It wasn’t the close contest we would have hoped for, but on a marquee night for women’s football, Victoria have claimed 2017 bragging rights with a thumping 97-point win over the Allies in the inaugural AFLW state of origin.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Victoria 17.11.113
Allies 2.4.16
AFL fans have been crying out for the return of State of Origin footy, and after 18 years, they’ve got their wish with Victoria meeting the Allies on a showpiece night for women’s football in Australia. Join The Roar for live scores, updates and analysis from 7:50pm (AEST).
Featuring the best of the best from the inaugural AFLW competition from early 2017, it’s an opportunity for fans of all eight teams to see their stars strut their stuff on the big stage.
With the AFL set to expand the women’s competition by up to six extra teams in the coming months and years, there are fears the quality will suffer as star players become more and more diluted among the extra teams, but there are no such fears for tonight’s blockbuster encounter.
As a result, players and fans alike, most notably Melbourne superstar and women’s football trendsetter Daisy Pearce, believe this clash could well be the most skilful match we’ve yet seen.
In a great sign for the evenness of the competition, every club has at least four representatives in the historic fixture, giving fans from around the country a great chance to have a look at their stars of the future.
Players to Watch
Victoria – Moana Hope
Perhaps only rivalled by Pearce for the position as the face of the inaugural AFLW competition, the enigmatic forward failed to live up to the lofty expectations she set courtesy of a best-afield effort in last year’s corresponding fixture in her time at Collingwood early this year.
But as a big-time player, she should relish the main event and remind us all why she’s one of the biggest X-Factors in women’s footy.
Allies – Katie Brennan
For Western Bulldogs fans, Saturday night marks a return to the highest level for captain and marquee player Katie Brennan, after an ankle injury derailed her AFLW campaign.
Playing for VFLW club Darebin, the star forward has kicked the equal-most goals in the competition this season, and with bags of seven, eight and five majors in her most recent three games, she will undoubtedly be a handful for the Victorian defence.
Prediction
With women’s football still in its infancy as a national competition, the result almost comes secondary on a night like this to seeing just how good it can become with time, effort and money pumped into the industry.
But despite this, neither side is going to want to lose such an important match. I’m going to go with the Vics to win this one, courtesy of a forward line which just looks a tad more dangerous than that of the Allies.
Victoria to win a tight contest by 8 points.
Can Daisy Pearce, Mo Hope and company back up the Vics’ Legends Game triumph with another strong showing? Or will it be the returning Katie Brennan who steals the show for the Allies?
Tune into The Roar’s live coverage of this historic match from 7:50pm (AEST), and remember to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, that's it from me tonight. Daisy Pearce stars as Victoria crush the Allies by a whopping 97 points. Up the Vics! Thanks for your company, and goodnight! Victoria 17.11 (113) defeated the Allies 2.4 (16) by 97 points at Etihad Stadium. GOALS Victoria: Garner 5, Blackburn 3, Ashmore 2, D'Arcy, Eva, Lambert, Kearney, Hope, Pearce, Paxman. Allies: Wuetschner, Harris. BEST Victoria: Pearce, Paxman, Lambert, Blackburn, Eva, Garner, Chiocci. Allies: King, Randall, Brennan, McCarthy. INJURIES Victoria: Nil. Allies: Harris (knee), Zielke (suspected broken ribs), Randall (ankle), Bentley (knee).
Tim Miller
Editor
Roar MVP Awards: 3 votes: Daisy Pearce (Victoria) 2 votes: Karen Paxman (Victoria) 1 vote: Jaimee Lambert (Victoria)
Tim Miller
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report
Tim Miller
Editor
No surprise at all that Daisy Pearce wins the best-afield medal. With 37 touches and a goal, was there any other choice. "We stuck it right up 'em!" she exclaims.
Tim Miller
Editor
In one more cruel twist of fate, the Allies win the clearance and move forward, but their final foray is snuffed out by the siren. Vics by 97! Victoria 17.11 (113) Allies 2.4 (16) FULL TIME
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA One more for the road for Jasmine Garner! Daisy Pearce, as clear-cut a BOG as you could wish for, gathers, spins out of trouble and sends it deep into the Vics' forward 50 with time running down. Perkins can't mark, but it falls for Garner who gathers, snaps with the outside of the boot and sends it through from 25! Victoria 17.11 (113) Allies 2.4 (16) Q4, 0.14 left
Tim Miller
Editor
McCarthy gathers for the Allies and runs towards goal, but Eva gets her with a superb lunging tackle, holding the ball! But the kick is a turnover from Eva, and Frederick-Traub intercepts for the Allies and she'll line them up. Doesn't make the distance, howeer, and Stevens marks on the line for the Vics.
