Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Aine McDonagh has fired Hawthorn to an 11-point AFLW win over the Western Bulldogs that was soured by captain Emily Bates’ serious leg injury.
Bates was taken off the field on a stretcher at the Kennedy Community Centre on Saturday after her right leg twisted underneath her in a tackle late in the third quarter.
The decorated 30-year-old, who played her 100th AFLW match a week earlier, was expected to be taken to hospital for further assessment.
The Hawks also lost Laura Stone (concussion) after an early head clash with an opponent and were 11 points down at half-time.
But Daniel Webster’s side piled on five unanswered goals in the third quarter – four of those before Bates’ injury – to set up their 6.5 (41) to 4.6 (30) victory.
AAP, more to come
Sydney have lost former All-Australian Brenna Tarrant to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a hammer blow to their AFLW flag hopes.
Tarrant, 24, will have surgery and miss the rest of the season and likely a large chunk of the 2027 campaign.
The defender, who was All-Australian in 2024, had played all four games in 2026, averaging 2.3 marks, eight disposals and 2.3 spoils.
“Sydney Swans defender Brenna Tarrant will miss the remainder of the 2026 AFLW season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament,” the Swans said in a statement on Friday.
“Tarrant will require surgery, but that will be determined upon further medical advice in the coming days.”
Tarrant is the third AFLW Swan, after Alice Mitchell and Alex Neyland, to suffer an ACL injury this year.
AAP
For many first-year players, season launches can be intimidating affairs; with speeches, panel discussions and a swarm of new faces.
For Irish recruit Saoirse Lally, any lingering nerves at St Kilda’s launch quickly evaporated during a hilarious exchange with her new coach, Nick Dal Santo.
Lally and teammate Sophie Butterworth were chatting with families in the room, when Dal Santo showcased some Aussie slang, and asked his new Irish recruit “How are you travelling?”
A puzzled Lally replied, “By car”.
Good afternoon folks.
Welcome to our rolling coverage of AFLW round five action. The first match today is Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs at the Kennedy Community Centre.
