The Sydney Swans emerged victorious against the West Coast Eagles, marking the Eagles’ fourth consecutive loss. The Swans’ win was a team effort, but rising star Ally Morphett was particularly impressive, leading her team’s hitouts and gathering significant disposals and clearances. Swans co-captain Chloe Molloy was another standout, scoring two major goals that electrified the crowd. Despite a strong performance from Eagles captain Emma Swanson, the team couldn’t secure a win.
| RANK | TEAM | P | W | L | D | F | A | % | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MELBOURNE WOMEN | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 325 | 105 | 309.5 | 16 |
| 2 | ADELAIDE WOMEN | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 286 | 111 | 257.7 | 16 |
| 3 | NORTH MELBOURNE WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 186 | 79 | 235.4 | 12 |
| 4 | BRISBANE WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 232 | 131 | 177.1 | 12 |
| 5 | GEELONG WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 225 | 131 | 171.8 | 12 |
| 6 | GOLD COAST WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 212 | 125 | 169.6 | 12 |
| 7 | ESSENDON WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 173 | 169 | 102.4 | 12 |
| 8 | RICHMOND WOMEN | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 152 | 149 | 102 | 12 |
| 9 | CARLTON WOMEN | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 157 | 169 | 92.9 | 8 |
| 10 | FREMANTLE WOMEN | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 117 | 137 | 85.4 | 8 |
| 11 | SYDNEY WOMEN | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 158 | 222 | 71.2 | 8 |
| 12 | COLLINGWOOD WOMEN | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 133 | 178 | 74.7 | 4 |
| 13 | ST KILDA WOMEN | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 139 | 187 | 74.3 | 4 |
| 14 | PORT ADELAIDE WOMEN | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 152 | 252 | 60.3 | 4 |
| 15 | HAWTHORN WOMEN | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 109 | 193 | 56.5 | 4 |
| 16 | BULLDOGS WOMEN | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 141 | 242 | 58.3 | 0 |
| 17 | GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY WOMEN | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 139 | 309 | 45 | 0 |
| 18 | WEST COAST WOMEN | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 90 | 237 | 38 | 0 |
The Eagles initially struggled to score but managed to reduce the margin to 14 points just before halftime. Swanson’s brilliant snap goal in the third quarter breathed new life into the Eagles, but it wasn’t enough to tip the scales in their favor. Molloy briefly left the field due to a potential elbow injury but returned to contribute to the Swans’ win. The Swans eventually sealed their victory with a goal from Smith in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to two goals.
In another match, the Brisbane Lions maintained their undefeated record against North Melbourne, pulling off a thrilling two-point victory. Down by 18 points at halftime, the Lions made a remarkable comeback, scoring four goals to one after the main break. The match had its share of dramatic moments, including a free kick awarded to North’s captain Emma Kearney in the dying seconds, which fell short of being a game-changer.
St Kilda also claimed their first win of the AFLW season, defeating Collingwood in a stunning turnaround. Trailing by 26 points during the third quarter, the Saints rallied to secure a 12-point victory. The win relieved some pressure on St Kilda’s coach Nick Dal Santo and put a dent in Collingwood’s finals hopes.
Essendon surged into the top-eight with a 20-point win over Fremantle, marking their third win in four starts. Co-captain Bonnie Toogood was the star of the match, scoring two goals and gathering a game-high number of possessions. The win puts Essendon on track to make the top-eight, almost halfway through the season.
Gold Coast also managed to keep their season on track, surviving a scare from the Western Bulldogs to secure a four-point win. The match was a thrilling arm-wrestle, with both teams showing resilience and determination. The Suns’ victory was a team effort, but Charlie Rowbottom’s performance was particularly noteworthy.
Overall, the recent AFLW matches have been a showcase of talent, strategy, and resilience, making this season one of the most exciting in recent memory.
