Historic draw shakes up finals race; Irish star eyes goalkicking gong after ‘massive day’: AFLW Wrap.
The AFLW’s inaugural Dreamtime game in Darwin concluded in a tie!
In addition, an incredible six-goal haul has put an Irish player in contention for the leading goalkicker prize.Read on for our Saturday AFLW wrap.
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The first-ever Darwin Dreamtime game ended in a draw.
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The first ever AFLW Dreamtime match in Darwin finished in a tie.
Traditional rivals Richmond and Essendon couldn’t be separated on Saturday night, finishing 6.6 (42) each in an exciting match that went down to the wire.
Following a frantic final quarter that included injuries to Jess Hosking (hamstring) and Steph Wales (knee), Tigers captain Katie Brennan’s late shot narrowly sailed past the wrong side of the post to draw the game.
It was a game both teams desperately needed to win in the lead into finals, with the sixth-placed Tigers (26 points) fighting for a top four spot, while the Bombers are clinging onto eighth position (22 points).
With just one home and away round remaining, Essendon may need to defeat Collingwood to guarantee its spot in the post-season and hold out the likes of Melbourne (20 points) and Geelong (18 points).
St Kilda can also climb to 20 points with a win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
MOLONEY BAGS SIX TO TAKE GOALKICKING LEAD
A sublime six-goal performance from Aishling Moloney kept Geelong’s faint finals hopes alive and put the Irishwoman in the box seat to take out the AFLW goalkicking award with a record tally.
Moloney’s career-best bag proved the difference as the Cats, who led by only two points at halftime, kicked the last five goals of the game to secure a 33-point win in Perth on Saturday.
After two crisp set shot finishes in the final term – which could’ve included another if not for a reversal after she caught her opponent high – Moloney went past Chloe Scheer (five goals) to boot a club-record haul and overtook Kate Hore and Eden Zanker’s 20 goals last season to claim the record for the most goals in a single AFLW campaign.
The 26-year-old, who won the AFLPA Best First Year Player gong, told Fox Footy after the game she had newfound respect for the West Australian teams as she battled fatigue following the long cross-country trip.
“It was a massive day at the office. I’m delighted to get the win. We dug it out in the end … it was looking sketchy there for a while, but excited to get the win at the end of the day,” Moloney said.
Slight chance remains
As the siren sounded, Geelong’s finals equation was simple – beat Adelaide at home next Friday night, and have Essendon lose both its remaining games: against Richmond and struggling Carlton, to qualify.
The Cats have a strong percentage and have dealt with one of the harder fixtures this season after they stormed into a preliminary final in 2023.
But they will rue key moments in the first three games of the season: a home loss to Melbourne, the draw the following week with North Melbourne, and a bizarre goalless performance against the Blues at Ikon Park.
Eagles’ centre bounce perfection
AFLW medal fancy Ella Roberts was electric as she racked up 11 disposals and a goal in the first quarter, but actually wasn’t involved in the Eagles’ best play of the afternoon.
Ruckman Sarah Lakay spiked the ball forward at a centre bounce in the second term, straight into the path of Isabella Lewis, who scooped the ball up and drilled a pass to full-forward.
The ball went to ground, but Kellie Gibson was positioned beautifully for a textbook crumbing goal.
When former netballer Verity Simmons slotted her first career goal moments later, the Eagles were within a kick, but Moloney took care of the outcome for the Cats.
EAGLES 1.3, 3.4, 3.5 (23)
CATS 2.0, 4.0, 6.1, 9.2 (56)
BEST Eagles: Roberts, Schilling, Lakay, Thomas, Drennan, and Lewis. Cats: Moloney, Kearns, Prespakis, Morrison, Bowen, and Parry.
GOALS Eagles: Roberts, Gibson, and Simmons. Cats: Moloney 6, Bowen, Parry, and Surman.
UMPIRES: Kerr, Morgan, van Raay.
INJURIES Eagles: Roux (back). Crockett-Grills (ankle) and Friswell (ankle).
CROWD: 2,015 at Lathlain Park.
AFLW Goal-Kicking Leaders
Aishling Moloney (Geel), 21
Taylor Smith* (BL) 16.
Danielle Ponter (Adel) 14.
Kate Shierlaw (NM) 14.
*Yet to play this round.
Dockers lock up Maiden Finals berth.
Fremantle will play in the AFLW finals for the first time in three seasons after defeating GWS 30-point away at Henson Park on Saturday.
Aisling McCarthy’s 22-disposal, three-goal effort helped the Dockers secure a top-eight position and a home elimination final.
