Unlikely upset as Saints finals ship sinks; reigning premiers’ scary record win — AFLW wrap
The Western Bulldogs dashed St Kilda’s finals aspirations, while the Lions scored their fourth-largest win ever.
In addition, Carlton defeated Collingwood for the first match in five years after mounting a late comeback.
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Western Bulldogs 5.6 (36) defeated St Kilda 5.5 (35)
The Western Bulldogs’ remarkable come-from-behind one-point win in Ballarat marked the end of St Kilda’s season.
After trailing by 14 points early in the third half, the Dogs scored three goals in a row to take their first lead of the game in the final term, and they held on for a 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35) victory on Sunday.
Tyanna Smith and Jesse Wardlaw of the Saints had long-range set-shot opportunities in the closing 80 seconds but failed to convert, giving the Dogs a thrilling fourth win of the season.
Britney Gutknecht’s block in the center of the field to deny a Saints inside 50 with 20 seconds remaining won the victory for Tam Hyett’s team in a closely contested encounter.
After Ashleigh Richards tied the scores for the Saints with little under 10 minutes remaining, Heidi Woodley’s point shortly after proved to be the match-winning score.
The Dogs lost No. 1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner in the second term after the tall forward suffered a corky. Meanwhile, the Saints lost vice-captain Bianca Jakobsson to a potential serious knee injury.
Dogs midfielder Jessica Fitzgerald was a strong contributor for the victors in her 50th game with a game-high 26 touches and a goal in the fourth term which put her side ahead for the first time in the match. Deanna Berry also had a tremendous game with 21 touches and a goal of the year contender.
Serene Watson was handy for the Saints with 21 touches while Wardlaw had a solid outing with 18 disposals.
The 4-6 Saints are yet to make the finals since entering the competition in 2020.
Controversial call
The Saints may have been robbed of a goal when an intercept wasn’t called for front-on contact late in the third term.
Saints’ Hannah Stuart would have had a shot just in front of goal but instead the umpire deemed Jasmyn Smith’s play as legal as the ball was rushed behind to make it an eight-point lead for Nick Dal Santo’s side.
“That’s got to be front-on contact, Smith had no eyes on the football and made contact with Hannah Stuart who was ready to take the grab,” Kate McCarthy said in commentary.
Dogs midfielder Deanna Berry backed up her excellent nine-disposal first term with a contender for the goal of the season in the second.
Berry’s snap in tight space deep in the pocket cut the Dogs’ deficit to two points just before halftime.
“That’s got to be a contender for goal of the year,” McCarthy said in commentary.
Jakobsson injured
Saints vice-captain Bianca Jakobsson went down with a knee injury late in the opening term after stepping on Elaine Grigg’s foot deep in defence.
Play then stopped as the two-time All-Australian defender was helped off the ground by trainers in what look to be an injury to her left knee.
BRISBANE LIONS 11.12 (78) def SYDNEY SWANS 1.4 (10)
A spectacular performance from Brisbane Lions star Isabel Dawes has led the Lions to a roaring 68-point victory over the Swans, which puts them in third position on the ladder as the finals near closer.
Brisbane is still a chance to finish in the top two, providing Richmond upsets Hawthorn next week and the Lions win big over the Saints.
Dawes had an outstanding game with22 disposals and was a huge scoring threat with two final-quarter goals as the Lions feasted on the Swans.
Sydney kicked the first goal of the game thanks to some Bella Smith brilliance out the back of the pack, but that would be their only goal for the game as Brisbane took over the contest.
The second quarter was one-way traffic as Brisbane put their foot down delivering four majors in front of an energetic home crowd.
Sophie Conway (25 disposals, one goal) and Orla O’Dwyer (22 disposals, four tackles) were key contributors for the Lions, finding plenty of the ball and giving their forwards some great looks.
Conway said the girls weren’t happy with last week’s loss and it had given them extra incentive to get back to playing their best football.
“It was nice to put on a bit of a performance today especially after last week, we were really disappointed with what we dished up,” she said.
“To come out here and play four quarters of Brisbane Lions footy and get the job done, it was really good.”
Lions coach Craig Starcevich agreed that it was a “good response to last week”.
“The finish was terrific, we generated 21 shots to their five and had 18 more inside 50s … there were good signs today,” he said.
“You’re not going to bust a team open early, sometimes you’ve got to play the arm-wrestle until the end, wait for the old dam wall to burst and then you can start scoring.”
Despite the Lions winning the premiership last season and the Saints not making the eight, the Lions’ last trip to the venue saw them fall 21 points short of the Saints.
Starcevich said the side was not complacent coming into the clash against St Kilda next Sunday at RSEA Park.
“The focus is getting ready for St Kilda next week, we didn’t have such a good time of it last year, obviously there’s a bit of trepidation going back after what we encountered last time around,” he told me.
“I’m not sure they’ll have a whole lot to play for other than spoiling the day for us, we’ve got to be on, we’re still alive for top two.”
Taylor Smith, the Lions’ spearhead, rebounded strongly after being kept scoreless last week, scoring three goals.
Laura Gardiner was a shining light for Sydney, battling through difficult circumstances to finish with a game-high 27 disposals, three tackles, and three clearances.
CARLTON 5.2 (32) defeated COLLINGWOOD. 4.4 (28)
Carlton overcame a late comeback to upset Collingwood for the first time since 2019 in a thrilling clash at Victoria Park.
Before hanging on for the close four-point victory on Sunday, the Pies rallied from 15 points down to take a three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
But Dayna Finn’s spectacular debut AFLW goal put the Blues back in ahead by three points with seven minutes remaining, and they held on for their fourth win of the season.
Keeley Sherar was terrific for the Blues in the midfield, with a game-high 24 disposals, a goal, and 339 meters gained, while Brittany Bonnici was fantastic for the Pies, with 21 touches and seven clearances.
Madeleine Guerin also had a strong day for the Blues, accumulating 17 touches, six inside 50s, and five clearances.
Finally, the bottom-placed Pies unable to create enough opportunities, losing inside the 50s (36-23) and failing to capitalise on their centre clearing domination (7-1).
Celine Moody, the Blues’ primary striker, was pleased with the win in her 50th AFLW game.
“Very happy with that one,” Moody remarked after the game.
“Love having a milestone in the navy Blue and even better to get the win especially with this group of women.”
“We’ve had a bit of an erratic season, and we really want to finish well, so crossing the finish line means a lot to us.
The 4-6 Blues will have the chance to terminate Essendon’s season on Saturday night when they play their last home-and-away game of the season.
Special Finn
What a time to discuss your first AFLW goal.
Dayna Finn hit a magnificent floating shot from 30 yards away to put the Blues up by three points with seven minutes remaining.
The Blues midfielder from Ireland ended the game with 13 touches, one goal, and five tackles.
Pies defy the trend.
The Pies have a reputation for coming apart after halftime, but they stepped up in the second-to-last game of the regular season to avoid a third-quarter loss for the first time this year.
The Pies equaled the Blues in the third quarter, tying 7-7 as Imogen Barnett scored her second goal of the season with a set shot.
Pies remain in it.
In a low-scoring game, it appeared like the game was almost over until Keeley Sherar scored a fantastic drop-punt goal on the run midway through the third period, giving them a 25-10 lead.
But Barnett answered swiftly with a goal at the opposite end less than two minutes later, reducing the deficit to nine points and keeping the Pies in the game.
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