Williamstown perched itself back on top, Port Melbourne upset a Western Bulldogs side stacked with AFLW talent, while Box Hill broke through for a drought-breaking win.

WESTERN BULLDOGS          1.0        4.2        4.2        6.5 (41)
PORT MELBOURNE               2.2        3.2        6.5        6.6 (42)

Round 13 started with a thriller out at Mission Whitten Oval as Port Melbourne held on for a one-point victory over a Western Bulldogs outfit featuring six AFLW players to all but lock in a top six finish. The Borough would produce the first four scoring shots of the game to lead by 14 points late in the opening term before conceding the next three majors to trail by the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, eventually leading to a six-point deficit by the main break. The visitors would have a second period of dominance in the third term, when they were responsible for all six scoring shots for the quarter, seeing them take a 15-point advantage into the final term as a result. The margin would remain at double digits for much of the last quarter, and despite back-to-back goals from the Dogs in the final two minutes of play, they would come up short of earning a fourth consecutive win. Mia Caffry was excellent in the middle for Port Melbourne, finishing with 21 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances, whilst Georgia Foran was outstanding in defence with eight intercept possessions and six rebound 50s, all whilst managing to kick two goals for her side. The hosts were led by Analee McKee who had 30 disposals, 29 hitouts and seven clearances.

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Ellie Bishop, Sarah Sansonetti, Analea McKee, Kiera Leare, Scarlett O'Donnell, Brooke Barwick
Port Melbourne: Georgia Foran, Alexandra McBride-Loane, Courtney Jones, Mia Caffry, Eimear Scally, Maggie McKellar
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SANDRINGHAM                                   1.0        3.2        3.2                6.5 (41)
NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE       2.2        4.4        10.6              12.7 (79)

North Melbourne-Werribee put their shock loss last week behind them with a third quarter masterclass to defeat Sandringham by 38 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. Whilst never leading, the Zebras made it a tight contest throughout the first half, never letting the margin reach double figures before settling for an eight-point half time deficit to chase. But the hosts would not register a score for the entirety of the third quarter, as the Roos ran rampant with eight unanswered scoring shots, six of those being majors, to put the game to bed with a 46-point three quarter time advantage. Sandringham would win the last term by kicking majors to two to slightly improve the score line by the final siren. The away side had three multiple goalkickers headlined by Emily Hurley who kicked a season-high three majors, meanwhile Alana Barba showed no signs of slowing down with a performance that included 21 touches, seven clearances and a goal. Zoe Barbakos was a clear standout for the Zebras, kicking four of her sides six majors for the game to keep the scoreboard ticking.

BEST
Sandringham: Bridget Koczek, Sophie Casey, Charlotte Taylor, Zoe Barbakos, Jordan Membrey, Indi Sherritt
North Melbourne Werribee: Not submitted
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TASMANIA      1.2        1.4        5.4        7.4 (46)
CARLTON        1.1        4.4        6.4        9.7 (61)

Carlton enjoyed a fifth consecutive victory to be one of the in-form teams of the competition heading into finals following a 15-point defeat of Tasmania at North Hobart Oval. After an even opening quarter that saw the Devils take a one-point lead into quarter time, the Blues surged in the second term, kicking three majors in just eight minutes to take an 18-point advantage into the main break. The Devils would be afforded that same opportunity despite a slow start to the second half, as they fired home three goals in three minutes, ending their scintillating run by tying proceedings at the 13-minute mark. That momentum would be short lived as the away side responded with consecutive goals but Tassie would still find themselves only six points down by three quarter time. The margin would sit at just one-point by the sixth minute of the last term before Carlton would ensure victory with the final two majors of the game. It was the usual suspects that helped the Blues get over the line, as Hannah Scott (28 disposals, 12 clearances) and Octavia Di Donato (24 disposals, six inside 50s) proved to be the most influential players on the ground. Zoe Larkins was also terrific for Carlton, kicking two goals and producing 20 disposals, meanwhile Grace White’s terrific season continued with 17 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal.

BEST
Tasmania: Grace White, Gabbi Featherston, Ava Read, Perri King, Sarah Skinner, Angelica Clark
Carlton: Zoe Larkins, Hannah Scott, Octavia Di Donato, Lucy Burke, Harriet Bingley
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WILLIAMSTOWN                      3.0        7.4        9.6        11.7 (73)
ESSENDON                                1.0        1.1        1.2        1.2 (8)

Williamstown picked up a huge four points and a percentage boost to return to the top of the VFLW ladder, as they defeated Essendon by 65 points at DSV Stadium on Sunday. The in-form Seagulls set the tone in the opening term by kicking the first three goals of the game before the Bombers’ Jacqui Vogt ended the quarter on a high in her first game of the season, saluting from 70 metres out to get the visitors on the scoreboard. Williamstown however got back to work in the second term, keeping their opponents to just one behind which kicking four majors to extend their lead to 39 points by half time. The hosts would remain in complete control of the rest of the morning, kicking a further four majors in the second half whilst conceding just one more behind in the process on their way to producing their second highest score of the season. Seven of the side’s 11 goals were kicked between Mia Zielinski (four) and Gabriella De Angelis (three), the latter producing a season-high effort, whilst teammate Ellen Williams was impressive with 26 disposals and six intercepts. El Chaston had another terrific performance for the Bombers, amassing 20 touches, 10 marks and six rebound 50s, meanwhile Layla Prince had 29 hit outs in the ruck.

BEST
Williamstown: Not submitted
Essendon: El Chaston, Lily Bateman, Tia Davidge, Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb, Ashlea Melnikas, Jacqui Vogt
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DAREBIN                    1.0        1.2        2.4        3.5 (23)
BOX HILL HAWKS      2.2        5.3        6.4        6.6 (42)

Box Hill Hawks finally tasted victory for the first time since Round 3 after a 19-point triumph over Darebin at Preston City Oval. The Hawks, who had only managed seven total goals in their last three games leading into this clash, booted the first two majors of Sunday’s game to lead by eight points at quarter time, before an excellent second term, in which they kicked three goals to nil, saw them take a game-high 25-point advantage into the second half. The Falcons would win the third term by a point and keep the visitors without a goal in the last quarter, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Box Hill, as the Hawks claimed their third win of the season in the process. Kayley Kavanagh played an excellent match for the away side, finishing with a game-high 26 disposals and 11 tackles as well as five clearances, whilst Ella Stoddart continued her great form in defence, with 20 touches, six tackles and six rebound 50s. Shannon Egan was Darebin’s best in the ruck, having 44 hit outs, as well as 14 disposals and four rebound 50s.

BEST
Darebin: Not submitted
Box Hill Hawks: Kayley Kavanagh, Tess Cattle, Hannah Stuart, Amy Cariss-Brett, Ella Stoddart, Ruby Ford
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