ADELAIDE 6.5 (41) D WESTERN BULLDOGS 5.4 (34)

Saturday at Norwood Oval

With two losses on the board, reigning premiers Adelaide were counting on a win to cling to hopes of Grand Final appearance. The return of captain and last seasons best and fairest Erin Phillips proved more than just an emotional lift, scoring four goals and snatching the win.

The Dogs led at every stage, except the one that mattered. They got off to a flying start with swift goals by last week’s stars Emma Kearney and Aisling Utri. As the margin stretched to two goals twice in the first half, Phillips was composed and scored to keep the Crows within range.

After harsh criticism in local media, Adelaide’s Sarah Perkins lifted, with the return of Phillips allowing her more space in the midfield. Ebony Marinoff made an incredible 15 tackles, while Chelsea Randall racked up 24 disposals.

Unlucky Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan went down with an ankle injury in the final minutes after scoring two goals, with scans on Monday showing minor ligament damage. Injuries to her and Hannah Scott allowed Adelaide to pull ahead by a point, Jenna McCormick sealing it with a goal after the siren.

 

BRISBANE 6.4 (40) D CARLTON 2.6 (18)

Saturday night at Ikon Park

Fans were eager to watch juggernaut Tayla Harris in her (and perhaps the AFLW’s) first grudge match against Brisbane.

It was a tense first half, with Carlton playing the controversially scrappy, defensive footy they displayed in Round 1 in an attempt to plug the gap of injured captain and defence powerhouse Brianna Davey.

The game threatened to reach half-time without a major score, before Brisbane’s Kaitlyn Ashmore converted in front of goal.

In the second half, the Blues would be punished by undisciplined play giving away two 50m penalties that ultimately resulted in goals for Brisbane. They would get their first goal in the third quarter from a tap-in by Maddison Gay.

The match looked to even up after Darcy Vescio marked and scored early in the fourth term. But the momentum immediately shifted back to Brisbane, with two goals from Sophie Conway and Nat Exon with her first against her old club who had traded her for Harris.

Brisbane’s Emily Bates led with 20 disposals and 6 tackles.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.6 (48) D COLLINGWOOD 5.5 (35)

Sunday at Olympic Park Oval

Major signs of improvements for Collingwood, but GWS proved just too strong, killing their hopes of a Grand Final appearance.

Collingwood’s Brittany Bonnici and captain Steph Chiocci scored the openers, leading by 14 points at quarter time.

The second quarter was scrappy as a result of the wind, with the two major scores by Giant Aimee Schmidt coming towards the end of the term.

The much maligned Moana Hope contributed with two goals and an assist in the second half, but the Giants kept pushing. Collingwood snatched the lead by the end of the third quarter, in the midst of a steady back-and-forth.

Ultimately, it would be the Giants with their first win of the season, with Courtney Gum and Phoebe McWilliams both adding two goals to win by 13 points.

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FREMANTLE (6.0) 36 D MELBOURNE 4.7 (31)

Sunday at Fremantle Oval

Just when the round couldn’t get more thrilling, Fremantle shocked high-flying Melbourne with accurate kicking and a 5-point come from behind win in the west.

The Demons failed to capitalise on scoring opportunities, with 15 to 0 inside 50s in the first term only resulting in a single goal from Tegan Cunningham.

Fremantle left Melbourne scoreless during the second quarter, leading by 13 points at halftime. From there, it was a steady back-and-forth with respective captains Daisy Pearce (23 disposals) and Kara Donnellan (17 disposals, 8 tackles) doing all they could to get their team over the line.

Three consecutive goals from Melbourne put them back in the lead, before the Dockers led the charge in the fourth quarter.

Emily McGuire had a stunner of a game on debut, with two goals including the match winner.