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Jamie Samuel
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AFLW Round Six Recap
Freo Takes Top Spot and Bulldogs vs Crows Is A Match Of The Year Contender
Aussie sports expert Jamie Samuel is back with all the latest from round six in the AFLW. From the Kangaroos consolidating their spot in the top four to Fremantle claiming the top spot & a game of the year candidate featuring the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows. Catch up on it all right here.
Gold Coast 7.7.49 defeated Geelong 6.2.38
The Gold Coast Suns got their 3rd win of season 2022, defeating Geelong 49-38 at Metricon Stadium on Friday night.
After Geelong got the first 2 goals of the game, the Suns would kick the next 4. Keeping Geelong goalless in the second quarter as well. Geelong finally pulled one back through Phoebe McWilliams 10 minutes into the third quarter. Before the Suns kicked the next two goals to get out to a 24-point 3 quarter time lead.
Geelong did make some sort of a comeback attempt in the last quarter, kicking 3 out of the 4 last quarter goals. Chloe Sheer kicked the opener, but a steadier from Kate Surman would prove to be a bridge too far for the Cats. McWilliams would get her second of the night, and after the final siren sounded, Sheer would pull back yet another consolation prize to pull the final margin back to 11-points.
But in the end, it was too little, too late, the Suns in control for much of the contest and much deserved winners, as their 3rd win of the season puts them in real contention for the top 6. They will look to continue their winning form when they travel to face the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. The Cats will face an even bigger challenge when they host league leaders Fremantle on Sunday.
North Melbourne 5.7.37 defeated Richmond 2.6.18
North Melbourne took care of Richmond 37-18 at Punt Road on Saturday afternoon.
North kicked the opening goal of the contest through Tahlia Randall with a little over 20 seconds left in the 1st quarter. But it was North’s 2nd and 3rd quarters which set up the win for them. After Richmond got their first goal of the game through Emilea Yassir, North kicked the final 2 goals late in the second quarter to get out to a 13-point half time lead.
After Katie Brennan kicked the opening goal of the second half for Richmond, North stayed in control, again kicking 2 late goals to open up a 19-point 3 quarter time lead. It would be all they needed, as Richmond wasted chances in the last quarter and both sides were goalless in the last quarter.
As North Melbourne solidified their position in the top 4 after 6 rounds with an 18-point win, their 5th of season 2022. They will look to continue their winning form when they host Collingwood in what looks like an intriguing contest on Sunday afternoon. While Richmond will look to rebound when they face West Coast on Saturday night.
Melbourne 6.8.44 defeated GWS 1.1.7
Melbourne absolutely dominated against Greater Western Sydney (GWS) at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon, winning 44-7. In a match where they kept GWS scoreless remarkably until the 14 minute mark of the final quarter.
Melbourne kicked the only 2 goals of the 1st quarter, leading 14-0 at the first change. Melbourne scored the only behind of the 2nd quarter, taking a 15-point lead into half time. Melbourne were absolutely wasteful in the 3rd quarter, kicking 5 consecutive behinds, before Shelley Scott kicked the first goal of the game since the 14 minute mark of the 1st quarter, after the 3 quarter time siren.
Melbourne kicked the first 3 goals of the last quarter, before Jess Doyle finally got the Giants on the board, with a goal with a little under 3 minutes remaining. As the Demons cruised to a 37-point win, which gets them up to 3rd position at the end of round 6. They have shown that they are a side to reckon with this year, as they kept up the same amount of pressure the entire game regardless of the score and showed no mercy.
They will look to continue their winning form when they travel to face the Brisbane Lions on the Gold Coast next Monday night. It doesn’t get easier for the Giants however, they will host the 2nd placed Adelaide Crows on Saturday afternoon.
Fremantle 7.9.51 defeated Carlton 1.3.9
Fremantle demolished Carlton on Saturday night at Fremantle Oval. Carlton was held to 1 goal for an entire game for the second consecutive week, the writing is on the wall for Daniel Harford, as Fremantle moved to the top position following a 51-9 win.
After Darcy Vesio kicked a beauty for the 1st goal of the contest, it was all completely downhill for Carlton. With Fremantle kicking only 1 goal for the first quarter, it was the Blues with a 2-point quarter-time lead. After this it would prove to be a disaster, the Blues held scoreless for the next 2 quarters. Despite Fremantle only kicking 1 additional goal in the second quarter to lead at halftime by 5-points, it would be the 3rd quarter where they would open the floodgates.
The Dockers piled on 4 consecutive goals in the 3rd quarter and kept the Blues scoreless, opening up a 30-point 3 quarter time lead. A Lucy McEvoy behind in the 7th minute would be Carlton’s first score since the first quarter. Fremantle were inaccurate in the last quarter, kicking 1.7, but Mickaela Hyde’s 2nd goal would ice a 42-point win for Fremantle, sending them top after round 6.
