Source : the age
Daisy Pearce’s West Coast already face an uphill battle to make the AFLW finals after a five-goal haul from second-game forward Alannah Welsh lifted Gold Coast to a stunning 35-point win in Perth.
The Suns entered Saturday’s match featuring nine players who made their AFLW debuts last week, and their youthful exuberance proved hard to stop in the upset 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34) win.
Welsh was the biggest star of the day, with the 18-year-old kicking 5.0 from 10 disposals in a dominant effort in attack.
“It’s awesome,” Welsh told Fox Footy after the match.
“But we just wanted the result at the end of the day. I’m super excited for the rest of the year. It shows the rest of the comp: look out, we’re coming.”
Charlie Rowbottom was a force in the midfield for the Suns with 26 disposals, six clearances and nine tackles, while second-gamer Ava Usher chipped in with two goals, including a three-bounce effort on the run.
For West Coast, former skipper Emma Swanson battled hard with 26 disposals and 471m gained, while star midfielder Ella Roberts racked up 24 possessions, seven clearances and 301m gained.
But the Eagles, finalists last year, are now 0-2 after starting the season with upset losses to GWS and Gold Coast.
Welsh was a star in the air and at ground level, with her neat dribble goal from the pocket in the second quarter showcasing her quality.
AAP
With a record crowd behind them, Sydney’s AFLW team have put the club’s AFL team’s hotel scandal aside to claim a 24-point win over Essendon at the SCG.
On Thursday, five AFL players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon – were suspended for the rest of the season for “breaching club standards”.
Separately, a police investigation continues into an alleged sexual assault at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.
Then, on Friday, AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy urged Sydney fans to stick with the club.
Ash Riddell racked up 42 disposals as North Melbourne extended their winning streak to 29 games with an 11-point win over Brisbane in a thrilling grand final re-match.
The Lions were held to just a single behind in the first half of Saturday night’s match in Ipswich, before roaring back with three goals in the third quarter to close the margin to three points.
But two goals to Bella Eddey gave North the breathing space they needed in the final quarter, with the two-time defending premiers holding their nerve when it mattered most to secure the 6.8 (44) to 5.3 (33) win.
Riddell was at her prolific best, accompanying her 42 disposals with five clearances, 467 metres gained and one goal assist.
Geelong have bounced back spectacularly from last week’s hammering, handing out a club-record 85-point AFLW thrashing to St Kilda.
Jacqueline Parry joined Aishling Moloney as the only Cats to kick six goals in a women’s game as they mauled the Saints 16.4 (100) to 2.3 (15) on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium.
It is Geelong’s biggest AFLW winning margin and just two points short of their highest score, as well as St Kilda’s biggest losing margin.
After making the finals for the first time last season, the Saints are in big early trouble this year with a 0-2 start.
Daisy Pearce’s West Coast already face an uphill battle to make the AFLW finals after a five-goal haul from second-game forward Alannah Welsh lifted Gold Coast to a stunning 35-point win in Perth.
The Suns entered Saturday’s match featuring nine players who made their AFLW debuts last week, and their youthful exuberance proved hard to stop in the upset 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34) win.
Welsh was the biggest star of the day, with the 18-year-old kicking 5.0 from 10 disposals in a dominant effort in attack.
“It’s awesome,” Welsh told Fox Footy after the match.
Western Bulldogs skipper Isabelle Pritchard put on a career-best performance to lead her side to a second win in as many games with a determined victory over Richmond at Whitten Oval on Saturday.
Pritchard set a new high of 36 disposals, had 10 clearances and kicked a crucial late goal in an 11-point victory, one that came despite losing stalwart Deanna Berry to a collarbone injury in the first term.
The win takes the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder, but they have reigning premiers North Melbourne coming up next round.
Bulldogs coach Tamara Hyett paid tribute to her team’s determination to clinch victory despite being a player down for almost the whole match.
Round two of the AFLW is underway and we have some sensational match-ups to cover off – including North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions resuming their rivalry in wet conditions in Brisbane.
Enjoy the round to come.
