Opinion
This article is designed to give you all the important information about your favourite team while pointing out some star players or ones to watch in the coming rounds.
Carlton
The Blues famously lost a lot of talent in the off-season, and their inexperience really showed on Thursday night. They did manage to show glimpses of brilliance, particularly in the first quarter.
Mimi Hill was the standout player and is already making a name for herself in the competition. Her 26 touches lead the match, and 65 per cent were effective.
Breann Moody kicked a goal and dominated from the ruck all game. If Carlton wants to make an impact on season seven, they will need to put together a complete, four-quarter performance.
Collingwood
The Pies had to front up to a hostile IKON Park on Thursday without two of their best players thanks to ACL injuries. Nevertheless, they impressed, and their suffocating offensive pressure will keep even the best defences in the league scratching their heads.
Ruby Schleicher was as impressive as her last name and, alongside fellow midfielder Jaimee Lambert, was able to dominate at every stoppage.
Adelaide
The Crows looked dangerous when they went forward because of their marquee Ashleigh Woodland, who has a sixth sense for the big sticks.
Skipper Chelsea Randall was courageous all game, diving into packs with little regard for her own safety, while Anne Hatchard might have a minor case of leather poisoning after her dominant 24 disposals, 19 of them kicks.
Melbourne
The Demons are going to be one tough team to beat this season. Their skills look a class above all around the ground, and their midfield triple threat of Eliza West, Karen Paxman, and Olivia Purcell remind me of AFL’s early 2000s Brisbane, early 2010s Hawthorn and late 2010s Richmond midfields.
Special mention to Tahlia Gillard, who in just her fourth game looked like a brick wall in defence.
North Melbourne
The Kangas travelled to their home away from home, Hobart, and put on an absolute clinic. The first three quarters were a masterclass of football across all areas of the ground, and they can be excused for letting off the gas in the final term after being 39 points ahead at the last break.
Jasmine Garner and Emma Kearney both laced up their boots for the 50th time in the AFLW and showed every bit of class, absolutely dominating.
Gold Coast
The Suns seemed to lack a little bit of leadership but did show glimpses of what they can do when they move the ball along the wing from the backline. Speaking of the backline, Vivien Saad was challenged all day, and despite allowing a number of goals, she proved that she is a gritty defender who can take it up to the best of them.
It will be exciting to watch Saad and youngster Wallis Randell dominate from defence for the remainder of the season.
West Coast
The Eagles really snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their opening match. They looked decent in the first quarter, average at best during quarters two and three and then turned it on in the fourth.
West Coast are truly at their best when they play quickly in transition from the backline. Irish phenom Aisling McCarthy managed to slot a goal of the year contender in the last quarter to inspire her team to victory after playing an excellent game, tagging Port Adelaide’s captain out of impact all day.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Port Adelaide
The Power held really strong and did look very good in most aspects of the game despite the loss. Ange Foley and Justine Mules looked very impressive and led from the front, both having 12 kicks. Mules played her 50th game and did manage to hit the scoreboard with a third-quarter goal, but it wasn’t enough to help her young team get over the line.
The Power playing at home in front of their excited fanbase next week should help them stay on top of their opponent in the final term, instead of letting them run out the game.
Sydney
The Swans fans don’t have much to look forward to for the remainder of the season if Montana Ham’s knee injury turns out to be our worst fears come to life. However, their young talent in Cynthia Hamilton, sporting the most adorable Swans-branded helmet, looked incredibly dangerous every time the ball went forward. Ham did look electric in the minutes that she played, and I can see why she went as pick one; her reading of the play and ability to get the footy is unparalleled.
Look out for Ham, footy fans: once she comes back from this knee injury, she will be a force to be reckoned with.
St Kilda
The Saints had a very convincing win in Round 1 they can hopefully build upon. They have a relatively difficult fixture, so every win they can snag, especially away from home, will be incredibly valuable.
