Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Prized Sydney recruit Taylor Smith has kicked three goals as the Swans stormed from behind to post a thrilling eight-point AFLW win over the Crows at Unley Oval in Adelaide.
And in Sunday’s match at Windy Hill, Brisbane forward Dakota Davidson kicked an equal career-high four goals as last year’s runners up started 2026 with a crushing 48-point win over Essendon.
A star display from veteran Ebony Marinoff (27 disposals, four clearances, 500m gained) put Adelaide ahead by two goals entering the final quarter.
But the Swans, under new coach Colin O’Riordan, never gave up.
Cynthia Hamilton kicked a goal early in the final term to put the Swans within touch, and Holly Cooper kicked her second goal of the match a short time later to put Sydney in front.
The margin sat at just two points for most of the rest of the term before debutant Imogen Brown kicked the winning goal in the final minute, sealing the 9.7 (61) to 7.11 (53) win for Sydney, who missed the finals on percentage last year.
Smith, a two-time premiership winner at Brisbane, starred in her first game at the Swans with three goals and five marks, while Hamilton and Cooper kicked two goals apiece.
Swans speedster Zippy Fish, who finished with 23 disposals, eight tackles and 438m gained, said O’Riordan gave Sydney belief they could snatch victory during his three-quarter time address.
“We went into one of our pre-season games and we were down, so he pretty much gave us the same messaging from that game, and we came back and won that game,” Fish said.
“(He told us) just have a bit of belief and be brave with the ball.”
Christina Leuzzi kicked two goals for the Crows, while Madison Newman was prominent with 24 disposals, 443m gained and one goal.
Over in Melbourne, Brisbane played like a team possessed in the first half, storming to a 35-0 lead by early in the second quarter before 75-game milestone star Bonnie Toogood finally kicked Essendon’s first goal.
The Bombers were able to largely match it with Brisbane from that point onwards, but the damage had already been done.
Davidson finished with 4.2 and five marks in a strong display in attack, while Catherine Svarc starred with 21 disposals and two goals in the 12.13 (85) to 6.1 (37) win.
Essendon were well led by Madison Prespakis (30 disposals, five clearances, 472m gained) and Maddison Gay (26 disposals, 523m gained), but the Bombers were simply blown away by Brisbane’s early onslaught, which included five goals to nil in the opening quarter.
Brisbane won the inside 50m count 32-11 in the first half, with Davidson scoring three goals and Svarc two as the Lions scored 23 points off turnovers across the opening two quarters.
