BEAT THAT: Collingwood star Chloe Molloy pulled off a stunning finish to effectively seal four points against Essendon. On Sunday, flag fancies Brisbane and Collingwood do battle, while finals hopefuls Carlton take on Fremantle. TRIBUNAL WATCH: Port Adelaide's Maria Moloney will come under scrutiny for the tackle that had Essendon youngster Lily-Rose Williamson stretchered off in a neck brace. Snapshot of the upcoming AFLW season | | Parkes, NSW. If the Western Bulldogs can upset the Brisbane Lions in Ballarat and Collingwood lose to Richmond, then Nathan Burke's team would overtake the Magpies in sixth spot. And how ominous are the signs for would-be rivals to premiers Melbourne and perennial finalists Geelong and Brisbane, who all flexed their collective muscles in impressive season-opening triumphs.
Adelaide star Ebony Marinoff held the previous record, at 59 games. Enter co-captain Brianna Davey, who stood tall with 11 third-quarter disposals in a total of 28 as she helped spark the Magpies into life. Prespakis pinned the arms of McKinnon before bringing the Saints ruck to the ground in the third quarter. Although she was later cleared of an ACL injury, the length of her time on the sidelines remains to be seen. The Western Bulldogs also secured their finals berth with a three-point win over Carlton. TRIBUNAL WATCH: Collingwood pair Jordyn Allen and Sophie Casey face scrutiny from the match review officer after incidents in the Magpies' crucial win over Richmond. With Western Australia's strict border stance causing havoc with the fixture, Fremantle will battle West Coast in the second derby of the season. TALKING POINT: The premiership race appears to be down to three teams. Brisbane host Richmond in one qualifying final, while the other features a grand final rematch between Melbourne and Adelaide. Snapshot Of The Upcoming Aflw Season | Racing and Sports. THE MOMENT PART II: Ben Cunnington had a tear in his eye when he pulled on the North Melbourne jumper for his AFL return after two bouts of testicular cancer.
STATS THAT MATTER: A crowd of 12, 092 at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night justified the round-one fixture between Essendon and Hawthorn being moved from the smaller ETU Stadium - also known as North Port Oval - after a "#MoveItToMarvel" campaign led by Hawks coach Bec Goddard. They're winning playing an attractive brand of football, too, with players like Izak Rankine, Joel Jeffrey and Malcolm Rosas playing key roles. Collingwood's backs-against-the-wall win against Fremantle in Perth could be the defining point (again) of what has been a tough season for the embattled coach. Natalie Wood was unveiled as the inaugural Essendon AFLW senior coach in March this year, followed by Georgia Nanscawen, who became the first ever AFLW Bomber. WHAT'S NEXT: Adelaide's clash with North Melbourne looks the pick of the bunch, while unbeaten Geelong can show how their form stacks up when they face Collingwood. It's tough for the club and the players and our supporters and we understand the frustration" -mWest Coast coach Adam Simpson on his club's worst start to an AFL season, 1-11. But Jake Melksham kicked his fourth goal of the night and Pickett added his second to get the Dees home in a thriller. Three games will be held at venues right near the MCG, where the AFL men's grand final parade will conclude before the Bulldogs-Kangaroos women's match begins at Punt Road. GALLERY: The best pics from the Grand Final. WHAT"S NEXT: There will be one finals spot up for grabs in the last round of the season next weekend. Injuries and off-season departures have hit Fremantle hard this season, but no one predicted they would be this bad. Greater Western Sydney's Aidan Corr might have a similar issue for his high hit on Essendon's Josh Green. Richmond's Beth Lynch is in trouble for a tackle that sidelined Geelong opponent Rachel Kearns with a shoulder injury. The round finishes on Sunday with North Melbourne host West Coast, Ridmond playing GWS and Fremantle hosting St Kilda. A decision might not be too far away.