Kate Shierlaw dominated with 11 touches and four goals and made the Swans’ young defence look second-rate. Alongside Shierlaw, Jessica Matin up forward didn’t impact the stat sheet all too much but asserted her power and looked incredibly promising in just her 12th game.
Essendon
The Bombers came into season seven, their inaugural season, with a plan and a motivation to make a statement. Their convincing 26-point win over the Hawks made a pretty loud statement.
Madison Prespakis was best-on-ground with 26 disposals and a goal, while Paige Scott #32 played like a veteran from down back in just her first-ever AFLW game.
Madison Prespakis celebrates a goal with teammates. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Hawthorn
The Hawks looked much better than I expected their incredibly young list to look, and their future looks very bright. Brightest of all was their young debutant Sophie Locke, who had a modest 10 disposals but seemed like such an exciting prospect every time she got it.
No.2 draft pick Jasmine Fleming appeared to be everywhere, and although she struggled when she got the ball, her ability to read the play and keep herself in the contest makes her an exciting superstar to keep your eye on.
Western Bulldogs
The Doggies were challenged all day by the Giants, an exciting match from start to finish. The Dogs looked dangerous every time they went forward, thanks in part to what I am affectionately dubbing “The Twin Towers”. Celine Moody and Gabby Newton, both upwards of 175 centimetres, both blonde, and both incredible shots at goal, both scored two goals apiece.
To add to their mythos Newton recovered from two shoulder reconstructions to come back and play. A true inspiration in matching shoulder strappings.
GWS
The Giants were brave in defence all day and almost managed to snuff a victory, but the star of the show was key forward Cora Staunton. At the ripe young age of 40, Staunton put on a masterclass all day long and looked every bit the same age as her direct opponent, who was actually half her age. Every offensive play by the Giants went through Staunton, and every time the ball went near her, she knew exactly what to do.
I’m not sure what she eats for breakfast every morning, but it’s only her and Tom Brady who have the secret to ageing backwards. Keep your eyes peeled for more Staunton this season because she just kicked her 50th career AFLW goal, and she might keep playing and kick 50 more.
Brisbane
The Lions smashed the Dockers all over the ground all day and showcased how effective they are in front of goals with seven individual goal scores. High-flyers like Jesse Wardlaw and Taylor Smith, alongside elite crumbers Courtney Hodder and Orla O’Dwyer, put on a fantastic show for their incredibly loud Lions supporters at the Gabba.
Fremantle
The Dockers struggled early when two of their players went down with injuries and were never able to recover. Their skipper, Hayley Miller, was courageous all day and led by example, kicking a much-needed goal to stem the flow of Brisbane’s run and carry.
The Dockers will be very disappointed with their performance, but they will use this as fuel to come back better, and stronger next week. We know they have the potential to do good things – they just have to show us.
Geelong
The Cats put on a defensive masterclass all day long against the Tigers, led by their captain Meghan McDonald. McDonald was dominant and didn’t lose a single one-on-one contest. Her ability to take an intercept mark off half-back and convert that into a run-and-carry offensive play will surely land her in the team of the week.
Georgie Prespakis kicked the game-winner with 40 seconds left after having a cracker of a match. The Prespakis backyard football games much have been electric back in the day.
Richmond
The Tigers were unlucky to lose such a nail-biting game after showcasing how good their defence is. Debutant Eilish Sheerin was best on ground off half-back; similar to the Cats’ skipper, Sheerin was everywhere and never let anything get past her. She had four crucial tackles, even one game-saving tackle on the goal line late in the game.
Monique Conti looked every part as excellent as she was last season and will only improve this year. Keep an ear to the ground at the AFLW best and fairest – you might hear the word Conti a lot.
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"Just forget your ACL snap and hobble forward!"
Round 8 is finally over - and with thrilling finishes, epic goals and some supremely gutsy performances, what a weekend it was! Collingwood continued…
Not often you see an umpire reverse his own decision!
Commentator Jack Riewolt was shocked the game wasn't stopped so he could get treatment.
Running into an open goal, everyone thought the Hawks sub kicked it at first!
