The much-hyped grand final rematch lived up to its billing, while the final picture began to emerge following several important results.

WESTERN BULLDOGS          1.0        2.0        3.1        5.2 (32)
ESSENDON                            1.0        2.0        2.4        3.4 (22)

It was a return to the winners for the Western Bulldogs who defeated Essendon by 10 points at Mission Whitten Oval on Friday night. The two sides were impossible to split across the opening half, with both teams sharing narrow leads in the period before settling at two goals apiece at the main break. The Bombers would create multiple opportunities to produce a comfortable lead in the third quarter but were unable to find the big sticks from four scoring shots whilst their opponents booted the term’s only major. The visitors would get reward for effort with the first goal of the final term to hold a slender three-point lead with 12 minutes remaining but that would be short lived as back-to-back goal from Bulldogs forward Emmy Nekrep would prove to be the difference in the triumph. She finished with a season-high three majors to help the hosts get over the line while Jorja Livingstone’s great run of form continued with a performance that included a season-high 36 disposals as well as eight interceptions possessions and seven inside 50s. Essendon’s best included the likes of Brooke Plummer (23 disposals, eight intercepts) and Amelie Gladman (21 disposals, eight inside 50s).

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Jorja Livingstone, Emmalyn Nekrep, Sarah Sansonetti, Kiera Leare, Scarlett O'Donnell, Tamsin Crook
Essendon: Jess Owen, Lily Bateman, Ashlea Melnikas, Amelie Gladman, Christina Bernardi, El Chaston
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TASMANIA                 0.3        1.6        5.6        5.7 (37)
GEELONG CATS         0.3        0.6        0.6        1.7 (13)

Tasmania produced a second straight triumph to move within four points of the top six after defeating Geelong by 24 points at North Hobart Oval. Goals were hard to come by in windy Tasmanian conditions with the first two quarters only producing one sole major courtesy of the Devils’ Kelsie Hill in the second term. It was the third term where the Devils gained the ascendency, kicking four unanswered majors, two of them coming from Devils debutant Georgia Clark, to make it a 30-point three quarter time advantage and all but ensure the four points went to Tasmania. Clark finished with 16 disposals and four tackles in a strong display whilst Libby Haines had seven inside 50s and five tackles, and Ellie Hall impressed with a season-high 20 disposals as well as nine intercepts, seven tackles. Lucy Marescuk was a clear standout for Geelong, finishing with 30 disposals, nine intercepts and seven inside 50s.

BEST
Tasmania: Not submitted
Geelong Cats: Lucy Marescuk, Elise Cook, Hayley Peck, Faith Qoon, Maddison Cotten, Mekah Morrissy
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BOX HILL HAWKS      1.5        2.6        3.9        4.11 (35)
CARLTON                    1.2        5.5        8.8        10.11 (71)

Carlton responded to their narrow defeat last week with a thumping 36-point win over Box Hill Hawks at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday. The large margin of victory didn’t look to be on the cards after quarter time with the Hawks having three more scoring shots than their opposition, however inaccuracy meant they had to settle for a three-point lead. The Blues would make them pay in the second quarter with a four-goal to one term, all of them coming in an eight-minute period, to lead by 17 points at half time. The hosts were without their chances in the third term to reduce the deficit but again, only managed one goal from their first four scoring shots, opening the door for Carlton who kicked the last two goals of the term to make it a 29-point ball game, before a two-goal to one last term secured the triumph. AFLW star Lila Keck made her VFLW season debut and delivered with a terrific performance that included 30 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances and two goals. She was one of three multiple goalkickers for her side as well as Tahlia Plunkett who booted three majors and Nell Morris-Dalton who kicked two goals and also recorded a season-high 22 disposals. The Hawks were led by Annabelle Embelton who had 24 disposals, 11 rebound 50s and eight marks (four contested).

