A review of Round 2 in the rebel VFLW, where Southern Saints brought Essendon’s long-running unbeaten streak to an end, Casey Demons issued a big statement and Port Melbourne upset Collingwood under lights.
CARLTON vs GEELONG CATS
CARLTON 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.9 (21)
GEELONG CATS 0.1 2.2 2.2 3.4 (22)
GEELONG completed the IKON Park VFL/VFLW double over Carlton when it cashed in on the Blues’ wastefulness to pinch a thrilling one-point rebel VFLW victory on Saturday.
The Blues missed their first five shots at goal but led by 10 points at quarter-time, only to then go goalless for the next 55 minutes.
The Cats, however, also found it tough to score, with their two goals in six minutes in the second quarter pulling them up before the heartstopping finish.
Ashlee Thorneycroft broke a long goal drought to give Carlton a seven-point lead with seven minutes to play, but it took just 90 seconds for Sophie O’Dea to break her team’s own 44-minute drought to cut it back to one and the Cats scrambled two late behinds to find themselves in front when it mattered most.
Charlotte Simpson, who kicked the winning behind, was Geelong’s best with 26 disposals, five marks, six tackles and 10 clearances. Abbey McDonald had 18 touches and Renee Garing had a wonderful first game back from maternity leave with 17 possessions, eight tackles and six clearances.
Maddie Di Cosmo (24 disposals, 12 tackles, eight clearances, one goal), Thorneycroft (18 disposals, 13 tackles, one goal) and Millie Klingbeil (21 disposals, five clearances) were magnificent for the Blues.
BOX HILL HAWKS vs WESTERN BULLDOGS
BOX HILL HAWKS 1.0 2.2 5.4 5.4 (34)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.1 2.2 4.2 5.3 (33)
WESTERN BULLDOGS’ recovery almost landed one of the biggest possible scalps when they fell heartbreakingly short of stunning Box Hill Hawks at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.
The Hawks held on to win by one point in a frantic finish where neither team was able to score in the last 10 minutes, with former Hawk Dom Carbone’s eighth-minute major for the Bulldogs proving to be the last goals of the game.
The Bulldogs showed they meant business when Imahra Cameron answered Zoe Barbakos’ early goal for Box Hill and took the lead early in the second through Trinity Skenderis.
The teams traded blows for the rest of the day as the visitors showed just how much they have improved, having lost to the Hawks by more than 100 points in their most recent clash last year.
Jordan Mifsud (27 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances, one goal) and Grace McRae (22 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances) starred for Box Hill, while Hawthorn-listed young star Charlotte Baskaran (23 disposals) was also terrific, while Sarah Perkins booted two goals in her comeback game.
Surprise Sydney AFL delistee Sarah Skinner was best for the Bulldogs with 28 touches, eight tackles, five clearances and six inside-50s, while Carbone (20 possessions, 11 tackles, eight clearances, one goal), Tahlia Meier (24 disposals, six marks) and Jaimi Tabb (16 disposals, seven tackles) also impressed.
NORTH MELBOURNE vs WILLIAMSTOWN
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.0 4.3 4.3 5.5 (35)
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.2 2.3 2.5 3.6 (24)
NORTH MELBOURNE grabbed its second victory of the year, leading all the way to account for Williamstown by 11 points at Arden Street Oval on Saturday.
The Kangaroos lost to the Seagulls in the pre-season but took early control with two goals in the first four minutes and never relinquished their hold, getting out by as much as 19 late in the second quarter, with each team only managing one goal in the second half.
The game was played mainly between the arcs, with the home team only earning 19 inside-50s for the day to Williamstown’s 29 as Marianna Anthony (20 disposals, 15 tackles and seven clearances) put in another dominant performance, Audrey Rhodes (23 disposals, five tackles, nine clearances) had her best game at VFLW level and former Seagull Emily Paterno (14 possessions, nine tackles, two goals) was also important.
Williamstown star Ruby Tripodi was again her team’s best player with 21 disposals, six marks and seven clearances, while Emily Eaves (21 dispsoals, six tackles, five clearances, five inside-50s), Jasmine Kawa (18 disposals, six marks, five tackles), Sharnie Whiting (17 disposals, one goal) and Alana Sarec (31 hitouts) also performed well.
PORT MELBOURNE vs COLLINGWOOD
PORT MELBOURNE 2.0 4.2 6.2 9.3 (57)
COLLINGWOOD 0.2 0.3 1.8 2.8 (20)
PORT MELBOURNE made a statement of its intent to climb back up the rebel VFLW ladder this year with a remarkable 37-point dismissal of 2022 finalist Collingwood at ETU Stadium on Saturday night.
The Borough got off to a flyer, booting four unanswered goals in the first half and taking their domination through to the final siren with another five goals to two after the main break.
Port did most of its damage off half-back, winning easily despite losing clearances 37-21, trailing the inside-50 count 41-22 and having 19 fewer disposals, with Bulldogs recruit Eliza Morrison (22 disposals) leading an even team contribution that saw 13 players in double figures for disposals.
That included Stella Reid, who laid a remarkable 16 tackles to go with 12 touches, while Rohenna Young medallist Federica Frew kicked two goals in her first game since crossing from Essendon, a figure matched by Bella Stutt, Amelia Peck and Laura Wright.