Fremantle will look to maintain top spot when they face Geelong at GMHBA next Sunday. While Carlton will try and salvage some pride when they host St Kilda next Saturday evening. Carlton’s form of late has been nothing short of terrible, Daniel Harford’s job is well and truly on the line and the end of this season cannot come fast enough for them.
Western Bulldogs 8.1.49 defeated Adelaide Crows 7.6.48
The Western Bulldogs defeated the Adelaide Crows in the game of the year, and possibly the upset of the year by a solitary point at Adelaide Oval on Sunday Afternoon.
The Dogs had only 1 win to this point, and were able to hand the top of the table Crows their first defeat of the year, holding on by the grit of their teeth despite a last quarter avalanche from the Crows.
The Dogs were on right from the start, stunning the Adelaide Oval by kicking the first three goals of the contest. Adelaide pulled back the next 2 before Ellie Blackburn gave the Dogs a 13-point quarter-time lead. The Dogs also kicked the first 2 goals of the 2nd quarter, before a Caitlin Gould goal would pull the margin back to 17-points at the half -an inspiring one from the Dogs.
The margin would be similar, 15-points at the final change, as both sides only managed 1 major for the 3rd quarter. Lisa Whiteley would draw the Crows within 2 goals. Bonnie Toogood kicked an important steadier for the Dogs to get them back out by 15. The Crows threw everything at a comeback, consecutive goals from Whiteley and Stevie-Lee Thompson drew the Crows back to within 3-points, the closest they’d been all day.
Whiteley had the chance to put Adelaide in front, but she missed. A rush behind a couple of minutes later made the margin 1-point, as the Dogs desperately held on, with a ball up with 20 seconds left right in front of the Crows goals, a free-kick was paid to Isabelle Pritchard and as she booted the ball away the final siren sounded to delirious Bulldogs fans and players, as they held on for a famous 1-point upset at Adelaide Oval.
The Dogs will look to continue their winning form when they host an interesting contest against the Suns at Whitten Oval next week. Adelaide will look to bounce back from this disappointing defeat against GWS next Saturday.
Brisbane 3.13.31 defeated St. Kilda 4.2.26
The Brisbane Lions scrapped home to a 5-point win against the bottom place Saints on Saturday afternoon. The Lions very inaccurate and without a doubt lucky to get away with a win against a gutsy Saints outfit who played much better than what would have been expected from the bottom-placed side.
St Kilda kicked the opening 2 goals in the first quarter, with the Lions only managing 4 behinds. Both teams went goalless in the 2nd quarter, but the Lions were completely wasteful, adding a further 5 consecutive behinds to take the half-time score to 2.1.13-0.9.9.
It would be the third quarter that turned the game in the Lions favour, after having kicked 11 straight behinds, they would finally get on the board with 3 straight goals and kept St Kilda scoreless. Taking a 29-13 point 3 quarter time lead. Goals from Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Caitlin Greiser drew St Kilda within 3-points. Brisbane only managed two behinds for the last quarter, but it was enough for them to hold out by 5-points, keeping them in 5th position. But no one would question the effort of St Kilda and Brisbane’s inability to kick straight could easily have cost them the game.
Brisbane face a tough challenge when they host Melbourne on Monday night. St Kilda really do have an opportunity to back up the effort they showed against Brisbane, when they face a struggling Carlton on Saturday night at Ikon Park.
Collingwood 7.4.46 defeated West Coast 3.4.22
Collingwood took care of West Coast in Perth, comfortably by 24-points.
It was Collingwood in control from the beginning. Kicking the opening 2 goals of the game in the first quarter, and a goalless second quarter from both sides. West Coast only managed a solitary behind for the entire first half.
It was the 3rd quarter where Collingwood would stamp their authority on the contest. Despite the Eagles getting their first goal of the game 2 minutes into the 2nd half through Niamh Kelley, Collingwood kicked 4 consecutively to blow the margin out to 31-points by 3 quarter time. Despite the Eagles kicking 2 goals to 1 in the last quarter, it was Collingwood who cruised to a 24-point win, keeping them in 6th position at the end of round 6.
Collingwood face a tough challenge in North Melbourne next Sunday. West Coast will have the opportunity to rebound from this defeat, when they host Richmond on Saturday night.
Here's how the AFLW Premiership Ladder looks at the completion of round six:
Jamie Samuel has completed a double degree in sports media and business at Holmesglen. He is passionate about sports including AFL, A-league, Basketball, and Cricket. He currently works full-time as a chief marketing officer for Apple iSports.
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