CROWS BATTLE TO KEEP FINALS BERTH ALIVE
By Chris Nice
The Crows sing the song after downing the Dockers by three points.
Photo: Sean Garnsworthy/AFL Media/Getty Images AsiaPac
Adelaide's hopes of back-to-back premierships are still alive following a gritty three-point win over Fremantle in humid conditions at TIO Stadium.
The narrow victory catapults Adelaide from fifth to second on the ladder, and should Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane lose their games this week, the Crows will retain second place.
But Erin Phillips' fitness will once again be at the forefront of the Crows' minds, with the superstar evidently hampered by her injured quad, playing deep in the forward line and barely leaving the 50 for the entire game.
Any fitness concerns from last week were immediately forgotten however, after Phillips outmanoeuvred her opponent to boot the opening goal of the game.
Although another slow start had befallen the Dockers, their intensity and persistence throughout the quarter was unrivalled.
Yet their solitary major from the quarter - the result of a 50m penalty following a high Jenna McCormick bump on Lara Filocamo - did little to reflect their ferocity around the ground.
Adelaide on the other hand flourished, with Phillips slotting another remarkable major - which took two goes after her initial attempt was smothered - and Ruth Wallace looking dangerous with her penetrating inside 50s.
Mariana Rajcic punished the Dockers for their lack of discipline in the final seconds of the quarter after Dana Hooker missed her target when giving the ball back to Rajcic who had been awarded a free kick.
The subsequent 50m penalty guaranteed a certain Adelaide goal, and extended the margin to 10 points at the end of the first term.
Again, the Dockers' slow starts proved troublesome in the second quarter, with Phillips lining up for third major in the opening 30 seconds, before dishing it off to Sarah Perkins who kicked her maiden goal of the season.
But it would turn out to be the only Adelaide major for the quarter, with Fremantle dominating the possession count and clearances.
Things soon got physical and tempers flared with the tackling pressure and ferocity evident from both sides.
Adelaide's own tackling machine Ebony Marinoff (16 tackles) was again in the wars after splitting her tongue open last week; this time receiving a nasty cut under her eye in a tackle.
Yet the shocking visual did little to deter both sides' aggression.
Ashlee Atkins narrowed the margin with a goal soon after, yet like their opposition that quarter, it would be her team's lone major.
While the Dockers certainly challenged the Crows in the term with their controlling of the ball, their inability to hit targets up forward and convert proved costly.
While fortune had certainly favoured them in the term - with Phillips not paid two marks in the goal square - Fremantle's dominance was unable to be matched and carried into the third quarter.
A seamless clearance and goal off the boot of Ebony Antonio in the opening ten seconds paved the way for a Fremantle offensive.
Hooker rectified her previous wrongdoings, kicking Fremantle's second a minute later after being on the right end of a 50m penalty and giving her side a crucial four-point lead.
It was a breakout quarter for Hooker, who ended the term with 11 contested possessions and was influential around the stoppages.
It was fast and furious footy from both sides, yet after the initial Fremantle flurry neither side were either to penetrate the others' defences.
Jessica Sedunary eventually broke the deadlock after soccering the ball through the big sticks and regaining the lead for the Crows, albeit by one point.
Adelaide needed some magic to begin the final quarter, which almost came in the form of a Phillips snap from the boundary, yet only resulted in a minor score.
By this point, Phillips was looking exceptionally slow and sore - indicative when she passed off another shot on goal to Perkins who ultimately missed.
With Fremantle pressing, the superstar gave her side a much needed reprieve despite her fitness troubles, whirling around and snapping her third early in the term.
Chelsea Randall took a courageous mark in defence to prevent what would have been a certain Docker goal as they continued their assault forward.
Yet she and her teammates could do little as Hooker pounced on an opportunity to kick her second and bring Fremantle back to within three points with four minutes remaining.
Locked in the centre, the Dockers finally surged toward goal with a minute and a half left on the lock, desperate to secure a much-deserved victory in the trying conditions.
But Randall again would be the thorn in their side, cutting off their entry and shaving valuable seconds off the clock.
Although another inside 50 soon followed, the lack of a big target up forward again proved to be their downfall, with a hopeful kick falling into the lap of Adelaide's Sarah Allen when the siren sounded.
Regardless of the results from the remaining three games, Adelaide will still be in top-two contention and will be putting their all into their upcoming encounter with Collingwood.
Fremantle meanwhile will play for pride when they verse the similarly demoralised Carlton at Fremantle Oval.
