Round 5 opened with a thriller under Friday night lights and concluded with a shootout at Casey Fields that saw Essendon soar into fourth spot.

WESTERN BULLDOGS          2.1        3.1        3.5        4.5 (29)
GEELONG CATS                    1.0        3.0        4.1        4.6 (30)

Western Bulldogs and Geelong delivered a thriller to open Round 5 in the VFLW, with the Cats securing one-point triumph under Friday night lights at Mission Whitten Oval. Both sides had few issues finding the big sticks throughout the first half, with the Bulldogs able to lead for most of the first two terms but only taking a narrow one-point advantage into half time. The hosts began the third quarter well, but it was Geelong who would be the only side to kick a major for the term, allowing them to lead by two points at the start of the final quarter. An Emmy Nekrep goal 90 seconds into the last stanza look to be decisive for the Dogs, but the Cats would have all the answers to round out the contest, registering five behinds in a seven-minute passage to eventually hold on for their second win of the season. Isabella Davies and Mel Staunton each amassed 22 disposals and combined to lay 20 tackles to help Geelong get over the line, whilst Kiera Leare was excellent for the Bulldogs, compiling 24 disposals and six clearances. She could’ve had an even better night, after finishing with three behinds.

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Kiera Leare, Jaimi Tabb, Olivia Jesser, Sarah Sansonetti, Mali Mcleod
Geelong Cats: Isabella Davies, Annie Lee, Simone Nalder, Molly Walton, Charlotte Canavan, Hayley Peck
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BOX HILL HAWKS                            0.1        0.3        1.4        2.6 (18)
NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE   2.4        4.5        7.8        11.10 (76)

A replay of last year’s preliminary final resulted in the same winning feeling for North Melbourne Werribee, who jumped to the top of the ladder with a 58-point victory over the Box Hill Hawks at Box Hill City Oval. The Hawks ended the first half without a goal while the reigning premiers gradually increased their lead throughout the opening two quarters, before jumping into cruise control in the second half with seven majors to two. The 11.10 (76) to 2.6 (18) scoreline made it five-straight games that the Kangas have scored 60 points or greater. Zoe Savarirayan finished as the leading goal kicker on the ground with here first three majors of the year, while returning star Nyakoat Dojiok booted two majors in her first game of the year. Also finding the big sticks was Maddie Di Cosmo and Alana Barba, who each again were instrumental in the win with seven clearances apiece as well as 30 and 28 disposals respectively. The Hawks were led by Matilda Van Berkel, who impressed again with 22 touches and 10 intercepts.

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Matilda Van Berkel, Emma Di Petta, Annabelle Embelton, Ella Stoddart, Hannah Stuart, Kayley Kavanagh
North Melbourne-Werribee: Maddie Di Cosmo, Alana Barba, Zoe Savarirayan, Lauren Jatczak, Mikayla Hyde, Gabby Collingwood
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TASMANIA      1.1        1.1        2.2        2.2 (14)
DAREBIN        1.1        3.3        5.3        7.5 (47)

Darebin claimed their first victory of the 2026 campaign, breaking away from Tasmania for a 33-point win at UTAS Stadium on Saturday. In incredibly difficult conditions with pouring rain and heavy winds, both sides managed to produce early goals before the Falcons made a break with two second-term majors from Chloe Kodagoda giving the away side a 14-point half time lead. The visitors continued their momentum in the second half, allowing the hosts only two further scoring shots. Kodagoda would finish with three majors to undoubtably be the most dominant forward of the match, meanwhile teammate Lulu Beatty was excellent with 21 disposals, six intercepts and a goal. For the winless Devils, Libby Haines stood tall with 22 disposals to go with 12 tackles, and Grace White has now kicked majors in three consecutive games after adding to the scoreboard again.

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WILLIAMSTOWN       2.2        3.4        4.5        5.9 (39)
SANDRINGHAM         1.0        1.0        1.0        1.0 (6)

Williamstown made it three strong wins on the trot, this time taking care of Sandringham by 33 points at DSV Stadium. The Seagulls were brilliant and kept the Zebras to only one scoring shot for the entirety of the game, despite both sides finishing with equal possession and the visitors executing more rebound 50s. The difference however was Williamstown turning their inside 50s into scoring opportunities, kicking at least one goal in each quarter to move to equal second on the VFLW ladder. As she has done all season so far, reigning Coaches MVP Emily Eaves proved impossible to handle and was impactful all around the ground with 24 disposals, seven clearances and two goals. Megan Williamson was also brilliant for the home side with 10 tackles and 17 disposals, whilst Grace Hodder did all she could for the Zebras, amassing an incredible 18 tackles, while also leading the way in disposals (24) and kicking her team’s only goal.

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CASEY DEMONS       2.1        3.1        3.2        4.2 (26)
ESSENDON               0.0        3.0        6.1        10.2 (62)

Essendon overcame a slow start to produce back-to-back wins and move inside the top four, defeating Casey Demons by 36 points at Casey Fields. The Demons made a move in the latter stages of the opening term, with all three of their scoring shots coming in a five-minute period to lead by 13 points at quarter time. But the Bombers would shoot out of the blocks in the second term with three majors in 10 minutes to hit the front. The visitors trailed by a point at the main break but would never be behind again after Brooke Plummer’s goal at the six-minute mark of the third term. The Bombers would kick seven of the last eight goals of the game. Skipper El Chaston played a big role in the side’s domination after quarter time, finishing with a season-high 34 disposals as well as eight marks and five clearances. Christina Bernardi and Tia Davidge, in her 50th game, backed up their three-goal efforts last week by repeating the dose on Sunday. The Demons were led well by Lillian Snow (25 disposals, seven clearances) and Meg Macdonald (13 disposals, nine intercept possessions) despite the loss.

BEST
Casey Demons: Lillian Snow, Kasey Phillips, Meg Macdonald, Bonnie Williams, Delany Madigan, Anna Vrsecky
Essendon: El Chaston, Ashlea Melnikas, Madison Ibrahim, Tia Davidge, Jess Owen, Christina Bernardi
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