As the siren sounded on the eve of August 27, history was everywhere. KEY MOMENT: Collingwood's perfect season record was under serious threat when they were goalless and trailed the Bulldogs by two points at half-time. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: It's a tie between two Richmond stars - Courtney Wakefield (four goals) and Monique Conti (30 disposals). But the Crows will have to do it without the most decorated player in league history after Erin Phillips opted to switch to crosstown rivals Port Adelaide, the club who her father Greg was a legend with in the SANFL. Snapshot of the upcoming aflw season 2. STATS THAT MATTER: 11 - That's what Fremantle's record winning streak stood at before the Brisbane Lions gatecrashed the party with an upset win on Saturday. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak had 10 score involvements among 30 disposals against the Western Bulldogs, with the 33-year-old veteran showing no signs of slowing down.
3 was the lowest recorded in the club's history. THE MOMENT: The jubilation in the Richmond coaches' box said it all on the final siren as they drew with North Melbourne. Power captain Erin Phillips, the daughter of Greg Phillips, an eight-time SANFL premiership-winning defender for the Port Adelaide Magpies, couldn't wipe the smile off her face after the match. St Kilda midfielder Zak Jones will be under the spotlight after delivering a late bump on Melbourne winger Ed Langdon, while Carlton expect skipper Cripps to be given the all-clear over the tackle that led to Lachlan Murphy's neck injury. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Adelaide ball-magnet Ebony Marinoff had a huge say in her side's hard-fought 14-point win over North Melbourne, racking up a game-high 29 disposals, 13 tackles, seven inside-50s and six clearances. The match would prove to be another historic moment for the Dons, defeating West Coast by 52-points. She showed her class in the second half to finish with 14 touches. For the first time, the Bombers were playing outside of Victoria. THE MOMENT: Oliver Henry had missed one chance to put Collingwood in front against Hawthorn but didn't waste the second from an identical position. Snapshot of the upcoming aflw season finale. Unlimited access to breaking news, sport, business, lifestyle and in-depth exclusives home delivered or direct to your device. WHAT'S NEXT: North Melbourne host the Western Bulldogs in Hobart and Melbourne take on Adelaide in a pair of Saturday fixtures that will have huge finals implications.
TALKING POINT: So, can Nathan Buckley coach or not? THEY SAID IT: "That's not who I am, to do any of that stuff. 1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom starred in a 14-point win over St Kilda as Gold Coast bounced back from their round-three QClash hammering. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Richmond appeared poised to upset Adelaide until an unlikely hero popped up. Call us at 1800 811 855.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has been offered a two-match ban for headbutting Geelong defender Zach Tuohy. THEY SAID IT: "We're all flat as a tack in there. She inexplicably played on in a bid to snap the goal and Tiger Gabby Seymour threw herself across the boot to make a match-winning smother. Tensions and emotions ran high at Brighton Homes Arena as the underdog Demons surged past the Lions in muggy conditions while a crowd of 7412 watched on. It was also the first time Fremantle have gone goalless in their history. Snapshot of the upcoming aflw season 1. We talk about our ball movement but it all came together in that moment, and we can see what a damaging team we can be. " TALKING POINTS: Are the Blues finally the real deal and how will they cope against the Western Bulldogs next week with coach Voss sidelined by COVID?
THEY SAID IT: "It's bloody tough at the moment. Barr's hurried snap with four seconds remaining was off target but close enough to sneak in for a decisive behind in the one-point victory for the Giants. Randall was left with a split lip, and Conway now faces a nervous wait to see if she will be suspended. Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos).
The Suns' 73-point defeat was their worst in history, while the Lions' 33 goals across the opening three rounds sets a new benchmark for the competition. The Brisbane-Collingwood and North Melbourne-Richmond clashes will both have significant top-eight ramifications. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Sarah Lampard, Eliza West and Tyla Hanks of the Demons pose for photos with fan during the AFLW Grand Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at Brighton Homes Arena on November 27, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. KEY INJURIES: Deanna Berry (Western Bulldogs, knee), Olivia Purcell (Geelong, knee), Jordan Membrey (Collingwood, knee), Tayla Bresland (West Coast, hamstring).