A recap and highlights of the rebel VFLW Round 13 action.

Falcons keep finals dream alive
Darebin kept its hopes of a rebel VFLW finals appearance alive after a last quarter surge saw the Falcons defeat Carlton by 21 points at Genis Steel Oval.

Trailing by a point at the final change, the Falcons booted three goals to nil in the fourth term to mark a third-straight victory. They now remain outside the top six only on percentage, making their final round clash with Geelong a must-win.

Competition disposals leader Ange Gogos remained prolific with 26 touches and 11 tackles, while Alyssa Mifsud booted two majors for the second-consecutive week and alongside Isabella Daddo and Caitlin Bunker, kicked crucial goals in the final stanza to ensure the home side’s victory.

Hannah Scott was a standout for the Blues, finishing with 23 disposals and nine tackles. Meanwhile Emily Elkington joined Shree Fairchild (Casey Demons), Grace Hodder (Sandringham) and Lily Jordan (Geelong) as players to lay a season-high of 18 tackles in a match.

DAREBIN FALCONS     0.0   2.1   2.2   5.6 (36)
CARLTON                      1.0   1.0   2.3   2.3 (15)

BEST
Darebin: Alyssa Mifsud, Ange Gogos, Shannon Egan, Caitlin Bunker, Emily Rayment, Taylah Tysoe
Carlton: Grace Matser, Hannah Scott, Summer Hall, Maddy Hendrie, Emily Elkington, Siofra O'Connell

GOALS
Darebin: Alyssa Mifsud 2, Caitlin Bunker, Isabella Daddo, Steph Simpson
Carlton: Mia Austin, Lucy Burke

LEADING DISPOSALS
Darebin: Ange Gogos 26, Caitlin Bunker 18, Alyssa Mifsud 17, Sabine Du Parquet 13, Emily Rayment 10
Carlton: Hannah Scott 23, Emily Elkington 21, Lou Field 20, Meg Robertson 19, Siofra O’Connell 14

Bombers fly back into top six
A tight battle at Windy Hill saw Essendon hold on by five points over Sandringham to move back inside the top six heading into the final round.

Only one-point separated the two sides at half time before the Bombers controlled the majority of the second half.

Tia Davidge’s goal at the 14-minute mark of the third term and Christina Bernardi’s major early in the final quarter gave the hosts a handy 11-point buffer, which was enough to see off a Zebras fightback and record back-to-back wins.

El Chaston starred for Essendon and recorded a season-high 30 disposals along with six marks and six tackles. The Bombers’ skipper was well supported well by Ashlea Melnikas (23 disposals, 14 tackles) and Abbey McDonald (22 disposals, four marks).

Sandringham remained in the hunt throughout the afternoon, largely thanks to an outstanding performance from Abbey Tregellis, who produced season-high figures for both disposals (27) and tackles (12) to nearly will the visitors over the line.

ESSENDON              0.0   1.1   2.1   3.1 (19)
SANDRINGHAM     0.0   1.2   1.2   2.2 (14)

BEST
Essendon: El Chaston, Ashlea Melnikas, Maddison Ford, Grace Azzopardi, Layla Prince, Abbey McDonald
Sandringham: Abbey Tregellis, Arianna Clarke, Jordan Membrey, Beth Pinchin, Lily Skinner, Deanna Jolliffe

GOALS
Essendon: Christina Bernardi, Tia Davidge, Brooke Plummer
Sandringham: Arianna Clarke, Ash Patton

LEADING DISPOSALS
Essendon: El Chaston 30, Ashlea Melnikas 23, Abbey McDonald 22, Maddison Ford 20, Lucy Thompson 20
Sandringham: Abbey Tregellis 27, Jordan Membrey 23, Arinna Clarke 21, Grace Hodder 19, Beth Pinchin 16

Pies move into top two
Another strong performance from Collingwood has seen them jump into second spot with one round remaining, this time proving too strong for Geelong by 35 points at Deakin University.

The Cats were within touching distance of the Pies across the opening three terms and trailed by only four points heading into the final quarter before the visitors put the foot down with five unanswered goals in a 12-minute patch to record their ninth triumph of the season.

Collingwood had a host of contributors in the victory, with Charlotte Brewer, Dominique Carbone and Tamara Henry among those to perform well. The latter two were also a part of the nine individual goalkicker the Magpies produced for the match.

Although suffering a third-straight loss, Geelong lost no admirers across the first three quarters. Mekah Morrissy and Molly Walton were terrific for the home side as was captain Mel Staunton, who laid a game-high 11 tackles and kicked one of the Cats’ three goals for the match.

GEELONG CATS      0.0   1.2   3.3   3.3 (21)
COLLINGWOOD     2.0   3.1   4.1   9.2 (56)

BEST
Geelong Cats: Molly Walton, Mekah Morrissy, Hayley Peck, Meg Lappin, Faith Qoon, Chloe Bryant
Collingwood: Charlotte Brewer, Tamara Henry, Dominique Carbone, Tahlia Sanger, Lilly Leighton, Jordan Ivey

GOALS
Geelong Cats: Faith Qoon 2, Mel Staunton
Collingwood: Charlotte Brewer, Dominique Carbone, Tayla Christensen, Maya Ellin, Tahlia Fellows, Courtney Jones, Millie Lang, Amelia Peck, Lily-Rose Williamson

LEADING DISPOSALS
Geelong Cats: Mekah Morrissy 17, Abby Favell 15, Chloe Bryant, Meg Lappin 13, Hayley Peck 13
Collingwood: Tahlia Sanger 21, Dominique Carbone 20, Lily-Rose Williamson 16, Charlotte Brewer 14, Tamara Henry 14, Courtney Jones 14, Lauren Szigeti 14

Dogs put dent in Borough’s finals hopes
The Western Bulldogs held off a fast-finishing Port Melbourne outfit to cling to a one-point win at ETU Stadium on Saturday evening.