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA Not content with the first 100-point score in national-level women's AFL, not content with the highest winning margin, now the Vics are staring down a 100-point victory. Centred ball to the hot spot from Chiocci, and it's Ellie Blackburn who gathers, spins out Marcus Bontempelli-style and bangs it through from the square for another goal! Victoria 16.11 (107) Allies 2.4 (16) Q4, 4.21 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA Lauren Spark, who's been moved forward in the last term, gathers on 50 for the Vics and hits up Emma Kearney on the lead in the pocket. She goes back and drills it no problems at all, and the Vics pass the ton. Victoria 15.11 (101) Allies 2.4 (16) Q4, 6.01 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND ALLIES Nearly a magnificent goal from Kate McCarthy as she gathers on the wing, takes a few bounces, runs with lightning speed to 40 and shoots, but her kick is a wobbler and bounces through for a minor score. Victoria 14.11 (95) Allies 2.4 (16) Q4, 7.15 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA Another for the Vics! Ball in dispute inside the Vics' forward 50, but Daisy Pearce comes charging through and puts an end to that, snaps towards goal on the left, the ball sits up for Kaitlyn Ashmore who snaps her second from the goalsquare! Victoria 14.11 (95) Allies 2.3 (15) Q4, 8.44 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND ALLIES Allies score! Finally, some joy for the Allies as Renee Tomkins bangs it long towards the hot spot where Jess Wuetschner takes the mark. But the joy quickly turns to ashes as she misses badly from 20 to the left. Victoria 13.11 (89) Allies 2.3 (15) Q4, 11.10 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA Getting a bit embarrassing here for the Allies as Alison Downie chips to Jasmine Garner in space. She stops, props, sees nobody's coming at her, runs to 25 and drills her fourth goal! Victoria 13.11 (89) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 11.56 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND VICTORIA Emma Kearney this time jumps into space to take a mark 35 out from the Vics' goal; the Allies have fatigued badly as this game's gone on. Her kick isn't great, though, and slews off the side of the boot through for a behind. Victoria 12.11 (83) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 14.20 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND VICTORIA Vics work their way forward again, and Pearce takes a strong mark on the slide 25 out. But unselfishly, she gives a handpass to the running Perkins, who dribbles towards goal and HITS THE POST! Dear me, that's a missed opportunity for Perkins, who is still get to score a goal tonight. Victoria 12.10 (82) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 15.17 left
Tim Miller
Editor
GOAL VICTORIA Party time at Etihad Stadium! From a ball-up deep in the Vics' forward 50, the ball spills clear to Alicia Eva in the pocket, and her quick snap drifts through for a superb goal! And with a tongue flick and waving finger, she's certainly pleased with it, and rightly so! Victoria 12.9 (81) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 16.05 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND VICTORIA Perkins gathers in the pocket for the Vics, she gives the handball to Arnell who fumbles, but that allows Perkins to gather again, work her way into space, and snap towards goal...just floats across the face and bounces through for a behind. Victoria 11.9 (75) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 17.59 left
Tim Miller
Editor
BEHIND VICTORIA Vics win the first clearance and bang it forward, but the Allies' defence are on hand to rush it through for a behind. Victoria 11.8 (74) Allies 2.2 (14) Q4, 19.30 left
Tim Miller
Editor
Good news: Looks like just a bad corky for Chelsea Randall. Crows fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Bad news: Emma Zielke is on her way to hospital with suspected cracked ribs from that incident in the third term. Still no word on Kirby Bentley.
Tim Miller
Editor
Three quarter time, and after another scoreless quarter by the Allies it's fair to say the Vics have this game well and truly in control. 59 points up at the last change, it's a question of how much their win will be by now. And for the Allies, they have more pressing concerns as well, with captain Chelsea Randall (ankle), the sparky Emma Zielke (ribs) and then Kirby Bentley (knee) all going down with serious-looking injuries. Just based on this, you can see why those in charge in the AFL are reluctant to bring back State of Origin in the men's game; would you want to see your team's best player go down with a serious injury here? Speaking of best players, Daisy Pearce has been phenomenal with a game-high 26 touches, but Karen Paxman (26) and Jaimee Lambert (15) have been just as impressive. Jasmine Garner has also looked imposing around the ground with a couple of goals that quarter.