BEST
Box Hill Hawks: Annabelle Embelton, Poppy Gardner, Rosie Dillon, Emma Stilve, Caitlin Thorne
Carlton: Lucy Burke, Octavia Di Donato, Emily Elkington, Stephanie Demeo, Hannah Bowey, Nell Morris-Dalton
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COLLINGWOOD                               0.1        2.1        2.1        5.4 (34)
NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE   0.3        0.4        5.7        5.7 (37)

North Melbourne Werribee jumped to the top of the VFLW ladder in what proved to be a thrilling Grand Final replay when they defeated Collingwood by three points at La Trobe University. In a low scoring opening half, the Pies were responsible for the only two goals of the first two terms, taking a nine-point lead into half time as they aimed to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2026 campaign. Whilst in unusual territory, the Roos quickly restored to their scintillating best with a five-goal quarter, keeping the Pies scoreless in the process, to get out to a 24-point three quarter time advantage.  But the home side would fight back in the final quarter producing all six scoring shots, and getting the margin to under a goal with eight minutes remaining. Ashley Patton had an opportunity to win the game in the final minute for Collingwood but could only muster a behind, with North Melbourne Werribee holding on to make it eight wins from eight. 26 disposals apiece from Alana Barba and Ava Seton were key to the reigning premiers getting the four points, the latter also laying 11 tackles and having nine meanwhile Mikayla Hyde had a game-high eight intercepts. Tahlia Fellows did what she could to produce a winning score for the Pies booting three majors and Dom Carbone impressed again in the middle with 20 touches and six clearances.

BEST
Collingwood: Dominique Carbone, Tamara Henry, Tahlia Fellows, Jemma Ramsdale, Abbey McDonald, Lily Jordan
North Melbourne Werribee: Not submitted
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DAREBIN                  2.4        2.5        5.9        5.9 (39)
CASEY DEMONS       0.0        2.6        2.6        4.8 (32)

Darebin claimed their second win of the season but had to fight off a strong Casey Demons fourth quarter, winning by seven points at Preston City Oval on Sunday. In typical windy conditions in the city’s north, both sides would share the ascendancy. The Falcons would kick two goals from six scoring shots while keeping the Demons scoreless in the opening term before Casey booted two majors of their own to lead by a point at half time. The hosts would then be responsible for the highest scoring quarter in the third, again keeping the away side to no score to set up a 21-point advantage at the final break. The Demons would do well to keep the ball inside their forward half throughout the last term and did kick two majors but they were unable to get within a goal as the final siren sounded. Alyssa Mifsud was hard to stop as the Falcons star amassed season-highs in disposals (31) and clearances (11) whilst teammate Ella Southgate kicked two majors for the winners and has now kicked four goals in her last three games. Zoe Mitchell was excellent for the Demons with 20 disposals, nine tackles and eight clearances.

BEST
Darebin: Not submitted
Casey Demons: Delany Madigan, Alice Robinson, Tylah Burn, Shree Fairchild, Zoe Mitchell, Abbey Rabot
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PORT MELBOURNE                1.2        3.8        3.10     6.11 (47)
SANDRINGHAM                     1.0        2.1        4.3        5.4 (34)

A strong final term from Port Melbourne in their victory over Sandringham by 13 points at ETU Stadium helped them maintain their top four position at the end of Round 9. After an even opening term, the Borough had the opportunity really put the foot down and break away from their opponents in the second quarter after producing eight scoring shots; however, they only managed two majors and had to settle for a 13-point half time advantage. The Zebras sensed the opportunity and capitalised in the third term by kicking two majors and conceding only two behinds to trail by only a point at the final change. The visitors would kick the opening major of the last quarter inside three minutes to lead for the first time in the game since the first term but it would be a short-lived advantage as Port Melbourne booted three goals in nine minutes to wrestle back the advantage and claim their fifth win of the season. For the second time this season, Georgia Foran booted three majors for her side with teammate Courtney Jones excelling in the middle with 26 disposals, seven tackles and seven intercepts. Courtney Aughtie was brilliant for Sandringham despite the loss, posting season-highs in hitouts (25), tackles (10) and clearances (8).

BEST
Port Melbourne: Courtney Jones, Georgia Foran, Mackenzie Bourne, Eloise Ashley-Cooper, Mia Caffry, Lauren Caruso
Sandringham: Zoe Barbakos, Kristy Stratton, Deanna Jolliffe, Courtney Aughtie, Jessie Jarvis
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