last term to take the lead for the first time, and held the advantage until the 17th minute.
But Essendon’s Emily Tassiopoulos got clear from a ball-up at half back and the fast break flew inside 50 where Roo Nic Hales’ diving attempt to mark just missed and Tia Davidge swooped on the loose ball to regain the lead for the Bombers.
The home side was able to retain the ball between the arcs for the last three minutes to claim a famous win on the back of a starring role from captain El Chaston, who took eight marks and laid nine tackles in addition to 21 disposals.
Isabelle Porter held Nyakoat Dojiok to just an opening quarter goal with assistance from Sophie Molan and Lily Bateman, Maddison Ford was strong through the middle and Bernardi and rookie Sienna Hobbs kicked two goals each.
Sarah Ingram was terrific on debut for North, with Alana Barba (14 contested, eight clearances) doing the dirty work, Charlotte Ryan winning plenty of the ball and captain Tierney making her presence felt with two goals, while Gen Lawson-Tavan had 14 touches, four marks and five tackles in her 100th VFLW game.
Despite the win, Essendon amazingly dropped three spots on the ladder due to the percentage boosts from other clubs winning big, falling from fourth to seventh.
BEST
Essendon: El Chaston, Isabelle Porter, Maddison Ford, Layla Prince, Christina Bernardi, Maddison Albrecht
North Melbourne-Werribee: Sarah Ingram, Charlotte Ryan, Alana Barba, Renee Tierney, Genevieve Lawson Tavan, Amanda Ling
GOALS
Essendon: Christina Bernardi, Sienna Hobbs 2, Tia Davidge
North Melbourne-Werribee: Renee Tierney 2, Nyakoat Dojiok, Stella Reid
DISPOSALS
Essendon: El Chaston 21, Brooke Plummer 21, Maddison Ford 19, Abbey McDonald 18, Maddison Albrecht 17
North Melbourne-Werribee: Alana Barba 22, Charlotte Ryan 22, Sarah Ingram 19, Renee Tierney 15
BOX HILL HAWKS 3.3 5.6 7.6 11.9 (75)
CASEY DEMONS 1.0 3.2 3.4 3.7 (25)
BOX HILL Hawks moved to the top of the ladder after running away from the Casey Demons to record a 50-point win at Box Hill City Oval.
The injury-hit Demons worked hard to stay in touch, being just 16 points down at half-time with only a four-goal burst either side of quarter-time giving the Hawks the upper hand.
A 22-minute goalless stalemate was broken by Gabby Collingwood booting her second midway through the third term.
Paige Price’s goal after the three quarter-time siren ensured there would be no upset but the Demons fought on and only ran out of steam in the last 10 minutes as Box Hill piled on four late goals to blow the margin out.
Annabelle Embelton had only kicked one career goal going in but snagged two to go with 16 touches, five marks and 11 hitouts as the second ruck, with Price being just as impressive in an absorbing battle with Tegan Williams.
Collingwood and Mia Zielinski kicked two goals each, Isla Baldwin led all comers with 25 touches, six inside-50s and a goal and Amy Cariss-Brett, Tess Cattle, Tilly van Berkel and Stasia Stevenson were good in close with 41 contested possessions between them.
Casey struggled to get its hands on the ball, recording just 184 disposals led by Tylah Burn’s 14, but rookie Natalie Banjavcic-Mills and experienced trio Williams, Meg Macdonald and Zoe Mitchell refused to give up.
BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Annabelle Embelton, Paige Price, Amy Cariss-Brett, Isla Baldwin, Matilda Van Berkel, Gabby Collingwood
Casey Demons: Natalie Banjavcic-Mills, Meg Macdonald, Zoe Mitchell, Tylah Burn, Ally Kirkwood, Tegan Williams
GOALS
Box Hill Hawks: Gabby Collingwood, Annabelle Embelton, Mia Zielinski 2, Isla Baldwin, Tess Cattle, Jessica Matin, Paige Price, Stasia Stevenson
Casey Demons: Joanna Lin, Alice Robinson, Anna Vrsecky
DISPOSALS
Box Hill Hawks: Isla Baldwin 25, Amy Cariss-Brett 17, Tess Cattle 17, Annabelle Embelton 16, Stasia Stevenson 16, Matilda van Berkel 16
Casey Demons: Tylah Burn 15, Meg Macdonald 13, Sophie Casey 12, Zoe Mitchell 12
CARLTON 0.0 1.1 2.2 2.2 (14)
SANDRINGHAM 1.3 1.5 2.5 2.6 (18)
SANDRINGHAM joined Box Hill as one of two remaining undefeated teams after holding off Carlton by four points in a pressure-packed struggle at Ikon Park that yielded just four goals.
