WHAT'S NEXT: The Western Bulldogs meet Carlton in an enticing Thursday night encounter while Sydney's Lance Franklin gets another chance to kick his 1000th career goal against Geelong on Friday night. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: No. Third-placed Brisbane will host Collingwood, while fourth-placed North Melbourne will have home-ground advantage against Fremantle. North Melbourne caretaker coach Leigh Adams said Cunnington's return gave his side an emotional lift at the end of a tough season, in which they will likely be handed the wooden spoon. Snapshot of the upcoming AFLW season | | Parkes, NSW. STATS THAT MATTER: Brownlow Medal favourite Patrick Cripps has registered at least 30 disposals and a goal in six games this season. But the Demons did not score another goal for the rest of the game and the Saints turned a mauling into an honourable 26-point loss. A SNAPSHOT OF ROUND FIVE OF THE 2021 AFLW SEASON. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Nic Martin was only officially signed by Essendon in late February via the pre-season supplemental period.
KEY MOMENT: The man they call 'Two-Metre Peter' rose to the occasion in Gold Coast's time of need. Melbourne and Adelaide are well placed to finish in the crucial top-two spots on the ladder. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Brisbane's Dakota Davidson has somehow slipped under the radar for most of this season, but with another two goals against GWS she is undoubtedly one of the best small forwards in the competition. When does the aflw start. Cripps was best afield again when he racked up 35 disposals and two goals to lead Carlton to their 48-point win over Adelaide on Sunday. THEY SAID IT: "We see this as our home away from home and it was really important we bounced back and got our season back on track. "
The Suns sit just percentage outside of the top-eight at 6-6 and are well on track eclipse their best season back in 2014 when they won 10 games. Scott, Prespakis, Marshall and Alexander all scoring historic goals of their own. STATS THAT MATTER: 11 - That's what Fremantle's record winning streak stood at before the Brisbane Lions gatecrashed the party with an upset win on Saturday. KEY MOMENT: Collingwood's perfect season record was under serious threat when they were goalless and trailed the Bulldogs by two points at half-time. Snapshot of the upcoming aflw season 5. Embattled Essendon will celebrate the club's 150th anniversary in a Friday night showdown with rivals Carlton. Experienced Eagle Kellie Gibson departed West Coast's win over Port Adelaide in the first quarter with a knee injury and was later in a leg brace. TALKING POINT: It took less than a full round for serious knee injuries to raise their head again. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Amid some massive pre-finals games in round 10, gun Fremantle onballer Kiara Bowers ended her impressive season with 34 possessions and a whopping 22 tackles in their five-point win over Hawthorn.
Already a subscriber? IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: The Hon Anika Wells, Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding, Mr Michael Voss, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mr Andrew Wellington, Mr Richard Goyder AO, Mr Greg Swann attend the ribbon cutting ceremony during the 2022 AFLW Season 7 Grand Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield, Ipswich on November 27, 2022 in Ipswich, Australia. STAT: Adelade claimed the biggest win in AFLW history as they trounced hapless GWS by 96 points - 15. TALKING POINT: There's the sporting cliche about a game of two halves, but what about a match of one quarter? Both were instrumental in their side's comeback win over Carlton, which confirmed the Tigers' spot in the AFLW finals for the first time. IPSWICH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 27: Shannon Campbell of the Lions poses for a photo after being awarded the Best on Ground during the 2022 AFLW Season 7 Grand Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield, Ipswich on November 27, 2022 in Ipswich, Australia. THE MOMENT: Oliver Henry had missed one chance to put Collingwood in front against Hawthorn but didn't waste the second from an identical position. The Brisbane Lions are at home to St Kilda on Saturday night in a battle for top-four supremacy, while Melbourne will be desperate to rebound from back-to-back losses in their traditional Queen's Birthday clash with Collingwood. The inspirational midfielder had 17 disposals in the Kangaroos' loss to Adelaide and enjoyed the moment with his family. Snapshot Of The Upcoming Aflw Season | Racing and Sports. The Hawks' first-half score of 0.
