Eagles vs Suns: Kalinda Howarth doesn’t need high numbers to make an impact

Howarth isn’t one of those players that needs 25 disposals to make a huge impact. Her goal in the first quarter proves that.

She is one of those players that can make something out of nothing, and she demonstrated that talent by grabbing the ball out of the pack and snapping it through for a goal.

 She was also able to set up her teammates for a goal, again making something out of nothing and selling some candy to allow Jordan Hickey her first ever AFLW major.

Putting away two goals in one minute, she singlehandedly put the Eagles to the sword. When the ball is with Howarth, the Suns are in safe hands.

Howarth finished the game with four goals and continued to push her case for the NAB Rising Star as well as being one goal behind the leading goal kicker.

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3 Things We Learned: West Coast Eagles vs Gold Coast Suns

It was the battle of the expansion teams, with West Coast looking for their second win, while the suns were still in the hunt for finals. The Gold Coast Suns took home a vital four points, keeping their slim hopes of reaching finals alive.
 

Crows vs Giants​ GWS measuring up for finals

GWS is not the prettiest team to watch. Hey, the Giants don’t try to be.

When you take on Alan McConnell’s side, you’re playing a team that scraps and harasses all over the ground, suffocates the opposition’s ball control and patiently waits for the chances created by the panicked and frustrated disposal that the pressure creates.

GWS’ first ever win over Adelaide was built upon a similar style to the Round 1 win over Gold Coast, in which the Giants doggedly held its faith to the plan and won because they made fewer mistakes.

With GWS now two games clear in the Conference A top three, we can study how the Giants could stack up against their potential finals rivals.

Do the Giants have as many elite players as North Melbourne? No.

Do they score as prolifically as Fremantle? No.

Do they rebound out of defence as spectacularly as Brisbane? No.

Is there any side that values the even and committed fight at contests as much as GWS? No.

And it is that difference that the Giants have from their opposition that could prove decisive at the pointy end of the season.

Bulldogs vs Dockers: Isabel Huntingdon dangerous for the dogs

There can be no question that the 21-year-old defender is an absolute force for the Bulldogs’ backline.

She was largely responsible for spoiling Freo’s attempts to bring the ball forward, stifling their attack and allowing the Bulldogs to lead for the better part of the first three quarters.

There seemed to be little she could do wrong as she was able to get on the end of Freo’s kicks again and again.

She racked up an impressive 15 disposals in her centre half-back role as well as six marks.

She maintained her energy into the fourth quarter but her and the other defenders were eventually overpowered by the Dockers’ persistence that enabled them to take the lead and come away with the win, maintaining their unbeaten status.

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3 Things We Learned: Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle Dockers

The question of whether the lack of a crowd would result in lower intensity games was answered today by a physical contest between Freo and the Bulldogs. The effort that both teams brought saw the game break the record for the highest aggregate score in an AFLW game, finally settling at 66-51.

Demons vs Blues: Kate Hore kicks goal of the year

 There are moments in sport when the background blurs, time slows, and every sense attunes to the greatness in front of you.

It’s not hyperbole to say the wing-length running, multi-bouncing, don’t argue giving, dish and receiving, forward pocket snapping six pointer from the Dees’ sharp shooter was by far the best goal we’ve seen in 2020.

There’s valid argument that it could be the best goal scored in the four-year history of the league.

Amid a flurry of high-quality play from both sides in a supremely entertaining opening term, Hore’s effort was the cherry on top.

The only pity was the lack of crowd to bring the house down afterwards.

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3 Things We Learned: Melbourne Demons vs Carlton Blues

It’s cliché to say a champion team beats a team of champions, but there was a touch of the truism to Carlton’s impressive defeat of Melbourne in front of a nigh-on deserted Alice Springs.

Saints vs Tigers: G-TRAIN THE MOST INTIMIDATING FORWARD IN 2020

St Kilda’s Caitlin ‘G-Train’ Greiser is a massive threat each week to every new defender.

She leads the competition with 10 goals this season and will continue her journey up forward to take home the title.

Her unstoppable mark and fierce movement across the forward half led her side to a much-needed victory in their first season in the AFLW Competition.

Greiser ended the match with three majors to her name, with 11 disposals in her sides impressive win.  

She’s quick, has great hands and can kick from every angle. Her firsts season has been impressive, and she’ll only rise from here.

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