Hawthorn have handed St Kilda their first defeat of the AFLW season, with a game-breaking six-goal haul from Greta Bodey the distinction in a 57-point victory.
The Hawks had been in search of a response to their humiliation at Adelaide’s arms final week and had been speedy and intense all through Saturday’s 11.8 (74) to 2.5 (17) win at Moorabbin Oval.
In consequence, Hawthorn leapfrogged the now fifth-placed Saints into fourth on the ladder.
It was a large actuality examine for St Kilda, which didn’t kick a objective within the second half and copped six unanswered majors within the final time period of its heaviest-ever loss.
With Lucy Wales (23 touches, 22 hitouts) dominating the ruck, Eliza West (21 disposals, 10 clearances, 9 tackles) and Jas Fleming (20) started working.
Tilly Lucas-Rodd (23 disposals) was very good off half-back with assist from Tamara Smith and Mattea Breed.
“I used to be happy immediately that we had been capable of get the sport on our phrases good and early and run the sport out actually strongly,” Hawks coach Daniel Webster stated.
Jesse Wardlaw (two targets) stood up for St Kilda together with midfield stalwart Jaimee Lambert (22 disposals).
Wardlaw marked and goaled late for the one objective of the opening time period, giving the Saints a six-point lead on the first change.
Then Bodey stepped up.
The previous Lion kicked three targets on the bounce throughout the second and third quarters to snap the Hawks out to a 21-point benefit early within the second half.
St Kilda’s Darcy Guttridge went into the rooms for therapy after a heavy collision halfway by way of the third time period and was dominated out for the rest of the sport after a head damage evaluation.
However the Saints wouldn’t formally put Guttridge, 24, into concussion protocols instantly.
Bodey (six targets, eight marks, 18 disposals) was merely very good when it counted to arrange the win.
She is simply the third participant after Brooke Lochland and Jamie Stanton to kick six or extra targets in a sport.
Hawthorn led by 20 at three-quarter time and early within the last time period, Irish pair Aine McDonagh (two targets) and Aileen Gilroy mixed for a beautiful objective to close down any hope of a St Kilda comeback successfully.
Bodey kicked the ultimate three targets of the match to finish her haul and St Kilda’s humiliation.
“The Hawks outworked us, notably from contest to contest,” Saints coach Nick Dal Santo stated.
“They uncovered us defensively at occasions after which the way in which they ran out the sport … sure they’d a little bit of a breeze however I used to be disillusioned with the way in which we allowed six within the final quarter.”
Hawthorn subsequent play Geelong on Thursday at Kardinia Park whereas St Kilda play Fremantle at Moorabbin Oval subsequent Friday.
Freo produce late comeback to sink Demons
An after-the-siren Aisling McCarthy objective has launched Fremantle to a six-point win over Melbourne, however the Dockers face a nervous wait after AFLW star Aine Tighe suffered a knee damage.
Trailing by 23 factors, the Dockers mounted a severe second-half problem led by midfielder Gabby O’Sullivan to carry themselves stage at Fremantle Oval on Saturday.
A streaming Hayley Miller appeared sure to fit the match-winner from point-blank vary, earlier than Demons defender Gabrielle Colvin shut her down with a basic high-pressure deal with.
However Melbourne skipper Kate Hore was caught holding the ball simply in entrance of objective moments later, gifting McCarthy the prospect to safe the 7.5 (47) to six.5 (41) win.
“That was hectic,” Fremantle coach Lisa Webb stated.
“I knew they may do that. We have been saying it for some time.”
The Dockers’ afternoon received off to a dreadful begin when sharpshooter Tighe was taken out of the sport with a knee criticism following an off-the-ball incident two minutes into the opening time period.
Tighe didn’t seem to interact in any bodily contact earlier than she fell to floor and will stroll off the sphere with out assist.
The Irishwoman has a torrid historical past of knee accidents and was pressured to beat two consecutive anterior cruciate ligament tears in 2020 and 2021 to make her debut the next yr.
In the meantime, Melbourne could possibly be in actual hazard of lacking out on finals for the primary since 2019 after falling to their third consecutive loss.