Jess Bates took her own footy to the game for Collingwood, winning 31 possessions, nine tackles, 11 clearances and seven inside-50s, with support coming from captain Caitlin Bunker (19 possessions, seven tackles, five clearances, five entries) and Matilda Zander (16 dispsals, six clearances).
CASEY DEMONS vs DAREBIN FALCONS
CASEY DEMONS 6.5 9.12 14.14 19.16 (130)
DAREBIN FALCONS 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 (8)
CASEY DEMONS turned in a performance not seen in the rebel VFLW for almost six years in downing Darebin Falcons by 122 points at Casey Fields on Sunday.
In kicking the highest score in their history (previously 97 twice last year) and recording their biggest winning margin (previously 91 against Western Bulldogs last season), the Demons kicked the highest score against the Falcons (previously 93) and handed them the biggest loss in their VFLW history (previously 78).
It was the highest score and biggest winning margin seen in the competition since Darebin itself kicked 21.9 (135) to Seaford’s 1.2 (8) at R.F. Miles Reserve on August 19, 2017 on its way to a second-straight and most recent premiership.
Casey kicked six, three, five and five goals in a consistent performance, with Megan Fitzsimon (21 disposals, five tackles, four goals), Ciara Burke and Alyssa Bannan (three goals each), Niamh O’Neill, India Lehman and Claire Keohane (two each) all cashing in.
The Demons fielded six Melbourne AFLW premiership players, including Fitzsimon and Bannan, with Eliza West (31 disposals, six tackles, nine clearances, five inside-50s, one goal), Sinead Goldrick (27 disposals, five tackles, eight clearances, one goal), Tahlia Gillard (16 disposals, 42 hitouts, seven inside-50s) and Maeve Chaplin (14 disposals, six inside-50s) all making an impact, while VFLW flag winner Marla Neal laid 13 tackles.
Karly McNiece (24 disposals, five marks) was tireless against the onslaught for Darebin, but nobody else was able to get their hands on the ball consistently, with Angelica Gogos (12 disposals, eight tackles, eight clearances) and Shannon Egan (24 hitouts) being the next best.
SOUTHERN SAINTS vs ESSENDON
SOUTHERN SAINTS 1.1 2.4 3.4 6.6 (42)
ESSENDON 2.0 2.1 2.5 2.5 (17)
SOUTHERN SAINTS gained a small modicum of revenge for last year’s Grand Final hiding from Essendon, handing the Bombers their first loss since the 2021 preliminary final with a convincing 25-point victory at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
The Saints were held goalless in Essendon’s 2022 Grand Final romp but only had to wait 10 minutes to get on the board this time – and it was their turn to shut the opposition out with the second of Caitlin Sargent’s two goals at the 17-minute mark of the first quarter proving to be the last one the Bombers kicked.
The Saints eked out one major in each of the second and third terms, the second to Winnie Laing in the 18th minute breaking a deadlock and giving them a five-point lead turning for home.
It also gave them the impetus to go on with the job and they banged on 3.2 in the last term, with Laing’s second sandwiched between a brace from Sera Kaukiono to win running away.
The home team enjoyed a +82 disposal differential as they won all major stat categories except inside-50s (29-29).
Laing was dominant (20 disposals, eight tackles, two goals), while Gabriella De Angelis (28 disposals, five tackles, five clearances, five inside-50s) vying for best-on-ground hours and Tessa Boyd (20 disposals, seven marks), Grace Hodder (16 disposals, eight tackles, five clearances), Jemima Wrigley (15 disposals, 10 tackles) and Michelle Podnecky (17 disposals, six tackles) also good.
Essendon star Alana Barba was the standout for her team with 24 possessions, eight clearances and five inside-50 entries, but apart from Megan Ryan (22 hitouts, seven tackles), Grace Dicker (12 tackles) and Courtney Ugle (seven tackles), the Bombers struggled to get their teeth into the contest.
ROUND 3 FIXTURE
Saturday, April 1: Carlton vs Geelong (11am, IKON Park); Box Hill Hawks vs Western Bulldogs (12pm, Box Hill City Oval); North Melbourne vs Williamstown (3.30pm, Arden Street Oval); Port Melbourne vs Collingwood (4.30pm, ETU Stadium). Sunday, April 2: Casey Demons vs Darebin Falcons (2.30pm, Casey Fields); Southern Saints vs Essendon (3pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval).
Friday, April 7: Williamstown vs Port Melbourne (10:00am, DSV Stadium); Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne (11:00am, ETU Stadium); Casey Demons vs Collingwood (12:00pm, Casey Fields); Saturday, April 8: Geelong Cats vs Darebin Falcons (12:00pm, Deakin University); Essendon vs Carlton (1:00pm, NEC Hangar). Sunday, April 9: Southern Saints vs Box Hill Hawks (3:00pm, RSEA Park).
Click here to view full fixture and ladder.
Broadcast and streaming: All matches in the 2023 rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website (AFL.com.au) and AFL Live Official App.
Live scoring and stats: Live scoring and stats will be available via both the AFL Live Official App and VFL App. Download the VFL App from the Apple or Google Play stores.
