-
Jamie Samuel
-
AFLW Round 8 Recap
Top Two Clash Headlines Round 8 Fixtures
Aussie sports expert Jamie Samuel is back with all the latest from round eight in the AFLW. This week all eyes were on the top of the table clash between Fremantle and Adelaide. Read all about it right here!
Adelaide 3.7.25 d Fremantle 2.4.16
Adelaide won the top 2 clash against Fremantle, defeating them by 9 points to move to the top of the ladder at the end of round 8.
Adelaide trailed by 2-points at 3 quarter time but kicked the only 2 goals of the last quarter to get over the line. It was a low-scoring 1st half, Adelaide getting the opening goal and only goal of the 1st quarter. Fremantle kicked the only goal of the 2nd quarter to take a 1-point halftime lead.
Adelaide was inaccurate in the 3rd quarter, kicking 5 consecutive behinds. A minute out from the final change, they were made to pay, as Hayley Miller kicked a goal to give Fremantle a 1-point 3 quarter time lead. The Crows turned the tied in the last quarter, goals from Danielle Woodland and Ashleigh Woodland turned the result in Adelaide’s favor. The 9-point win returned them to the top of the table.
Adelaide will look to maintain the top spot when they host an interesting clash against Collingwood on Sunday afternoon. Fremantle will look to rebound from this defeat when they host the red hot 2nd placed Melbourne on Saturday night.
Geelong 5.3.33 defeated Richmond 1.4.10
Geelong got their 2nd win of the season after they defeated Richmond by 23-points on Saturday afternoon. Geelong kept Richmond to only 1 goal for the entire game.
Despite the fact that it was a goalless 2nd half, it was the Cats dominant 2nd quarter that set up their win. Phoebe McWilliams got the only goal of the 1st quarter. Geelong would go on to kick the next 4 goals in the second quarter to set up their victory. Richmond finally got on the board through Katie Brennan late in the 2nd quarter.
Despite a goalless second half from both sides, the Cats got their 2nd win of the year and salvaged some much-needed pride. The Cats will face an interesting contest against St Kilda on Saturday afternoon, a very winnable game. Richmond will have the opportunity to rebound from this defeat when they face GWS away on Saturday.
Melbourne 4.3.27 defeated North Melbourne 2.5.17
Melbourne moved up to 2nd after a 10-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Melbourne looked in control for the 1st half, kicking the opening 2 goals in the 1st quarter. Jasmine Garner got North's 1st goal after the restart of the 2nd quarter. Tayla Harris provided a steadier just before the break, as Melbourne set up a 19-10 half-time lead.
Tayla Harris kicked the only goal of the 3rd quarter, as Melbourne took a 17-point 3 quarter time lead, keeping the Kangaroos scoreless in the 3rd quarter. Kaitlyn Ashmore kicked a ripper goal to kick start North Melbourne, their 2nd of the game within 5 minutes of the last quarter starting. But it was too little too late, as, despite a scoreless last quarter from Melbourne, they were good enough to get the job done by 10-points.
This win put them 2nd with only 2 games remaining. This clash with Fremantle on Saturday night is crucial if Melbourne is to claim 2nd spot by the end of the year. If they win, with only a game remaining, it will secure at best a top 2 spot for them. If Melbourne loses, Fremantle is only a game behind and a better percentage, so it would rule out a top 2 finish unless results go their way. North Melbourne will look to rebound in a challenging contest against Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
St. Kilda 5.4.34 defeated Gold Coast 4.7.31
St Kilda hung on for their 1st win of season 2022 at long last. Defeating the Gold Coast Suns by 3-points in a thriller on Sunday afternoon.
Sarah Perkins had 2 set shot opportunities to win the game late for the Suns, but missed them both, as the Saints fans and players finally felt the joy of a win in 2022. It was the Saints making all the running early, kicking the opening 4 goals of the contest. Tara Bohanna would finally kick the Suns 1st 7 minutes into the 2nd quarter. As the Saints took an 18-point lead into halftime.
