It was a weekend of surprises across the VFLW, with the Western Bulldogs and Geelong causing huge upsets, while Tasmania recorded its biggest win.

DAREBIN                  0.3        0.3        0.6        0.7 (7)
PORT MELBOURNE  1.1        1.5        1.6        4.8 (32)

Port Melbourne made it four straight wins to go within touching distance of the top four after defeating Darebin by 25 points at Preston City Oval. The Borough kicked the only major between the two sides in the first half before the Falcons had their best chance to build momentum in the third term when they produced three scoring shots to one, but they only managed behinds to remain one goal down heading into the final term. The away side then took the game out of their opponents hands with three final term goals to be outside of the top four on percentage only. Kaitlyn O’Keefe was always involved throughout the match for Port Melbourne, finishing with 16 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and a goal from five scoring shots, whilst Eloise Ashley-Cooper was also superb with 17 touches, 13 tackles and eight clearances. The Falcons were led by Caitlin Bunker once again, as her brilliant season continued with 31 touches, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and six tackles.

BEST
Darebin: Caitlin Bunker, Isabella Daddo, Alyssa Mifsud, Caley Ryan, Kasey Lennox, Shannon Egan
Port Melbourne: Lauren Caruso, Kaitlyn O’Keefe, Georgia Foran, Courtney Jones, Isabella Stutt, Hannah Foran
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CASEY DEMONS       0.0        1.0        1.0        1.2 (8)
CARLTON                  0.2        2.3        4.7        4.12 (36)

Carlton meanwhile also won a fourth straight game to maintain their place inside the top four for now, defeating Casey by 28 points at Casey Fields. After a goalless opening quarter between the two sides, both teams traded majors with the Blues taking a nine-point into the main break. The visitors would then make their move in the third term, kicking two further majors from five scoring shots whilst keeping the Demons scoreless to open up a 25-point three quarter time advantage which they extended slightly by full time. Three Blues had 30 disposals or greater including the seemingly regular Hannah Scott (32 disposals) and Octavia Di Donato (30 disposals) as well as Zoe Larkins (32 disposals), meanwhile Harriet Bingley was the side’s only multiple goalkicker with two goals in her fourth game of the season. Zoe Mitchell led the way for Casey finishing with 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, five clearances and five inside 50s.

BEST
Casey Demons: Meg Macdonald, Jess Pacevski, Ashleigh Perkins, Abbey Rabot, Tylah Burn, Alice Robinson
Carlton: Hannah Scott, Zoe Larkins, Octavia Di Donato, Matilda Fitzgerald, Stephanie Demeo, Harriet Bingley
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GEELONG CATS                        1.0        1.0        1.2        4.3 (27)
COLLINGWOOD                       0.2        2.2        2.4        2.6 (18)

Geelong pulled off a massive upset to keep their top six hopes alive by defeating Collingwood by nine points at Deakin University. Both teams traded chances in the opening half to break the game open, with the Cats kicking the only major of the first term before the Magpies kicked consecutive goals to lead by eight points at half time. It would be the same eight-point margin at the final change with both teams managing two behinds apiece before the Cats blew last year’s Grand Finalists out of the water, booting two goals inside five minutes of last quarter action before Faith Qoon found the big sticks at the 16-minute mark to seal an incredible Geelong victory. Nikita Harris would boot the other three majors for the victors, a season-high for the forward, with teammate Lucy Marescuk was just as important in getting her side the four points after producing 27 disposals, seven intercepts and six inside 50s. Sarah Huxtable (27 disposals, six clearances) and Jemma Ramsdale (19 disposals, 11 intercepts) were some of Collingwood’s more consistent performers for the afternoon.