McCarthy scored two goals and had nine disposals in the first term, as her pace and superb finishing separated the two teams on a stormy afternoon.
Her second goal on a set shot came following a rare interchange infringement penalty against GWS, who seemed to have too many players on the field late in the quarter.
Play was halted in the middle, with McCarthy obtaining an immediate free kick and a 50-metre penalty as the closest player to the ball, dealing a crushing blow to the Giants.
Brazil falls down.
The Dockers, already missing Aine Tighe (knee) and acting captain Hayley Miller, who did not play due to a recurring calf ailment, may be without the important intercept defender for their last home and away game against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
AFL Indigenous All-Stars return at 01:04.
‘Fumbly’ Giants pay GWS.
GWS coach Cam Bernasconi told Fox Footy at quarter-time that his players had been too fumbly and needed to take a breather following a “chaotic” first quarter.
Tarni Evans utilized her body effectively against Emma Driscoll to score an out-of-the-back goal against the flow of play, but despite Alyce Parker’s hard grunt work in the center, the Giants seldom looked dangerous to their opponents.
Orlagh Lally punished the Giants for their inefficiency by kicking a fantastic goal with her left boot as she raced to the boundary in reaction to Evans’ goal.
GIANS 1.0, 3.0, 3.1, and 4.1 (25)
DOCKERS: 3.3, 5.7, 6.8, 7.13 (55)
BEST Giants: Parker, Beeson, Smith, Pease, McCormick, and Zreika. Dockers include McCarthy, Lally, Driscoll, East, Newton, and Kauffman.
Giants goals: Newman 2, Evans, and O’Dowd. Dockers: McCarthy 3, Lally 2, Hetherington, Kauffman.
UMPIRES Hughes, Nund, Williams
INJURIES Giants: None. Dockers: Brazilian (ankle).
CROWD: 1,335 at Henson Park.
AFLW opens Indigenous Round in Darwin at 01:55.
Port Adelaide is a whisker away from winning its first AFLW finals berth after defeating the woeful Gold Coast for a third interstate win this season.
Gemma Houghton and debutant Jo Miller both scored two goals as the Power pulled away from the Suns following a tight opening quarter, winning by 34 points at People opening Stadium.
Daisy D’Arcy sustained a suspected catastrophic knee injury during what was supposed to be a 50th-game celebration for the Gold Coast star, dealing a crushing blow to the home side midway through the second period.
D’Arcy had 13 disposals when she raced out of a stoppage at halfback, got a bounce, and attempted to baulk around Power defender Amelie Borg before collapsing to the ground in pain.
Charlie Rowbottom battled bravely, recording 25 touches, six clearances, and five inside 50s, but the Power won the clearing battle and converted significantly more of their opportunities in front of goal.
Port debutant excels.
Former triathlete Jo Miller was the final player added to Port Adelaide’s roster before of the season as an injured replacement for Indy Tahau.
Miller was given her debut in her home state after veteran defender Ange Foley was rested for the match, and her desire was realised when she was downed following a mark at half-forward and marched to the goal square.
Miller exploded in delight after scoring the Power’s opening goal, and went on to score another, telling Fox Footy after the siren that the experience had been “absolutely amazing”.
Coach Lauren Arnell will have a difficult selection decision with the 25-year-old’s performance ahead of next Sunday’s home game against GWS.
Finals: 90% loaded
Their itinerary hasn’t presented the same problems as some other finals hopefuls, but Port Adelaide had to deal with skipper Janelle Cuthbertson’s round 2 ACL injury and won its past two games without star forward Julia Teakle, who might be out for a fortnight with her own knee injury.
Richmond’s victory against Essendon in the Dreamtime game on Saturday night would give the Power a well-deserved finals berth on percentage, and they would also secure a position before next week if the Western Bulldogs defeated St Kilda in Ballarat on Sunday.
SUNS 0.4, 1.4, 2.5, 3.6 (24)
POWER 1,1,3.4,5.8,8.10 (58)
BEST Suns: Rowbottom, McLaughlin, Wilson, Dupuy, Whitfort, and Lynch. Dowrick, Houghton, Scholz, Borg, Lamb, and Miller.
Suns goals: Maurer, Oliver, and Dupuy. Power: Houghton 2, Miller 2, Lamb, Dowrick, and Scholz.
UMPIRES: Bridges, Manthey, Talbot.
Suns injury: D’Arcy (knee). Power: zero.
CROWD: 2,160 at People First Stadium.
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