A review and highlights of rebel VFLW semi finals.
Magpies take direct route to Grand Final
Collingwood reached another rebel VFLW Grand Final after a comprehensive 25-point triumph over Box Hill Hawks in the second semi final at ETU Stadium on Saturday.
The 2019 premiers progressed to their fourth Grand Final, having qualified for the 2021 decider which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before losing to Port Melbourne in the 2023 Grand Final.
Collingwood kicked five consecutive majors across the opening three terms in the second semi to put the result beyond doubt heading into three quarter time before holding out an improved Hawks outfit in the last term.
They Magpies took a while to get going but kicked all three of their opening term scores in the last few minutes of the quarter, highlighted by Tahlia Sanger’s fifth goal of the season.
Collingwood continued to have the majority of possession throughout the next two terms, only conceding one rushed behind in the process to open an unassailable 33-point advantage at the last break.
Box Hill tried to mount a fight back with the first two majors of the final term, but Collingwood skipper Dominique Carbone sealed victory with a brilliant running goal directly from a centre clearance.
It capped an excellent performance for the reigning Pearce-Lambert medallist who had 26 disposals, four tackles and four score involvements.
Carbone will now lead a team into the rebel VFLW Grand Final for the second-consecutive year, having captained the Western Bulldogs in 2024.
Lily-Rose Williamson returned for the Magpies and celebrated her recent AFLW elevation with 14 disposals and seven tackles, while Zoe McCurdy was brilliant in the defensive end and had a game-high 10 intercept possessions.
Stasia Stevenson was a standout for Box Hill, producing a great all-round performance which included 16 disposals, 11 tackles and four clearances. Rosie Dillon continued her good form with 19 touches and eight tackles.
COLLINGWOOD 1.2 3.3 5.5 6.5 (41)
BOX HILL HAWKS 0.1 0.1 0.2 2.4 (16)
BEST
Collingwood: Courtney Jones, Dominique Carbone, Tamara Henry, Tahlia Sanger, Lauren Szigeti, Zoe McCurdy
Box Hill Hawks: Annabelle Embelton, Isla Baldwin, Stasia Stevenson, Rosie Dillon, Matilda Van Berkel, Mikayla Lee
GOALS
Collingwood: Dominique Carbone, Bella Clarke, Sienna Courtney, Courtney Jones, Amelia Peck, Tahlia Sanger
Box Hill Hawks: Mikayla Lee, Jess Matin
LEADING DISPOSALS
Collingwood: Dominque Carbone 26, Lauren Szigeti 21, Tahlia Sanger 20, Courtney Jones 18, Tamara Henry 16, Zoe McCurdy 16
Box Hill Hawks: Isla Baldwin 19, Rosie Dillon 19, Stasia Stevenson 16, Nat Exon 14, Mikayla Lee 14, Ruby Murdoch 14
Kangaroos respond in brilliant fashion
North Melbourne-Werribee delivered a telling response to their qualifying final defeat last week, proving far too strong for Williamstown in the first semi final on Sunday.
The reigning premiers kept the Seagulls scoreless in the first half and piled on 13 scoring shots of their own, with only inaccuracy in front of goal denying the Kangaroos a huge advantage on the scoreboard.
Despite only managing three goals for the half, the hosts dominated possession. They would go on to have over three times as many handballs as their opposition in the 24-point win at Arden Street Oval
Williamstown became a more attaching threat in the second half but North Melbourne-Werribee remained in control despite its inaccuracy continuing after the main break.
Alana Barba set the standard yet again to help the Kangaroos to victory and a place in the preliminary final.
Barba had game-highs in disposals (17), tackles (eight) and inside 50s (six) while also having five clearances and going at 82% disposal efficiency.
Not far behind her from an impact standpoint was skipper Renee Tierney, who had 17 touches to go along with nine marks and eight tackles.
Williamstown’s Ash Thorneycroft’s produced a strong outing in her final game, finishing with 13 disposals, seven tackles and three inside 50s.
Meanwhile teammate Cat O’Bryan, who was also playing her final match having announced her retirement, also played well around the ground with 14 touches, six clearances and five intercepts.
A third consecutive finals appearance will hold Williamstown in good stead into 2026.
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE 2.4 3.10 4.13 4.17 (41)
WILLIAMSTOWN 0.0 0.0 1.2 2.5 (17)
BEST
North Melbourne-Werribee: Renee Tierney, Matilda Zander, Maddie Di Cosmo, Alana Barba, Jemmika Douglas, Zoe Savarirayan
Williamstown: Not submitted
GOALS
North Melbourne-Werribee: Maddie Di Cosmo, Charlotte Ryan, Reese Sutton, Renee Tierney
Williamstown: Neve Crowley, Georgia Howes
LEADING DISPOSALS
North Melbourne-Werribee: Alana Barba 17, Maddie Di Cosmo 17, Renee Tierney 17, Charlotte Blair 16, Stella Reid 16
Williamstown: Jemima Wrigley 17, Cat O’Bryan 14, Ash Thorneycroft 13, India Barker 12, Georgia Howes 11
