Source : the age
After bombing out of the finals in straight sets in successive years, Hawthorn have broken through for their first AFLW finals victory with an 18-point defeat of Gold Coast.
Basking in the joy of knocking off the favoured Suns on their home turf, Hawks coach Daniel Webster declared: “We know our football can compete with and beat the best”.
The Hawthorn AFLW outfit has had a complicated relationship with finals. Typically, after strong home and away seasons, they’ve usually run out of steam in the post-season.
But on Sunday they proved the naysayers wrong. A commanding third quarter paved the path for the Hawks to prevail 8.9 (57) to 6.3 (39).
Next up Hawthorn will face Carlton in a sudden-death semi after the Blues crashed badly against North Melbourne on Saturday.
Webster said confidence had been building within the group. The coach also reminded media of an important fact: Regardless of the Hawks’ patchy history with finals they remain the only team to beat North Melbourne this year.
The Hawks defeated the reigning premiers back in round six, ending the Kangaroo juggernaut’s record-breaking undefeated run.
“Obviously, it’s a great feeling,” Webster replied when asked to reflect on the victory given their agonising finals exits.
In 2024 it was devastating losses to Brisbane and Port Adelaide and it 2025 it was painful defeats to North Melbourne and Carlton.
“To put things into context, last year we were pretty banged up,” Webster said.
“Going into the back end of the year and being healthy is really important, this year we are in a far better place.”
Sunday’s clash was incredibly close for the first half with both sides bringing intense pressure. As the scoreboard seesawed, Hawthorn finally broke away in the third, expertly shutting down best and fairest contender and gun midfielder Charlie Rowbottom.
The Hawks kicked three unanswered goals and grab a 15-point lead into the final break
But the Suns weren’t done yet.
Mikayla Nurse opened the quarter with a goal for the Suns and the home crowd roared their approval. But the Hawks held on, aided by majors from Mikaylah Antony and Mikayla Williamson to secure the hard-fought win.
It was a disappointing ending to Gold Coast’s campaign.
The team has had an extraordinary comeback this year after finishing last in 2025. The arrival of AFLW legend Erin Phillips as general manager of women’s football, plus the plethora of young academy talent means the Suns will likely be a deadly force next year.
However for now, the team will anxiously wait for updates on youngster Ava Ulsher who has helped from the ground by medical staff after a collision with her teammate.
Hawthorn will now prepare for their semi-final clash against Carlton – the team that knocked them out last year.
Swans secure AFLW semi-final spot
Sydney have booked a place in the AFLW semi-finals, defeating the Western Bulldogs by 29 points in a high-pressure clash at a windswept soggy Henson Park.
This year’s leading goalkicker and star Swan Chloe Molly aided to her tally, banishing the Bulldogs – who fought their way into finals for first the first time since 2022 – back to the kennel by winning 7.4 (46) to 2.5 (17).
The Swans asserted their dominance from the opening bounce, kicking three consecutive goals in the first quarter and leaving the Bulldogs goalless. Ellie Blackburn lifted for the Dogs in the second with a goal, but a magnificent Tanya Kennedy laid a crucial tag on Isabelle Pritchard, shutting down the Dog’s scoring capacity.
When the siren blared, Swans placed raced to embrace each other, as loyal fans in red and white cheered on the boundary line, noticeably with inside-out umbrellas and soaked ponchos.
This year has been an undeniably tricky year for Sydney.
The women’s program has copped collateral damage from the Pullman hotel scandal and Tom Papley’s alleged drug offence, as some of the club’s men’s players continue to make headlines.
But the Swans’ AFLW program has remained focused, drawing in record-breaking breaking crowds at Henson Park and continuing their finals campaign to book their spot in a semi-final against Geelong.
The Cats feel agonisingly short in their qualifying final against Melbourne on Saturday, in a thrilling AFLW finals finish.
Swans coach Colin O’Riordan said the team was thrilled with the win, but said the team was hungry to keep improving.
“Scoreboard is important at the end of the game, but you don’t get there unless you stick to the process and you stick to what we are trying to do,” O’Riordan said.
“The level of pressure they brought across all four quarters, that was outstanding.”
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports reporter and Formula 1 writer at The Age.Connect via email.
