The AFLW competitors performed second fiddle to the males’s grand last – however with an unbelievable upset, a sequence of large statements and a report win, there was nonetheless lots of motion to sink our enamel into!
Here’s how your workforce fared in Round 5.
West Coast
The Eagles performed very well this week; they utilized strain on the Dockers in all moments of the sport, and it was truly a very gratifying sport to observe. The derby actually lived as much as its hype for as soon as.
The Eagles have improved a good quantity this season, and I actually like after they play this high-pressure fashion of footy. Aisling McCarthy had 17 disposals and 5 tackles however was pushed up the floor to play extra in the midfield, which I fairly loved.
Isabella Lewis was the Eagles’ greatest participant, kicking a aim and touching the ball 25 occasions. Lewis will get higher with each sport: I’m excited to observe her tackle the Hawks subsequent week.
Fremantle
The Dockers, much like the Eagles, utilized a excessive quantity of strain all sport lengthy, which was exemplified by celebrity Kiara Bowers’ ridiculous 18 tackles. Bowers had extra tackles than possessions – it’s additionally the tenth time she’s had greater than 15 tackles in a sport,
I simply don’t understand how you’ll cease her from ripping your workforce aside each week.
I used to be extremely impressed with Aine Tighe, who kicked two targets straight this week and performed a really strong sport; I used to be apprehensive she would drop her head after final week’s shock miss in the draw in opposition to Carlton, so I’m delighted she didn’t let that have an effect on her.
Geelong
HUGE YES!
The Cats proceed to show me right; and extra importantly, they proceed to enhance. This sport in opposition to the Saints was full domination, in all features.
Crucially, the Cats improved their offence – they’d been missing targets in each sport they’ve performed this 12 months, so I used to be tremendous impressed to see them pile on the factors. Amy McDonald had a mind-blowing 34 disposals, the most of any participant this season, and actually, there wasn’t a passage longer than two minutes the place I wasn’t seeing her with the ball. She is on hearth at the second.
I completely loved Nina Morrisons’s sport, too; she has been a quiet achiever on the Cats this season, so preserve your eyes peeled for quantity 9, Cats followers.
St Kilda
The Saints had been extremely disappointing; they’re so a lot better than the efficiency they put collectively in opposition to the Cats. They made so many foolish errors, missed manner too many simple kicks and actually didn’t take benefit of their restricted possibilities.
It was promising that they by no means dropped their heads and continued to play all 4 quarters regardless of very clearly dropping the sport by a good distance. I say it each week, however once more Kate Shierlaw was the Saint’s greatest participant – it wasn’t as a result of she kicked one other bag this week, however as a result of she labored again all the way down to defence and performed an excellent sport from down there. (She did nonetheless by some means handle to hit the scoresheet with a aim, although.)
Western Bulldogs
There are a number of groups in the competitors this season that the media seems to be bullish about that won’t truly be all that good. The Bullies are definitely one of these groups.
They have a really sturdy midfield with Kirsty Lamb and Ellie Blackburn, their twin tower forwards Celine Moody and Gabby Newton are strong most weeks, and their defensive strain has made most of their opponents wrestle, together with the Kangas this week.
Unfortunately – and I’ve alluded to this earlier than – the Dogs can’t play a full 4 quarters of soccer, which actually damage them this week. There was only one aim in it at three-quarter time, but it surely rapidly become a 15-point loss. The Dogs have a fairly robust run residence in opposition to some formidable sides – I’m fearful that their 4-0 begin turns right into a dropping report.
North Melbourne
The Kangas flew out of the gates this week at the starting of each quarter. I cherished how electrical they appear in the opening couple of minutes of every time period; it actually helps set the tone for the relaxation of the time period.
Vicki Wall will get higher with each sport she performs, and Jasmine Garner is tearing up the competitors this season; she’s but to play a sport with lower than 22 disposals. Garner had 26 in opposition to the Dogs and used all of them fairly superbly to assist set her workforce up for their win.
Collingwood
The Pies appeared just a little bit shaky of their sport in opposition to the Dons, however fortunately their expertise shone by in the finish. Lauren Butler was the standout participant of the sport and was far and away the greatest on floor. She had 16 disposals and booted a aim, her first in the AFLW. She was a stalwart in defence and helped the Pies rebound the footy from their defensive 50 a number of occasions.
Eliza James was an sudden star of the sport, with two targets from simply 9 touches. Underrated was her potential to deal with in the ahead half and apply the ahead strain that’s so fashionable these days.
Essendon
The Bombers had been fairly unfortunate to not draw back with a sneaky win on the street, as a result of they positively had their possibilities. Madison Prespakis (sure, I discuss her each week) was once more distinctive, with 31 disposals and a aim to maintain her workforce in the sport.
I appreciated the cheeky little sport from Stephanie Wales, who had a strong 12 disposals however has actually improved and constructed her sport since that dominating three-goal efficiency in opposition to the Eagles. I really like when gamers use one-off celebrity video games to enhance themselves, and not simply reside as one-hit-wonders.
Sydney
The Swans got here out of the gates with a BANG. They blazed away to a 26-point lead in the first quarter, and I believed I used to be lastly going to see the younger, energized Sydney that I’ve seen glimpses of all season.
But alas, the Swans went proper again into their shells after quarter time and let their foot off the gasoline, giving up the likelihood to have the membership’s first victory.