Despite not kicking a goal after half time, the Dogs were resolute in defence, holding the Borough to just one major in each of the third and final quarters to end a four-game losing streak.

Reigning Debbie Lee Rising Star winner Keeley Hardingham controlled the air, with 27 disposals, 43 hitouts and five marks in a performance that was pivotal in the visitors claiming the four points.

Majors from Tamsin Crook and Bri McFarlane in the second term were also key to the Bulldogs building a lead at the main break.

The home side were led by Olivia Barton and Nicola Davidson, however, the narrow loss puts Port Melbourne’s finals hopes on thin ice.

The Borough will need to defeat the Casey Demonsin Round 14 week and hope other results go their way if they are secure a top-six finish for the third-successive year.

PORT MELBOURNE           1.1   1.1   2.2   3.4 (22)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     1.0   3.2   3.4   3.5 (23)

BEST
Port Melbourne: Olivia Barton, Nicola Davidson, Nayely Borg, Lily Hart, Meg Ginnivan, Isabella Robson
Western Bulldogs: Keeley Hardingham, Stephanie Asciak, Maggie Gorham, Jaimi Tabb, Mali McLeod, Sarah Sansonetti

GOALS
Port Melbourne: Emily Harley, Jessie Williams, Beth Wilson
Western Bulldogs: Tamsin Crook, Bri McFarlane, Mary Sandral

LEADING DISPOSALS
Port Melbourne: Ava Seton 19, Eloise Ashley-Cooper 16, Mia Caffry 15, Olivia Barton 13, Nicola Davidson 12, Kaitlyn O’Keefe 12
Western Bulldogs: Keeley Hardingham 27, Maggie Gorham 19, Naomi Ferres 17, Jaimi Tabb 17, Cleo Buttifant 16

Roos sew up minor premiership
North Melbourne-Werribee affirmed its status as the team to beat in season 2025 after locking in top spot with a 64-point win over the Casey Demons at Casey Fields.

The reigning premier produced at least five scoring shots in each quarter and booted seven goals to three in the second half to record their fourth 60+ point win of the year.

Competition leading goal kicker Nyakoat Dojiok led the way up forward once again with four goals, the fifth time this season she has booted four majors or more in a match. Meanwhile Alana Barba was at her scintillating best, finishing with 30 disposals and a goal.

In a positive for the Demons, Sophie Casey had one of her best matches for the season, producing a season-high 18 disposals along with seven tackles. Anna Vrsecky was also lively up forward for the hosts and has now kicked a goal in four of her last five matches.

CASEY DEMONS                                        0.1   0.1   3.2   3.2 (20)
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE     1.5   5.6   7.9   12.12 (84)

BEST
Casey Demons: Sophie Casey, Anna Vrsecky, Gemma Proy, Kasey Phillips, Zahri Burn, Alice Robinson
North Melbourne-Werribee: Alana Barba, Maddie Di Cosmo, Reese Sutton, Bridget Deed, Nyakoat Dojiok, Charlotte Ryan

GOALS
Casey Demons: Natalie Banjavcic-Mills, Alice Robinson, Anna Vrsecky
North Melbourne-Werribee: Nyakoat Dojiok 4, Georgia Nicholas, Charlotte Ryan 2, Alana Barba, Maddie Di Cosmo, Taylor Ortlepp, Matilda Zander

LEADING DISPOSALS
Casey Demons: Sophie Casey 18, Meg Macdonald 12, Zoe Mitchell 12, Kasey Phillips
North Melbourne-Werribee: Alana Barba 30, Reese Sutton 25, Maddie Di Cosmo 23, Taylor Ortlepp 21, Bridget Deed 18, Nyakoat Dojiok 18, Charlotte Ryan 18

Seagulls impress to end losing run
A three-game losing run came to an end for Williamstown in impressive fashion, defeating the Box Hill Hawks by eight points at DSV Stadium.

The Seagulls came out strong with a three-goal to nil opening term and got out to a game-high 20-point lead late in the third quarter. Despite a late flurry from the Hawks, the hosts did enough and have all but secured a top-six finish for the third-straight season given their strong percentage.

In her first game back after an ACL injury in last year’s finals series, Williamstown captain Eliza Straford didn’t miss a beat and produced a best on ground performance. She finished with 16 disposals, seven tackles and two goals, including the first major of the game just a minute into the match, in an inspiring display.

Matilda Van Berkel was a standout for the Hawks with a 21-disposal effort, while Rosie Dillon also impressed, laying 13 tackles.

WILLIAMSTOWN       3.2   3.3   5.4   5.5 (35)
BOX HILL HAWKS     0.1   1.4   1.8   3.9 (27)

BEST
Williamstown: India Barker, Eliza Straford, Jemima Wrigley, Eloise Freeman, Charli Sette, Emily Eaves
Box Hill Hawks: Matilda Van Berkel, Rosie Dillon, Annabelle Embelton, Natalie Exon, Gabby Collingwood, Paige Price

GOALS
Williamstown: Eliza Straford 2, Emily Eaves, Talia Motta, Krystal Russell
Box Hill Hawks: Gabby Collingwood, Rosie Dillon, Mia Zielinski

LEADING DISPOSALS
Williamstown: Jemima Wrigley, Eliza Straford, India Barker, Megan Smart, Ash Thorneycroft
Box Hill Hawks: Matilda Van Berkel 21, Tess Cattle 17, Isla Baldwin 15, Annabelle Embleton 15, Rosie Dillon 14