BEST
Geelong: Mekah Morrissy, Nikita Harris, Lucy Marescuk, Simone Nalder, Bindi Crabtree, Axel Oswald
Collingwood: Stella Huxtable, Abbey Tregellis, Ella Jeffrey, Jemma Ramsdale, Macy Watkins, Lily Jordan
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ESSENDON      0.2        2.4        2.7        2.7 (19)
TASMANIA      3.0        5.1        6.3        9.5 (59)

Tasmania produced their highest score of the season in a big 40-point win over Essendon at Windy Hill. The Devils set the tone in the opening term where they booted three goals to nil before settling for a 15-point half time advantage. The Bombers had some great opportunities to put further dents into their deficit during the third term but could only manage three behinds whilst the Devils found a sixth goal of the game to make it a 20-point ball game by three quarter time. The visitors would put the game beyond doubt in the final term with another three-goal quarter. Staring with five goals for Tasmania was Ava Read who doubled her season goal tally leading into this match with majors in each quarter. Also impressing in the win for the Devils was Ellie Hall who had 27 disposals, 12 marks and 11 intercepts, combining well with Matilda Elbourne who finished with eight intercepts from 14 touches. Amelie Gladman did all she could for the Bombers, having 20 disposals and eight clearances.

BEST
Essendon: Ashlea Melnikas, Amelie Gladman, Grace Azzopardi, Georgia Tyrrell, Madison Ibrahim, Ava Jordan
Tasmania: Not submitted
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NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE                 0.0        3.0        5.2              5.3 (33)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                                   4.1        4.2        5.2              5.4 (34)

Geelong would not have the mantle of producing the biggest upset of the season, or even of the round, as a few hours later at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, the Western Bulldogs pulled off a stunning one-point victory over North Melbourne Werribee. The shockwaves began in the opening term when the Roos were remarkably without a score by quarter time as the Dogs piled on four straight majors to lead by 25 points at the first break. The reigning premiers would respond in the second quarter with three straight majors, all coming in a six-minute period, to reduce the deficit to eight points by the main break. The hosts would eventually find a way to win the third term also despite some resolute defending from the Western Bulldogs, tying the scores at 32 apiece at three quarter time before a tense final term followed. Only three behinds would be produced between both teams, two of those going the Bulldogs way by the halfway point of the quarter, before the away side held on frantically to prevail by the barest of margins in one of the wins of the season. Cass Mailer kicked two crucial Bulldog goals in the triumph whilst Kiera Leare was tough at it all afternoon with 16 touches and a game-high 13 tackles. The Kangaroos were led best by Ava Seton who had 31 disposals and nine clearances.

BEST
North Melbourne Werribee: Alana Barba, Tahlia Meier, Ava Seton, Ellyse Gamble, Poppy Schaap, Emily Hurley
Western Bulldogs: Jaimi Tabb, India Barker, Zoe Davies, Kiera Leare, Ellie Bishop, Cassidy Mailer
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SANDRINGHAM                       3.0        3.2        4.3        4.4 (28)
WILLIAMSTOWN                     1.1        3.3        4.8        6.11 (47)

With losses to the Pies and Roos, Williamstown moved to equal first following their 19-point victory over Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday. Looking to return to the winners list, the Seagulls started the game on shaky terms, giving up three straight goals after kicking the opening major to trail at quarter time, before two later second quarter majors helped them lead by a point at the main break. They would fall behind to the Zebras again for a chunk of the third term and would have their chances of winning the match threatened when they only managed one goal from six scoring shots, yet they would still lead by five points at the final change. The hosts would be unable to punish Williamstown in the last term, with the away side kicking the last two goals of the game. Emily Eaves was terrific in helping the Seagulls gain the four points, finishing with 19 disposals, 16 contested possessions, seven clearances and a goal, whilst for the sixth time this season, Mia Zielinski kicked multiple majors, producing two goals in the win. Courtney Aughtie had another solid performance for Sandringham, amassing 17 disposals and nine tackles in the ruck.

BEST
Sandringham: Erin Woodford, Deanna Jolliffe, Bridget Koczek, Sophie Casey, Charlotte Taylor, Felicity Hilford
Williamstown: Not selected
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