The Demons have their very own damage considerations after fellow Irish participant Blaithin Mackin was taken out of the sport within the first quarter with a calf concern.
O’Sullivan stood up for Fremantle in Tighe’s absence in assault, supported by Emma O’Driscoll (21 touches) and Hayley Miller (one objective, 17 touches).
Eliza McNamara was the stand-out for Melbourne and completed with 30 disposals, seven tackles, 15 contested possessions and 10 intercept possessions as membership legend and now-West Coach coast Daisy Pearce watched from the gang.
“We’re nonetheless rising however we need to be profitable and rising,” Demons coach Mick Stinear stated.
“Eliza had an unlimited sport. With Blaithin popping out of the sport, she shouldered a very excessive workload. Phenomenal actually.
“We’d like just a few extra acting at that stage to assist elevate us as a workforce.”
Hore opened the scoring to arrange a 17-point lead on the first change.
The hosts had been capable of hold Melbourne from blowing out the margin within the second quarter, conceding just one objective earlier than O’Sullivan caught Sinead Goldrick holding the ball and scored.
O’Sullivan opened the third time period by lowering the margin to 11 factors.
Goldrick received one again for the Dees after being awarded a 50-metre penalty, however O’Sullivan was relentless. She went full-throttle within the fourth quarter, kicking her third of the match, earlier than McCarthy scored the match-winner.
Cats go from objective famine to feast for first AFLW win
Geelong have gone on a goalscoring blitz to hammer Gold Coast by 69 factors for his or her first win of the AFLW season.
With Nina Morrison starring within the midfield, the Cats went from famine to feast after solely managing 0.5 final week towards Carlton and gained Saturday’s away match 15.6 (96) to 4.3 (27).
Gold Coast kicked three targets within the last time period, which means they prevented their highest dropping margin, and the Cats had been solely six factors wanting their highest AFLW rating.
Jacqueline Parry of the Cats (centre) reacts after kicking a objective. (AAP: Dave Hunt)
The bloodbath takes Geelong to a 1-2 file, with a draw, to maintain them within the finals hunt, whereas the Suns solely have a draw after 4 rounds.
“Our efficiency [so far this season] hasn’t been too unhealthy. It is good to get some reward,” Cats coach Dan Lowther stated.
“The best way we performed immediately was extra just like the development from final yr [when Geelong made the finals].”
With Georgie Prespakis out by way of damage for a second sport, Morrison stood up within the midfield and dominated.
She racked up 26 disposals, together with 16 contested possessions and 7 clearances, and kicked a objective.
Irish star Aishling Moloney kicked a career-best 4 targets because the Cats repeatedly punished Gold Coast on turnovers.
Jackie Parry kicked three targets in her fiftieth sport and Shelley Scott additionally posted three.
The Suns had been aggressive early, however the Cats broke clear with three targets.
Then, with solely seconds left within the first time period, Kate Kenny was paid a doubtful free in a marking contest and had a shot at objective from 60m out.
Because the siren sounded, Kate Darby protected the ball fantastically and it bounced by way of for his or her fourth.
That typified how the mismatch went — all the things Geelong did turned to gold and the Suns might do nothing proper.
Jamie Stanton, whose booming objective after the siren secured the draw towards GWS final week, introduced the Suns right into a huddle at half-time and was animated together with her teammates.
Suns captain Tara Bohanna lastly kicked their first objective seven minutes into the third quarter.
There was a scuffle at three-quarter time after Morrison pushed over Suns star Charlie Rowbottom, prompting a few Geelong gamers to level on the scoreboard.
Gold Coast’s Claudia Whitfort had a game-high 28 disposals and Rowbottom racked up 25.
It was their first match at dwelling since St Kilda belted them in spherical one by 54 factors.
“We had been embarrassed with the efficiency we dished up immediately in entrance of our dwelling crowd,” Suns coach Cameron Joyce stated.
“I believe I stated after spherical one, that wasn’t a real reflection of us. That is now two from 4 when it comes to performances like that and we actually must have a deep dive as to the why.”
AAP
