Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Sydney have confirmed their home AFLW elimination final against the Western Bulldogs after overcoming Wharfie Time and a horror injury to beat Fremantle by one point.
Play was held up for 10 minutes in the first quarter on Sunday at Cockburn before Swans ruck Caitlin Reid was stretchered from the field. She was felled by a clash of heads with Fremantle’s Hayley Miller.
After Sydney rallied in the second half and took the lead, Miller snapped a goal to bring the Dockers to within one point and Wharfie Time was sounded, with less than 90 seconds on the clock.
But just as the crowd activation backfired horribly in the AFL grand final loss to Brisbane, the Dockers could not score again.
Chloe Molloy took a game-saving mark with 15 seconds left and the Swans won 5.7 (37) to 5.6 (36), denying Dockers star Ash Brazill a farewell win.
Molloy kicked four goals to break the AFLW goalkicking record with 28, two up on Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh and Geelong forward Jackie Perry. Sydney racked up nine wins, a club record.
“It’s a good catapult … into the finals, close wins like that,” Molloy told Fox Footy.
“It always brings out a bit extra energy, especially when you hear Wharfie Time.”
Geelong will host Melbourne, followed by reigning premiers North Melbourne against Carlton in a qualifying-final double header next Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park.
Sydney expect to pack out Henson Park on Sunday against the Bulldogs, before Gold Coast host Hawthorn in the other elimination final.
AAP
The AFL ruled that this was an indiscretion and should have been a free kick.
Second Qualifying Final
Geelong Cats v Melbourne
Saturday, 7 November
IKON Park, 1.05pm AEDT
First Qualifying Final
North Melbourne v Carlton
Saturday, 7 November
IKON Park, 4.05pm AEDT
Second Elimination Final
Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs
Sunday, 8 November
Henson Park, 1.05pm AEDT
First Elimination Final
Gold Coast SUNS v Hawthorn
Sunday, 8 November
People First Stadium, 3.05pm AEDT/ 2.05pm AEST
Melbourne have given themselves a confidence boost ahead of their blockbuster AFLW qualifying final, overcoming Adelaide by 18 points despite an injury concern to star Kate Hore.
At a wet Unley Oval on Sunday, the Demons claimed a third consecutive victory and ended their regular season 10-2 by prevailing 6.11 (47) to 3.11 (29).
But they may have to sweat on midfielder Hore, who was left holding her shoulder after Jemmika Douglas bumped her in the dying minutes of the clash.
Tyla Hanks insists the team’s captain will be fine for next week’s final against the high-flying Geelong, telling the Seven Network the four-time All-Australian is “pretty tough”.
Departing Collingwood coach Sam Wright conceded he has “no energy left” and had “run out of suggestions” as the Pies finished their dismal 2026 season with just one win and independent review of the struggling women’s program looming.
The Pies faced Essendon on Sunday, who, like them, entered the game with just win to their name and preparing to farewell their senior coach.
But it was the Bombers who got their second win of the year to claim 16th spot on the ladder, overcoming a late scare from the Pies to win by seven points in front of a roaring Windy Hill home crowd and sen coach Natalie Wood off in style.
Collingwood finished the season with a slightly better percentage than St Kilda (also one win), meaning they avoided the wooden spoon 17th. But finishing 17th was little comfort for Wright, who leaves the coaching job with the women’s program at Collingwood mired in uncertainty and mediocrity.
Carlton looks set to earn a top-four spot by just 0.2 in percentage after Gold Coast’s tight win over GWS on Sunday.
The only way the Blues will fall from the four will be a whopping win by the Sydney Swans against Fremantle later on Sunday at 5pm AEDT – the Swans are on 115.9 per cent heading into that match.
Suns star Charlie Rowbottom kicked a goal with 11 seconds to go to bring her side to 133 per cent, but they couldn’t get another score, so will finish behind the Blues on 133.2 per cent.
Suns coach Rhyce Shaw was nervously looking to his coach’s box after the siren as they double-checked the mathematics, but he was soon told they would miss the four.
