Source : the age
A Port Adelaide defender has been whacked with a hefty three-game ban over a head-high bump described by one expert as “probably one of the worst bumps I’ve seen” in women’s footy.
The incident in Saturday’s game between Melbourne and Port at Casey Fields left Melbourne defender Eliza McNamara needing surgery on a broken jaw.
Port player Ella Heads caught her opponent high early in the last quarter of Melbourne’s 51-point win. McNamara left the field immediately and was taken to hospital.
The front-on hit was deemed by the AFLW match review process to be careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, leading to the three-game suspension.
Three-time All-Australian Emily Bates will miss the rest of the AFLW season with a knee injury in a huge blow to Hawthorn’s chances of snaring a maiden premiership.
Scans have confirmed Bates tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee when the leg twisted awkwardly in a tackle during the Hawks’ win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
The 30-year-old club captain also damaged the meniscus and will undergo surgery.
“This is clearly disappointing news for Emily,” Hawks AFLW general manager Keegan Brooksby said.
The Sydney Swans AFLW team have earned the keys to the city after winning the Sydney derby against the GWS Giants by 31 points at Henson Park on Sunday.
With 7340 fans – a record for the AFLW at the ground – enjoying a sunny September afternoon, Sydney’s 13.9 (87) to 8.8 (56) victory gives them the upper hand of three wins to the Giants’ two since the inaugural derby in 2022.
The Swans led early and maintained a healthy advantage over the Giants for the rest of the match. That was mirrored in the crowd, where spectators in red and white far outnumbered those in orange.
Chloe Molloy piloted the charge for the Swans, helping them to a lead of 41 points at one stage in the third quarter.
All dynasties eventually have to end. But North Melbourne’s AFLW team are clearly steadfast on remaining immortal for, well, for as long as possible.
On Sunday afternoon 4048 fans packed into a wind-whipped Arden Street Oval, to watch the all-conquering Kangaroos’ reign continue with a tight 10-point win over Carlton – their third-lowest winning margin since their unbeaten streak began after the 2023 grand final defeat.
The ever-dominant Kangaroos also played a draw early in their 2024 premiership season.
North have advanced to a record-extending 32st-consecutive victory. They faced a tough onslaught from Carlton defenders who dimmed the Roos’ typical fast attacking style and managed to keep the margin largely to about one goal.
The latest AFLW round five results:
Geelong’s Georgie Prespakis and West Coast’s Ella Roberts have both starred as their respective AFLW teams recorded a first win over their opponents on Saturday.
The Cats (4-1) retained a top-four spot, recording a fourth-straight victory and their first in seven attempts against the Crows (2-3) with an 8.9 (57) to 6.10 (46) win at Unley Oval.
Gun midfielder Prespakis simply was dynamic, racking up match highs of 32 disposals, 19 contested possessions and nine clearances.
In Perth, Daisy Pearce’s West Coast (1-4) posted their first win of the season in a 6.10 (46) to 6.5 (41) victory over the Brisbane Lions (2-3) at Perth’s Mineral Resources Park.
Sunny Lappin kicked three goals and sparked the second-half surge that led to Gold Coast’s 30-point win over Collingwood.
The Suns (3-2) kicked four goals to one in the third term – two of those to Lappin – to set up their 9.8 (62) to 4.8 (32) victory at People First Stadium.
Maddy Brancatisano kicked two goals, Charlie Rowbottom had 29 disposals and Dekota Baron provided the highlight of the day with a towering mark-of-the-year contender.
Mikayla Nurse suffered a nasty cut on the face after a head clash with Suns teammate Lucy Single late in the match.