Brooke Lochland kicked three spectacular targets early and appeared wonderful over the relaxation of the sport. As per normal, Cynthia Hamilton performed properly, main her workforce in disposals after being moved into the midfield for a number of spells.
Hawthorn
The Hawks dominated the final three quarters, clawing their manner again into the sport and by no means as soon as letting the Swans have one other likelihood after their lacklustre first begin. Tahlia Fellows starred with three targets, however Akec Makur Chuot was greatest on floor for mine, with 13 touches and a quantity of spectacular little performs round stoppages.
Most notably for the Hawks was their passage that led to a aim with 4 minutes remaining in the third time period. If you haven’t but watched it, I extremely advocate you test it out beneath – it was elite.
Carlton
The Blues appeared closely outmatched all sport, and the last rating actually showcased that.
Mimi Hill had an private excessive of 33 disposals and at all times appeared harmful when she had the ball, whereas Breann Moody hardly misplaced a ruck faucet all night.
Melbourne
The Demons proved manner too good for the Baggers. Their ball motion from defence to offence was extremely silky, and anytime they headed ahead, they often had the dominant Tayla Harris on the finish of the footy. She appeared like she had the ball on a string, taking three stellar one-on-one marks, which result in three even higher targets.
Olivia Purcell had a mind-blowing 30 disposals, the first time she’s performed that in her profession. Making it much more spectacular is the proven fact that Melbourne’s midfield is so loaded, there actually shouldn’t even be that many touches for a single participant to get to go round.
Richmond
Wow. Just wow.
I’m at the moment engaged on a chunk about how upsets are seldom in the AFLW competitors and why that may be. I believe the Tigers actually put my article to mattress with that efficiency over the Lions.
From begin to end, the Tigers performed their normal sport fashion and didn’t as soon as let up the strain. They didn’t get drained, or let the Lions transfer the ball with their normal freedom. There had been too many standouts in the Richmond aspect even to say them; actually, it was such a powerful workforce efficiency that may be constructed on and taken into November.
Watch out for this younger Tigers workforce, they’ve taken it to some of the prime groups in the AFLW this season, and now they lastly know how you can beat them.
Brisbane
The Lions appeared shell-shocked when at halftime, they hadn’t managed to kick away and lead by an inexpensive margin, as they’ve turn out to be accustomed to this season. More to the level, the Lions had been unable to maneuver the footy round the floor like they often do; the strain Richmond utilized to all of them sport was suffocating.
Jesse Wardlaw was a really apparent omission for the Lions – I believe she is going to show to be extra of an necessary piece than many Brisbane followers might need already thought. The Lions simply couldn’t appear to get the ball into the targets (which is Wardlaw’s speciality).
Dakota Davidson made a severe blunder on the aim line, late in the sport, enjoying on from a set shot which may have given her workforce the win and seeing it smothered. Davidson has performed properly this season, so I’m trying ahead to a bounce-back sport from her subsequent week in opposition to the Bombers.
Gold Coast
The Suns acquired off to a gradual begin in opposition to the Power, however meticulously moved the ball ahead and ended up scoring 46 factors in complete. Their tall forwards had been typically an excessive amount of for Port’s defence, with Tara Bohanna slotting three set-shot targets and Jac Dupuy kicking two of her personal. Very spectacular stuff.
Speaking of spectacular, celebrity Charlie Rowbottom collected 27 disposals and once more laid greater than 5 tackles in the sport; a feat she’s been capable of accomplish each single sport this season. With brother James dropping the AFL grand last for Sydney, at the very least one member of that household had a great weekend.
Port Adelaide
The Power convincingly gained the first quarter (with out actually troubling the scoreboard) and placed on a bit of a present in the last time period, however had been unable to safe victory. It seems as if the Power simply refuse to point out up for all 4 quarters of a sport, and it actually hurts their potential to win.
Alex Ballard was a stalwart in defence, taking a ridiculous ten intercept marks. Had it not been for her, Port might need misplaced by a a lot higher margin.
Adelaide
The Crows actually piled on the factors in opposition to the Giants – however should you simply occurred to take a look at the scorecard and didn’t watch the sport, you might need the mistaken thought. Adelaide performed extremely properly, sure, however the Giants performed extremely poorly, which I believe the Crows simply did a very good job of capitalising on.
A myriad of aim kickers for the Crows of their record-breaking win, with McKenzie Dowrick slotting 4 and Anne Hatchard and Ash Woodland each booting three apiece. The spotlight of the sport got here in the dying moments when debutant Jess Waterhouse kicked an outstanding aim after studying the fall of the ball higher than everybody else (one thing she had performed all sport). Impressive for a primary gamer.
Waterhouse is one to observe… however you possibly can’t actually miss her along with her wonderful mullet.
GWS
The Giants had been once more disappointing this week, and they let the Crows stroll throughout them. The Giants had been unable to have the ball actually ever, with any variety of time or area, and anytime they did have the ball, they often simply bombed it lengthy, and it got here proper again down their throats.
My main gripe is definitely how they had been constantly unable to choose the ball up off the floor. The circumstances had been moist, I get that, however the Crows didn’t appear to have too many issues, and so the query actually stays, what had been the Giants gamers doing?
They want an enormous bounce-back sport, and it’s going to have to return in opposition to the Blues at residence subsequent week, who’re additionally trying for a response. Might simply be one to observe subsequent Saturday.
