A review of all the action from Round 6 of the 2025 rebel VFLW season.

Falcons soar again

DAREBIN continue its resurgence by cruising to a 44-point win over the Casey Demons at Genis Steel Oval for a third-straight victory.

The result saw the Falcons bolster their percentage from 67 to 89 and remain within one win of the top six nearing the halfway mark of the year, after starting the campaign 0-3.

The home side was on the front foot from the outset with Amy Duguid and Nat Macdonald kicking goals in the opening eight minutes and the result was never in doubt thereafter.

Reigning Coaches MVP winner Ange Gogos was prolific again with 25 disposals, Luly Beatty continued her good form, Monique DeMatteo booted three goals again and Isabella Daddo enjoyed a season-best performance with 17 touches and six clearances.

Kasey Phillips, Meg Macdonald and Zoe Mitchell fought tirelessly for Casey, however the Demons were unable to build on last week’s promising performances against Essendon.

DAREBIN FALCONS     2.4   4.6   6.8   8.10 (58)
CASEY DEMONS           0.0   1.1    1.1   2.2 (14)

BEST
Darebin Falcons: Isabella Daddo, Angelica Gogos, Lulu Beatty, Monique DeMatteo, Sabine Cowley du Parquet, Alyssa Mifsud
Casey Demons: Kasey Phillips, Meg Macdonald, Zoe Mitchell, Tylah Burn, Sophie Casey, Olivia Morris

GOALS
Darebin Falcons: Monique DeMatteo 3, Lulu Beatty, Amy Duguid, Angelica Gogos, Natalie MacDonald, Stephanie Simpson
Casey Demons: Zoe Mitchell, Ella Morris

Bombers fly into first spot

ESSENDON entered the round as one of four teams with a 4-1 record. The Bombers exited the round as ladder-leader with buffer on their closest rivals.

Cherie O’Neill’s team was far too good for bottom-placed Geelong at Deakin University, piling on the first seven goals to steamroll to their fifth-consecutive victory.

The 40-point triumph – coupled with North Melbourne-Werribee’s defeat at Collingwood and the draw between Sandringham and Port Melbourne – gave the Bombers a two-point advantage at the top of the table.

Tia Davidge was again a dead-eye in front of the big sticks, with her three goals taking her to 8.0 for the season, while the Ford duo – Sarah and Maddison – played leading hands in the win. Abbey McDonald had 17 touched and a goal against her old team.

Geelong didn’t throw in the towel end and won the last quarter when a big loss was threatening.

Hayley Peck was the Cats’ best in an absorbing ruck battle against Layla Prince, while Jemima Woods and Mel Staunton also impressed

GEELONG CATS     0.1   0.3   1.5   3.6 (24)
ESSENDON            3.1   5.4   8.5   9.10 (64)

BEST
Geelong Cats: Hayley Peck, Jemima Woods, Melanie Staunton, Poppy Schaap, Elise Cook, Zoe Cowan
Essendon: Sarah Ford, Maddison Ford, Abbey McDonald, El Chaston, Layla Prince, Tia Davidge

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Poppy Schaap, Seisia White, Jemima Woods
Essendon: Tia Davidge 3, Christina Bernardi 2, Samantha Johnston, Ava Jordan, Abbey McDonald, Ashlea Melnikas

Late blitz gets Hawks back on winners’ list

BOX HILL was staring down the barrel of a third-consecutive loss after going goalless in the first half of Saturday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs.

However, the Hawks returned to form in emphatic fashion with an eight-goal to one second half to romp to a 34-point victory at Box Hill City Oval.

The result kept Box Hill within one win of first place ahead of a trip to Windy Hill to take on ladder-leader Essendon in Round 7.

Tess Cattle was instrumental in the win with a game-high 25 disposals, Annabelle Embleton was a constant threat in the air and Isla Baldwin and Paige Price continued their impressive form.

It wasn't all positive late for the Hawks, with skipper Ellie McLinden aided from the field my trainers. in the final term 

The Bulldogs featured a team without representation from any AFLW-listed players for the first time this season and were unable to go with the Hawks late in the piece, with Emily Ramsay their best and Zara Hamilton impressing in her first game with the club.

BOX HILL HAWKS           0.1   0.6   2.8   8.8 (56)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     2.2   2.2   2.4   3.4 (22)

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Tess Cattle, Annabelle Embelton, Isla Baldwin, Paige Price, Matilda Van Berkel, Stasia Stevenson
Western Bulldogs: Emily Ramsay, Ruby Benham, Zara Hamilton, Tamsin Crook, Sarah Sansonetti, Trinity Skenderis

GOALS
Box Hill Hawks: Jess Matin 2, Isla Baldwin, Gabby Collingwood, Annabelle Embelton, Olivia Fogarty, Danika Spamer, Stasia Stevenson
Western Bulldogs: Renee Saulitis 2, Isabel Young

Pies beginning to gel

COLLINGWOOD’S new-look team gave the best indication yet that it is starting to develop the cohesion that will make it a serious contender in 2025.

