Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Hawthorn have scored the biggest win of the AFLW season, and one of the most significant in the history of the competition, as they ended North Melbourne’s winning streak of 32 games in a tight contest in Cairns.
Jacqueline Dupuy kicked a goal with seven minutes remaining that took the Hawks’ lead to seven points before the Roos’ Irish star Blaithin Bogue kicked a goal to bring her side back to within a point.
But Lucy Wales came up with a booming kick with 90 seconds to play that sealed the win.
The Roos were without some key players, including Emma Kearney and Libby Birch, and they were playing on a five-day turnaround, but this is a huge win by the Hawks, who lost skipper Emily Bates to a tragic knee injury last week.
“I hope we made her proud, I wish she was out here,” Hawks star Jasmine Fleming told Kayo Sports.
“It’s bloody tough what she is going through, so to get the win for her is pretty special. I hope she is celebrating at home.”
The Roos’ undefeated run lasted 1020 days and almost three years. It also spanned 33 games (including a draw).
The Hawks celebrated after the siren like they had won a final.
The Hawks won 4.8 (32) d North Melbourne 3.7 (25).
Swans star Tom Papley loves the chance to boot a goal and he’s booted his first major of the night and tied the scores.
He’s firing up his teammates and the crowd, as he is want to do. The Swans have lifted.
Swans 13, Freo 13 with 13 mins to go in Q1.
Luke Jackson has marked strongly and booted his side’s second goal, despite being on a tricky angle.
The two sides began some pushing and shoving after that goal, with at least one player thrown to ground.
Jackson pumped up the away fans, but the Swans responded within moments.
They won the ball from the restart and Braeden Campbell took a handball from Errol Gulden and snapped a goal with his left foot.
“That’s a high-quality finish,” David King said on Kayo Sports.
Freo 13, Swans 7 with 16 mins to go in Q1.
Josh Treacy forced a turnover with a rundown chase on a Swans defender.
That led to the Dockers earning a kick for goal and Neil Erasmus snapped the first of the night.
The Dockers have burst out of the blocks, but the Swans are fighting back.
Freo 7, Swans 1 with 18 mins to go in Q1.
Yvonne Weldon gave fans a poignant welcome to country with a cheeky conclusion.
Weldon urged people to work together to make a better future and welcomed everyone to the lands of the Bidjigal and Gadigal.
“All the best to both teams, but Carn the Swannies!” Weldon finished with.
SYDNEY
B: J.Hamling, T.McCartin, D.Rampe
HB: S.Wicks, H.Kyle, J.McInerney
C: M.Roberts, E.Gulden, J.Serong
HF: J.Lloyd, L.McDonald, H.McLean
F: T.Papley, C.Curnow, B.Cootee
R: B.Grundy, J.Rowbottom, B.Campbell
I/C: L.Melican, A.Sheldrick, C.Cleary, T.Hanily, J.Dattoli
EMG: J.Amartey, W.Green, R.Andrew
IN: J.McInerney, L.Melican
OUT: C.Mills (injured), H.Cunningham (injured)
FREMANTLE
B: J.Clark, A.Pearce, O.McDonald
HB: K.Worner, L.Ryan, H.Chapman
C: M.Johnson, A.Brayshaw, N.Erasmus
HF: M.Frederick, M.Reid, S.Switkowski
F: J.Amiss, J.Treacy, P.Voss
R: L.Jackson, C.Serong, S.Bolton
I/C: J.McVee, C.Wagner, H.Young, I.Dudley, M.Cox
EMG: B.Cox, C.Scerri, J.O’Meara
IN: –
OUT: –
Hawthorn have scored the biggest win of the AFLW season, and one of the most significant in the history of the competition, as they ended North Melbourne’s winning streak of 32 games in a tight contest in Cairns.
Jacqueline Dupuy kicked a goal with seven minutes remaining that took the Hawks’ lead to seven points before the Roos’ Irish star Blaithin Bogue kicked a goal to bring her side back to within a point.
But Lucy Wales came up with a booming kick with 90 seconds to play that sealed the win.
The Roos were without some key players, including Emma Kearney and Libby Birch, and they were playing on a five-day turnaround, but this is a huge win by the Hawks, who lost skipper Emily Bates to a tragic knee injury last week.
Forget Brodie Grundy versus Luke Jackson in the ruck – the pre-game contest was whether it was going to be Dockers or Swans fans filling out the famed Bat and Ball pub beside the SCG.
I passed the pub just before on my moped and there was definitely a lot more purple in the pub than red and white.
Inside the stadium it is, as expected, mostly red and white. After a disappointing 37,000 for the qualifying final, the Swans have sold out the SCG and the pre-match atmosphere is as loud as I have heard it. Not long until we start now.
The SCG is rocking as the teams run out.
The Dockers ran out first with the banner celebrating Caleb Serong’s milestone game before the Swans ran out through a guard of honour from family, clubmates and loved ones.
Mills hobbled out on crutches well behind his mates but still received loving applause from the guard of honour members.
We will have the pregame ceremony and some final warmups before the first ball up at 7.40pm AEST.
Sydney stalwart Jake Lloyd believes the Swans’ AFL premiership push won’t be overshadowed by a few individuals who “made the wrong choices”.
Navigating the fallout from last month’s Pullman Hotel scandal, the club will have another chance to earn back the respect of the Swans faithful and the wider AFL world in Friday’s preliminary final against Fremantle at the SCG.
Sydney have already displayed their desperation to rebuild their famed “Bloods culture″ with a spirited 53-point qualifying-final win over Brisbane, rallying after captain Callum Mills’ first-quarter knee injury.
Many in the football world had written off the Swans in the lead-up to finals, with even club chairman Andrew Pridham believing their chances had been “torpedoed” following five suspensions.
