The chance of an all interstate NAB AFL Women’s Grand Final edged closer after Round 3 wins to Adelaide and Brisbane keeping their undefeated runs intact, as Bess Keaney reports.
78 Swisse VFL Women’s players took to the field in a week that saw the competition’s first draw and Carlton suffer its first defeat leaving the Crows and Lions on top of the AFL women’s ladder.
Neither GWS Giants nor Fremantle were able to secure their much-needed first win in hot conditions at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, ending the day locked on 43 points. The Giants’ Phoebe McWilliams (St Kilda Sharks) stood out in the home side’s effort, recovering from an early knee complaint to kick two crucial goals to keep them in it.
The Lions handed the Magpies their third straight loss and consigned them to bottom of the ladder, while Adelaide overcame Carlton in a low-scoring affair to go equal top of the table.
Melbourne were too good for the Bulldogs, making more of their chances in windy conditions at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday night. It was the second Demons win of the day for the 8,000-strong crowd, after the men’s victory in the JLT Community Series curtain raiser.
The match was reminiscent of last year’s Swisse VFL Women’s Grand Final, with the Demons/Darebin trio of Karen Paxman, Daisy Pearce and Elise O’Dea proving too much for a Bulldogs side anchored around Melbourne Uni’s Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney.
Priority pick and marquee signing Pearce gave the Demons plenty of steam in the midfield, notching up 27 and 26 disposals respectively. The Bulldogs’ Blackburn and Kearney built on consistent performances in Rounds 1 and 2, posting 26 and 25 possessions, but were lacking a target upfront with Darebin’s Katie Brennan sidelined with an ankle injury.
Melbourne’s Alyssa Mifsud (VU Western Spurs) was key to the visitor’s win, kicking three goals which included an impressive sidestep around the Bulldogs’ Bailey Hunt (Melbourne Uni) to slot her second.
VFL Women’s players led the way in four of six categories below. We list all the stats leaders:
KICKS: 22 – Karen Paxman (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
HANDBALLS: 13 – Daisy Pearce (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
MARKS: 7 – Bianca Jakobsson (Cranbourne) Carlton
HITOUTS: 18 – Alison Downie (Diamond Creek) Carlton (equal 3rd behind Emma King (WA) Collingwood with 32 and Erin McKinnon (NSW) GWS)
TACKLES: 6 - Daisy Pearce (Darebin) Melbourne, Ellie Blackburn (Melbourne Uni) Western Bulldogs, Lauren Arnell (Darebin) Carlton, Shae Audley (Diamond Creek) Carlton, Katie Loynes (Diamond Creek) Carlton, Tilly Lucas Rodd (St Kilda) Carlton, Danielle Hardiman (Cranbourne) Carlton (5th behind Angelica Gogos (VIC) Western Bulldogs will 11)
GOALS: 3.1 – Alyssa Mifsud (VU Western Spurs) Melbourne
- CLICK HERE to view the 2017 Swisse VFL Women's fixture
Last Modified on 21/02/2017 20:21