The Zebras kicked the only goal of the first quarter through Chloe Saultry in the 11th minute, missing three more chances to build a big lead as the Blues hit back through Sophia McCarthy straight after the break, with the teams going to half-time at 11-7.
Arianna Clarke broke a 23-minute deadlock five minutes into the third with a goal that was answered by Lucy Burke a minute later, but the defences then totally locked down with only one more behind scored by each team for the last 34 minutes of play.
Zoe Barbakos was fierce at ball and opponent for Sandringham, adding 11 tackles and seven clearances to 18 disposals, with Ella Friend picking up 12 contested possessions and using the ball at 92.9 per cent, Imogen Evans had eight clearances among 20 touches and Eleri Morris marshalled the defence well.
Blues stars Octavia Di Donato (14 tackles, five marks) and Brooke Vickers (14 contested possessions, 11 tackles, eight clearances) ensured there was no easy possession for their opponents. Hannah Scott pulled in 10 marks, Lila Keck and Emma Horne won 11 contested balls each and Nadia von Bertouch controlled the backline with 19 touches and seven marks.
BEST
Carlton: Octavia Di Donato, Grace Matser, Stephanie Demeo, Sophia McCarthy, Amy Trindade, Danika Di Santo
Sandringham: Zoe Barbakos, Eleri Morris, Imogen Evans, Isobel Hartog, Melanie Bertuna, Bella Enno
GOALS
Carlton: Lucy Burke, Sophia McCarthy
Sandringham: Arianna Clarke, Chloe Saultry
DISPOSALS
Carlton: Hannah Scott 22, Brooke Vickers 22, Octavia Di Donato 21, Lila Keck 20, Nadia Von Bertouch 19
Sandringham: Imogen Evans 20, Zoe Barbakos 18, Abbey Tregellis 16, Bella Enno 15
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.2 5.3 6.3 10.4 (64)
GEELONG CATS 1.1 1.4 2.4 2.5 (17)
ON FACE value Williamstown was never troubled by Geelong, but the game was anything but that despite the Seagulls winning by 47 points at DSV Stadium on Saturday night.
The Cats threw everything at the much higher credentialled and experienced Seagulls, winning 50 more disposals, two more inside-50s and laying an incredible 123 tackles to 63 as they gave the home team all they could handle.
But handle it they did. Geelong struggled to find a key target to kick to in attack and the cool, calm and collected trio of best afield Laura Blue, Sharnie Whiting and Eloise Freeman were almost completely impassable as they turned back wave after wave of Cat attacks.
Veteran Cat O’Bryan did as she pleased in the ruck with 43 hitouts, 11 clearances and 15 disposals, Emily Eaves was powerful with nine tackles and two goals and Williamstown had a strong target in attack with Georgia Howes pulling in seven marks and kicking three goals while giving O’Bryan a chop out to add 18 hitouts.
Abby Favell and Chloe Bryant were nothing short of outstanding for Geelong with 47 disposals (21 contested) between them, Favell laying 11 tackles, winning nine clearances and kicking a goal and Bryant delivering eight inside-50s off the wing.
Mekah Morrissy (13 contested), Zoe Cowan (15 tackles) and Lucy Marescuk (10 tackles) also took the contest right up to Williamstown, but they just didn’t have the overall class to avoid a 10th straight defeat.
BEST
Williamstown: Georgia Howes, Emily Eaves, Laura Blue, Cat O’Bryan, Gabby De Angelis, Jemima Wrigley
Geelong Cats: Abby Favell, Lily Jordan, Brooke Bailey, Mekah Morrissy, Breanna Pratt, Poppy Schaap
GOALS
Williamstown: Georgia Howes 3, Emily Eaves 2, Teagan Brett, Gabby De Angelis, Amelia Marino, Molly Simpson, Megan Smart
Geelong Cats: Brooke Bailey, Abby Favell
DISPOSALS
Williamstown: Emily Eaves 15, Cat O’Bryan 15, Jemima Wrigley 15
Geelong Cats: Abby Favell 24, Chloe Bryant 23, Mekah Morrissy 20, Lucy Marescuk 16, Zoe Cowan 15, Jemima Woods 15