Melbourne has strengthened its NAB AFL Women’s Grand Final chances on the back of stellar performances from a trio of Darebin Falcons.
Recording their third win in a row, Daisy Pearce (29 disposals), Elise O’Dea (27) and Karen Paxman (24) led all ball winners across the competition in Round 4 helping the Demons move to third place on the ladder, behind undefeated teams Adelaide and Brisbane.
In a round that saw 80 Swisse VFL Women’s players take to the field, 2016 VFL Rising Star Sarah Hosking (Seaford) led the disposals for Carlton with 12, while Katie Loynes (Diamond Creek) played a big role in the Blues final term revival with her hard work out of the middle. The Blues levelled the scores in the final term after trailing by 19 points, but Richelle Cranston (Geelong) kicked the sealer for the Demons to give them a six-point win.
VU Western Spurs forward Alyssa Mifsud was again a key target up forward for the Demons, kicking two goals, but also provided plenty of defensive pressure inside the forward 50 with six tackles. She now moves to second on the goalkicking ladder behind Carlton’s Darcy Vescio (Darebin) who was kept to one goal out at Casey Fields.
Collingwood moved off the bottom of the ladder with its first win of the season, holding off the Western Bulldogs by seven points. Alicia Eva led the way for the Magpies with 14 disposals, having the better of her dual with Melbourne Uni teammate and Bulldogs opponent Emma Kearney, restricting her to just the 13 disposals.
St Kilda Shark Jasmine Garner kicked two for the Magpies, while at the other end of the ground Diamond Creek’s Kirsty Lamb filled the void left by the late withdrawal of Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan (Darebin) with two goals.
Adelaide remained undefeated on top of the ladder, defeating Fremantle by 23 points. Sarah Perkins (Eastern Devils) added just the one goal for the Crows in an inaccurate day for the visitors - Perkins kicking 1.3 of her sides 6.10 for the game. Perkins however laid nine tackles, highlighting the defensive pressure of the Crows game style. After being touted as one of the inaugural season’s premiership chances, the Dockers are anchored to the bottom of the ladder, winless from four games.
Brisbane extended its winning streak to four games, and sit just percentage behind Adelaide ahead of the top of the ladder clash in Round 5. Kaitlyn Ashmore (Melbourne Uni) kicked two goals from seven disposals to help the Lions to a 34-point win.
VFL Women’s players led the way in four of six categories below. We list all the stats leaders:
KICKS: 18 – Karen Paxman (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
HANDBALLS: 17 – Daisy Pearce (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
MARKS: 7 – Karen Paxman (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
HITOUTS: 17 – Tiarna Ernst (Diamond Creek) Western Bulldogs (4th behind Emma King (WA) Collingwood with 39, Rhiannon Metcalfe Adelaide with 23 and Erin McKinnon (NSW) GWS with 21)
TACKLES: 9 – Sarah Perkins (Eastern Devils) Adelaide (2nd behind Adelaide teammate Ebony Marinoff with 11)
GOALS: 2 – Alyssa Mifsud (VU Western Spurs) Melbourne, Kirsty Lamb (Diamond Creek) Western Bulldogs, Jasmine Garner (St Kilda) Collingwood, Kaitlyn Ashmore (Melbourne Uni) Brisbane
Last Modified on 28/02/2017 20:51
