The Brisbane Lions remain the only undefeated team after Round 5 of NAB AFL Women’s was completed on the weekend.
The Lions – featuring Melbourne Uni pairing Kaitlyn Ashmore (seven disposals) and Nicole Hildebrand (six disposals) - travelled to Adelaide to inflict the Crows first defeat of the year and move to top spot on the ladder.
The Lions are all but assured a Grand Final berth, leaving their opponents Adelaide, Carlton and Melbourne to battle it out for the remaining spot. Brisbane will receive a home final if they finish on top, but are still yet to lock in the minor premiership, facing Western Bulldogs at home this Saturday before traveling to Ikon Park to face Carlton in the final round - in a game that might decide the Lions’ grand final opponent.
Eastern Devils’ free agent Sarah Perkins produced a strong performance to try and help the Crows to victory with nine disposals, two goals and five tackles. Her second goal in the third term gave Adelaide the lead, but the Lions finished strong to record a three-point win
Louise Stephenson made her long awaited GWS Giants debut (listen to her interview below) and finished with eight disposals, alongside fellow VFL Women’s players Phoebe McWilliams (6 disposals / St Kilda) and Ash Guest (seven disposals, three tackles / VU Western Spurs) in the team’s first win of the season, by five points over Melbourne. Despite the Darebin trio of Karen Paxman (25 disposals), Daisy Pearce (21) and Elise O’Dea (15) again leading the disposal count for the Demons, it was a fellow Falcon in Giants colours, Jess Dal Pos, who proved difficult to stop with 19 disposals and nine tackles.
At Ikon Park, Carlton held on against a fast-finishing Western Bulldogs for a six-point win. Al Downie (18 hitouts / Diamond Creek) and Breann Moody (10 hitouts / Cranbourne) led the way in the ruck for the Blues, with an injured Bri Davey (16 disposals / St Kilda) resolute in defence in the dying minutes. Tily Lucas Rodd (St Kilda) led the disposals for the Blues with 17 and earned a Rising Star nomination for her performance while Katherine Gillespie Jones was busy with 13 disposals, including 9 handballs. Emma Kearney (Melbourne Uni) was again the leading disposal winner for the Bulldogs with 18, followed by Jaime Lambert (Eastern Devils), Nicole Callinan (Darebin) and Ellie Blackburn (Melbourne Uni) with 16 and three goals.
In the final game it was back-to-back wins for Collingwood, defeating the winless Fremantle side by one-point. Nicola Stevens (Melbourne Uni) led the way with 18 disposals, followed by Mel Kuys (Knox / Box Hill Hawks) with 17. Alicia Janz became the 18th Melbourne Uni player on an AFL list, debuting for the Dockers with 10 hitouts and five tackles.
See below the leadings stats winners from the VFL Women’s competition:
KICKS: 16 – Jess Dal Pos (Darebin) GWS Giants
HANDBALLS: 13 – Daisy Pearce (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne / Karen Paxman (Darebin Falcons) Melbourne
MARKS: 6 – Tily Lucas Rodd (St Kilda) Carlton / Emma Kearney (Melbourne Uni)
HITOUTS: 20 - Lauren Pearce (Darebin) Melbourne
TACKLES: 7 - Jess Dal Pos (Darebin) GWS Giants
GOALS: 3 – Darcy Vescio (Darebin) Carlton / Ellie Blackburn (Melbourne Uni) Western Bulldogs
Last Modified on 08/03/2017 00:12