The Suns made their way back into the contest with Perkins kicking the goal of the second half. Darcy Guttridge provided an important steadier for the Saints, as they look to be in a winning position, leading by 16-points at the final change. Bohanna did her effort to get the Suns back in the contest, her 2 goals in the last quarter bringing the Suns within 5 points, as the Saints fans got nervous. Perkins was paid a holding the ball 50 from goal, took on the shot but missed her long-range effort. Off a deliberate out of bounds, the Suns got it forward into the hands of Perkins 20m from goals with a little over 1 minute remaining. This kick was pretty simple and would have won the game for the Suns, but she dragged her kick horribly wide to right, much to the shock of the delirious Saints fans.
It was their last chance gone, as the desperate Saints defense held on for their 1st win of the year by 3-points. The final siren brought jubilation and massive celebrations around Trevor Barker Oval, as the siren was greeted with a massive roar from the Saints fans and the players were ecstatic. St Kilda can back up this win when they host Geelong on Saturday afternoon. Gold Coast will look to rebound from this defeat when they take on Carlton at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon.
Collingwood 10.6.66 defeated Western Bulldogs 6.5.41
Collingwood comfortably took care of the Western Bulldogs by 25-points on Sunday afternoon.
After the Dogs kicked the 1st of the contest, the Pies got the next 3 to take a 17-point quarter-time lead. The Dogs kicked the first 2 of the second quarter to regain the lead. Before Collingwood nailed another 3 consecutively to take a 17-point halftime lead.
Collingwood took charge in the premiership quarter, kicking 3 goals through Jamiee Lambert, to only 1 to the Dogs, to set up a 29-point 3 quarter time lead. Despite the Dogs kicking 2 goals to 1 in the last quarter, Collingwood had done enough in the first 3 quarters to get a crucial 25-point win, keeping them in the top 6 with 2 games to play.
Collingwood faces a tough trip to face the top of the table Adelaide Crows on Sunday afternoon, while the Dogs will look to rebound with their trip to face West Coast on Saturday night.
Brisbane 15.8.98 defeated West Coast 4.0.24
Brisbane solidified their place in the top 6 with a 74-point drubbing of the West Coast Eagles on Sunday evening.
The Lions kept the Eagles scoreless in the 1st half, kicking 4 goals in the 1st quarter, and 3 in the 2nd quarter to set up a 52-0 halftime lead. Jesse Tawhaio-Wadlaw kicked 3 in the first half to dominate for the Lions.
The Eagles finally got on the board through Dana Hooker, as the sides went goal for goal to start the 3rd quarter. After the Eagles kicked their 2nd through Hayley Bullas, the Lions kicked the last 3 goals of the quarter to blow the 3 quarter time margin out to 58-points. Brisbane also kicked 4 goals to 2 in the last quarter, to win comfortably in the end by 74-points. This win moves them into 4th position and gives them a real chance to challenge for the top 2.
Brisbane will look to continue this form, when they host North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, in what looks like an intriguing contest. The Eagles will host the Bulldogs on Saturday night and look to see if they can resurrect this performance.
Carlton 7.9.51 defeated GWS 5.3.33
Carlton has regained their feet with back-to-back wins, defeating the GWS Giants by 18 points on Sunday night.
Carlton remains 1 step ahead in the first half, leading by a point at quarter-time with 1 goal each in the 1st quarter, with the Giants getting a goal after the quarter-time siren from Tait Mackrill. The sides 2 goals each in the 2nd quarter, leading by 2 points at halftime.
Carlton took control in the 3rd quarter, kicking 2 through Darcy Vescio as she reached the 50 AFLW goal milestone. With Carlton leading by 13-points at the final change, it could have been a lot more if not for their 5 behinds to go with their 2 goals of the 3rd term. Goals from Abbie McKay and Courtney Jones would seal Carlton’s 3rd win of the year and help them regain some late-season form.
Carlton’s last chance to keep in the top 6 contentions will come against the Gold Coast Suns next Sunday. While GWS will look to rebound from this defeat when they host Richmond on Saturday afternoon.
Here's how the AFLW ladder stands at the conclusion of round eight
Want more sports news and analysis? Check these out:
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 Sports. Follow Jamie on Twitter here @JamieSamuel18