ADELAIDE 6.4 (40)
FREMANTLE 5.6 (36)
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Phillips, Foley
Fremantle: Hooker, Antonio, Donnellan
MAGPIES TOO GOOD AS BRISBANE BLUNDER
By Nick D'Urbano
The Magpies secure their third win of the season. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images AsiaPac
Collingwood has shocked flag fancy Brisbane with an upset 14-point victory at the Moreton Bay Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies - whose season was over after their defeat the week prior at the hands of the Western Bulldogs - put together an incredible opening stanza where they kicked four goals to Brisbane’s two before closing out in emphatic style on the road.
Christina Bernardi and Moana Hope combined for three goals each and were instrumental in the Pies victory in Burpengary's torrential conditions, while Chloe Molloy, Jess Duffin and Jasmine Garner all had 18 touches apiece.
Bernardi and Hope set the tone early with two goals each in the first term.
But the Lions were able to respond through Sabrina Frederick-Traub, who took a big pack mark and slammed home an important goal for the home-side before Nat Exon slotted a late major to put Brisbane back within two goals at the first change.
The conditions soon became ugly and no goals for over a quarter of footy.
Despite the unfavourable weather, the Pies were clenched down on the Lions with their brilliant ball movement, resulting in goals from Garner and Meg Hutchins who increased the Pies lead to 23 points at the last change.
Collingwood were able to close out the game through goals from Bernardi and Hope who kicked their third majors of the day.
Brisbane booted three late consolation goals from Jess Wuestchner, Kaitlyn Ashmore and Kate Lutkins who restored some pride for the home side, but it was too little, too late, as the Magpies notched up their third win for the season.
In defeat, Emily Bates (20 disposals), Alexandra Anderson (18 disposals) and Jamie Stanton (18 touches) led the way.
But now their side face an uphill battle to reach the Grand Final after their second successive defeat.
While Collingwood were able to get off the bottom of the ladder and climb to sixth, Brisbane now sit in fifth position and need several results from the final round to go their way in order to play in the Grand Final.
The Magpies look to play spoiler once again when they host reigning premiers, Adelaide at Olympic Park Oval on Sunday in their final game for 2018, while Brisbane travel to Sydney to take on the Giants in Blacktown in a must-win game for both teams.
BRISBANE 5.9 (39) COLLINGWOOD 8.5 (53)
BEST Brisbane: Lutkins, Frederick-Traub, Bates, Gibson, Stanton Collingwood: Bernardi, Garner, Molloy, Hope, Edwards, Duffin
A GIANT MIRACLE
By Chris Nice
The Giants' season remarkably survives. Photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images AsiaPac
An 18-point victory over the top-of-the-table Western Bulldogs has kept Greater Western Sydney's once-distant hopes of a Grand Final appearance well and truly alive.
While the Western Bulldogs hang on to top spot, the Giants advance to second place, nudging the recently-ascended Adelaide down the ladder to third.
A win would have guaranteed the Western Bulldogs a Grand Final appearance, but they now will play a virtual preliminary final against the equally prospective Melbourne to stand a chance at taking out the premiership.
Signs were promising for the Bulldogs early on after Kirsten McLeod soccered the first goal of the game in the opening thirty seconds.
Mirroring her teammate's style, Monique Conti soon joined the party, securing the Bulldogs' second only minutes later.
Although the flying start didn't last courtesy of an Aimee Schmidt major, the Bulldogs appeared dangerous for the remainder of the term - the midfield might of Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney giving them the edge around the ball.
It looked like it would be another quarter of Bulldog power after McLeod slotted another in the second term, yet again in the opening minute.
But it would end up being their only score for the quarter, as an all-out GWS assault bombarded the ladder leaders.
Spearheaded by Courtney Gum (23 disposals) and Alicia Eva (19 disposals), the Giant midfield dominated the clearances, resulting in a whopping 13 inside 50s for the term opposed to the Bulldogs' two entries.
Jodie Hicks got the momentum swinging the Giants' way after slotting a classy set shot goal to give her side the lead early in the piece, while Irish import Cora Staunton's great physical presence and aggression blitzed the Bulldogs.
A spectacular pack mark and goal after playing on, coupled with a direct goal assist to Jessica Dal Pos only moments earlier, emphasised Staunton's prowess and importance to the side in what is only her debut season.
With an eight-point lead at half-time, both teams were well aware of what a win would yield for their them - for the Bulldogs, a Grand Final guarantee; for the Giants, a chance to keep the premiership dream alive.
Both sides came from the main change fit and firing, yet unlike the previous two quarters, neither side were able to assert their dominance.
It was a tight wrestle for control for the majority of proceedings, the contested style of play limiting any flowing ball movement of which the Bulldogs in particular have become renowned for.