The Magpies produced a stunning second half to overcome a 22-point deficit and claim a 13-point upset over reigning premier North Melbourne-Werribee at Victoria Park.

The home side kicked three unanswered goals in each of the third and fourth quarters to produced their best win of the year and remain in touch with the top-six after starting the campaign 1-3.

Lily-Rose Williamson was instrumental in her return, producing a best on ground performance that yielded 18 disposals and two goals, while young gun Tahlia Sanger’s 26 disposals was eight more than any other player on the ground.

Stella Reid was named North Melbourne’s best, while Alana Barba laid 14 tackles and kicked a goal from 17 disposals.

COLLINGWOOD                                1.2   1.4   4.4   7.4 (46)
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE    3.2   5.2   5.2   5.3 (33)

BEST
Collingwood: Lily-Rose Williamson, Jemma Ramsdale, Dominique Carbone, Amelia Peck, Bella Clarke, Charlotte Brewer
North Melbourne-Werribee: Stella Reid, Elisabeth Jackson, Alana Barba, Madeleine Di Cosmo, Charlotte Blair, Zara Flanigan

GOALS
Collingwood: Amelia Peck, Lily-Rose Williamson 2, Sophia de Castella, Chloe Hunt, Courtney Jones
North Melbourne-Werribee: Alana Barba, Nyakoat Dojiok, Tahlia Meier, Kelsie Ternes, Matilda Zander

Seagulls move into sixth

WILLIAMSTOWN returned to the top half of the ladder courtesy of a 12-point victory over a persistent Carlton at IKON Park on Sunday.

The Seagulls made a lightning fast start with Georgia Howes booting a goal after 12 seconds and they repeated the dose to start the second half when Teagan Brett nailed a goal inside 20 seconds of the restart.

That major gave the Seagulls a 26-point buffer and despite it proving to be the Seagulls’ only score of the second half, they had done enough to bank the win and were able to hold off their hosts in the last 40 minutes.

Ash Thorneycrof returned to haunt her old side, racking up 27 disposals, nine clearances and laying a whopping 13 tackles, while Coaches MVP leader Emily Eaves was again a strong presence with 20 touches and nine tackles.

Hannah Scott and Octavia Di Donato combined for 44 disposals and 20 tackles for the Blues, who have now face a stern test to push for finals sitting three wins outside the top-six with a 1-5 record.

CARLTON                  1.0   1.1   2.3   3.3 (21)
WILLIAMSTOWN     2.3   4.3   5.3   5.3 (33)

BEST
Carlton: Hannah Scott, Ellie Sbeghen, Summer Hall, Emily Hurley, Octavia Di Donato, Sophie Damon
Williamstown: Not submitted

GOALS
Carlton: Kira Lemire, Sophia McCarthy, Tahlia Plunkett
Williamstown: Teagan Brett, Georgia Howes, Kiera Leare, Cat O'Bryan, Molly Simpson

No splitting Zebras and Borough

SANDRINGHAM and Port Melbourne played out the first draw of the 2025 rebel season, with the top-four sides unable to be split at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

Remarkably, the result came just hours after the Zebras’ VFL side produced a draw with the Gold Coast Suns at RSEA Park.

Despite star trio Lauren Caruso, Jordan Mifsud and Molly Denahy Maloney being sidelined, it was Port Melbourne who made the positive start to hold a nine-point lead at quarter time.

Sandringham took control with four unanswered goals in the second and third quarters and looked to be in a strong position with 13-point lead at the last change before the Borough were sparked by a miraculous goal from Georgia Foran from the boundary line early in the final term.

Rachel Slater kicked another to tie proceedings at the 12-minute mark, with neither side adding another score in the desperate final eight minutes.

The Borough had arguably the two best chances late via Georgia Foran, however both shots fell short as the Zebras desperately scrambled the ball away to hold on for a draw

SANDRINGHAM          0.0   2.0   4.0   4.0 (24)
PORT MELBOURNE     1.3   1.5   1.5   3.6 (24)

BEST
Sandringham: Deanna Jolliffe, Natasha Entwistle, Alexandra Hynes, Erica Fowler, Makhaela Bluhm, Ashley Patton
Port Melbourne: Nicola Davidson, Ava Seton, Isabella Robson, Mia Caffry, Charlie Anderson, Lily Hart

GOALS
Sandringham: Ashley Patton 2, Arianna Clarke 2, Grace Hodder
Port Melbourne: Georgia Foran, Ava Seton, Rachael Slater