On Sunday, the Western Bulldogs take on Hawthorn in Launceston needing a win to put pressure on Carlton for a top-eight spot. With Georgia Nanscawen and Jacqui Vogt joining the leadership team. Snapshot for round eight of the AFL season | | Port Macquarie, NSW. INJURIES: M Bontempelli (WB, ankle), C Salem (Melb, knee), D Presitia (Rich, hamstring), M McGovern (Carl, back/hip), J Cameron (Geel, hip), K Langford (Ess, hamstring), C Laverde (Ess, hip), D Zorko (Bris, Achilles), X Duursma (Port, collarbone), T McKenzie (Port, knee). The round-one clash between Hawthorn and Essendon has moved from the quaint surrounds of Port Melbourne Oval to Marvel Stadium.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak had 10 score involvements among 30 disposals against the Western Bulldogs, with the 33-year-old veteran showing no signs of slowing down. Barr's hurried snap with four seconds remaining was off target but close enough to sneak in for a decisive behind in the one-point victory for the Giants. In just 10 weeks, the inaugural Essendon AFLW side completed many firsts for the club, creating a rich history that will be remembered for years to come. Brisbane winger Sophie Conway speaks about her clash with Chelsea Randall, in which she pushed her elbow into the Adelaide player's face. Snapshot of the upcoming aflw season one game. KEY MOMENT: Every single Richmond player mobbed Dustin Martin like a first-gamer after the Tigers superstar slotted a goal in his comeback to football at the MCG on Saturday. Essendon pushed ahead in the final quarter to secure a 26-point victory over Hawthorn, sealing the Dons' first ever AFLW victory. It means women's players and staff will have just four months off between seasons six and seven. Analysis, local footy and the biggest moments, Seven and 7plus are the home of footy shows for every fan. Rowbottom, the sister of Sydney Swans men's midfielder James Rowbottom, collected a game-high 30 touches, six clearances and laid eight tackles for the Suns.
The Western Bulldogs also secured their finals berth with a three-point win over Carlton. But the Crows will have to do it without the most decorated player in league history after Erin Phillips opted to switch to crosstown rivals Port Adelaide, the club who her father Greg was a legend with in the SANFL. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Check out the best photos from the day in the gallery below. WHAT'S NEXT: Finals credentials will be tested when Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs meet on Friday night, and again on Saturday in the Hawthorn-Richmond and St Kilda-Geelong clashes. In the dying minutes, with Brisbane trailing by six, Lions forward Dakota Davidson marked strongly at the top of the goalsquare. WHAT'S NEXT: North Melbourne host the Western Bulldogs in Hobart and Melbourne take on Adelaide in a pair of Saturday fixtures that will have huge finals implications. Two minutes later, Ballard earned a free kick and sent a wonderful long-range shot home to seal the deal.
The number of Brownlow votes that Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield should already have. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images via AFL Photos). Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker after his side maintained a perfect record in Tasmania with a 10th successive win, this time defeating Geelong by 12 points. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos). THEY SAID IT: "That's one of the hallmarks of when we're going OK. You ask the opposition to go with you and if they can't, there's your opportunity to go and score" - Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich on their formidable tackling pressure. Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett was fined $5000 for rough conduct over his tackle on Carlton's Liam Stocker, Adelaide's Tom Doedee was fined $3000 for forceful front-on contact against North Melbourne's Cameron Zurhaar and Gold Coast's Sean Lemmens received the same penalty for rough conduct against Geelong's Jeremy Cameron. TRIBUNAL WATCH: The Western Bulldogs' Zaine Cordy was sent directly to the tribunal over a bump that concussed GWS youngster Tanner Bruhn, while St Kilda midfielder Brad Crouch was handed a one-match ban for his high bump on Brisbane's Darcy Gardiner.
10am and expected to attract a strong crowd. THE MOMENT: Fremantle star Ebony Antonio marked her return from a knee injury and a career-threatening heart issue with a goal in a rousing performance as she led her side to a win over Sydney. They played a practice match against expansion side Port Adelaide at the NEC Hangar on August 11, coming away victorious by 20 points. Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard on the quarter-time spray that spurred the Hawks to a breakthrough win over Sydney.
PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Ashleigh Riddell not only broke the record for most disposals in an AFLW game, she smashed it. Randall was left with a split lip, and Conway now faces a nervous wait to see if she will be suspended. If the Western Bulldogs can upset the Brisbane Lions in Ballarat and Collingwood lose to Richmond, then Nathan Burke's team would overtake the Magpies in sixth spot. Premiership fancy Melbourne will play another game at the MCG after hosting last year's preliminary final at the home of football when they face North Melbourne in round-two as a curtain-raiser to a qualifying final. In one of the great individual performances, Gawn gathered 28 possessions, kicked three goals and had 30 hit-outs.
I don't know who picks rising stars. MELBOURNE claimed its first premiership victory on Sunday, while Brisbane failed to cap off its dominant season with the ultimate prize. Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos). Melbourne coach Mick Stinear was full of praise for unbeaten Collingwood after the Magpies kept the Demons to one goal in a 35-point thrashing. Sydney take on Hawthorn at the same venue, with Collingwood hosting Essendon at the AIA Centre and Carlton to host Melbourne at Ikon Park that night. In-form Fremantle face a potential banana-skin away to Gold Coast. THE MOMENT: The final siren at Alberton Oval on Saturday marked a watershed moment for Port Adelaide, who claimed their maiden AFLW victory with an emphatic 68-2 win over Sydney. The Blues had been on the verge of confirming their finals spot when Charlie Curnow's goal gave them an eight-point lead just minutes earlier. And how ominous are the signs for would-be rivals to premiers Melbourne and perennial finalists Geelong and Brisbane, who all flexed their collective muscles in impressive season-opening triumphs. It was Antonio's first game of the season and her 50th AFLW appearance. The Bombers would run out in their inaugural Pride guernsey in round eight, designed by VFLW Premiership players Mia-Rae Clifford and Kendra Heil. The four-time AFL premiership coach with Hawthorn has reportedly been offered a minimum five-year contract to return to North Melbourne - where he began his senior playing career in 1987 - and has also met multiple times with the GWS hierarchy. PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Maddy Prespakis will be under pressure to perform all season after her high-profile move from Carlton to Essendon but handled it with aplomb in round one against Hawthorn.
STATS THAT MATTER: Three. TRIBUNAL WATCH: A quiet week for the match review officer in round nine. Who will be named Essendon's inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest? WHAT'S NEXT: North Melbourne and Geelong kick off round four under lights in Launceston on Friday, while expansion sides Port Adelaide and Sydney will be both vying for a maiden AFLW win when they do battle at Alberton Oval on Saturday. Unlimited access to breaking news, sport, business, lifestyle and in-depth exclusives home delivered or direct to your device. INJURIES: B Gutknecht (WB, leg), G O'Sullivan (Frem, hamstring), J Lambert (Coll, ankle), J Stanton (GC, knee), B Smith (WC, ribs), J Van Dyk (St K, knee), T Luke (Haw, knee), L Stephenson (Haw, ankle). Geelong host North and Collingwood play the Bulldogs in the elimination finals. TALKING POINT: Britney Gutknecht's horror injury overshadowed the Bulldogs' win over Fremantle. Just 138 days since the last grand final, the AFLW will kick-off for its second season of 2022 on Thursday night when Carlton host Collingwood at Ikon Park. Brisbane host Richmond in one qualifying final, while the other features a grand final rematch between Melbourne and Adelaide. THEY SAID IT: "It has been a tough week with what people have gone through in Brisbane, particularly Bre (Koenen) and Emily (Bates) having their houses inundated" - Lions coach Craig Starcevich praised the resilience of his players after they were personally affected by the floods in southeast Queensland. Powerhouse Adelaide are coming off their third premiership in five completed seasons of the competition and are expected to remain as a flag contender. WHAT"S NEXT: Minor premiers Adelaide and second-ranked Melbourne will sit back to watch their four remaining flag rivals do battle in qualifying finals.
A loss to Collingwood in round 23 coupled with a Western Bulldogs win over Hawthorn would knock Carlton out.