The Dogs finally broke the drought thanks to a Jenna Bruton goal, and a subsequent minor score from Kearney brought the Dogs back to within a single point by three-quarter time.
While the Bulldogs fought hard in the final term, it was the Giants who would retain the upper hand and run away victors by a comfortble 18 points.
The Giants crushed any Bulldog resurgence, with goals to Gum, Eva and Amanda Farrugia opposed to the Bulldogs' solitary point.
As time closed on the Bulldogs, so too did their hopes of securing a ticket to the Grand Final - the disappointment on their faces telling the story clearly.
The Giants on the other hand were ecstatic, with their dream of a Grand Final berth still alive. Wooden spooners last year, Greater Western Sydney now have the chance to secure their place in the Grand Final when they face Brisbane, who will also be vying for a top-two finish.
The Bulldogs face similar circumstances in a do-or-die battle against the flag favourites, Melbourne, at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday night.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.4 (46)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.4 (28)
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Gum, Staunton, Eva
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Conti, Kearney
DEMONS MOVE TO SECOND AFTER THRASHING BLUES
By Zac Standish
Kate Hore and Tegan Cunningham celebrate their side's emphatic win over Carlton.
Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images AsiaPac
An inspired team effort from Melbourne has kept them in the hunt for a spot in the AFLW Grand Final, following a 35-point thrashing over a dispirited Carlton outfit.
Melbourne dominated from start-to-finish at Ikon Park, completely outclassing their opponents all over the ground as they made the Blues look second-rate in front of their home crowd.
With everything to play for, Melbourne came out firing in a first quarter blitz, with the Blues simply having no answer for the havoc transpiring before them.
Three goals in the first five minutes spelled trouble for Carlton early as the Demons dominated possession of the ball and managed to convert with Elise O’Dea drawing first blood before Tegan Cunningham piled on two goals of her own.
O'Dea finished the quarter with three majors, her dominance alongside Cunningham destroying what little confidence resided within the Carlton camp.
Everything the Demons touched turned to gold in the first term, and Carlton couldn't escape their pressure and struggled to contain the class of their opposition's midfield.
In what can only be described as 15 minutes of carnage, the Blues could only muster a solitary behind as three more goals Melbourne goals saw them break the record for an AFLW quarter-time margin (38 points).
After putting up an embarrassing performance in the first term, a quarter time rev-up from coach Damien Keeping would pay dividends for the Blues as they came out a much more inspired and classier outfit.
Two quick goals resulted, including a brilliant 40m effort by marquee player Tayla Harris which would get Carlton fans out of their seats and breathe some life back into her side.
Darcy Vescio followed with an excellent snap from the goal square to trim the margin back to 26 points.
With the Blues on the march, it would take a crucial mark and goal by star forward Tegan Cunningham to ease her side's nerves and allow them to take a 34-point buffer going into the main break.
It would have to take an astounding effort from the Blues in the second half to get back into the game, but a comeback never came to fruition as Melbourne were again able to hold off their advances.
In a very even term, neither team could take a stranglehold on the game with both defences standing up superbly.
The period would be marred by a suspected ACL injury to Melbourne veteran Melissa Hickey, who landed awkwardly after a bump and was pictured in tears as she was helped off the ground by trainers.
This would see the match take a sombre tone in the final stages of the quarter and flatten players mentally across the ground.
With only three behinds for Melbourne and one for Carlton being scored, the Demons slugged through the quarter with a convincing 36-point lead going into the final change.
With the win seemingly sewn up, percentage was on Melbourne's mind in the last quarter as they looked to solidify their chances in claiming an Grand Final spot. Georgia Gee kicked off proceedings for Carlton however with her first AFLW goal as the Blues looked to make life hard for the Demons.
But they would eventually run out of gas as Melbourne got back on top through the middle of the ground and piled pressure back on Carlton’s defence.
Tegan Cunningham opted against lining up for her fourth and hit up teammate Kate Hore who duly converted to finish off an excellent performance by the Demons.
It would end up being a very handy percentage booster for Melbourne, who ended with a percentage of 119.3 jumped into second on the ladder two points clear of the third-placed Greater Western Sydney.
Next week will see Melbourne face the top-of-the-table Bulldogs in a crucial clash at VU Whitten Oval - the winner guaranteed a spot in the Grand Final.
Carlton on the other hand will look to finish off their disappointing season with a good performance as they face Fremantle in a bottom-of-the ladder clash.
MELBOURNE 7.5 (47)
CARLTON 2.2 (14)
BEST
Melbourne: O’Dea, Cunningham, Scott, D.Pearce
Carlton: Gee, Gillespie-Jones, Vescio
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