AFLW Wrap: 'Incredible' flag favourites go from strength to strength, and the club that just can't catch a break

Check out all the important information about every AFLW team, while pointing out some star players or ones to watch in the coming rounds.

Melbourne

The Demons showed large patches of excellence on Friday night under the big lights of the MCG but almost allowed North Melbourne to reap the rewards of their complacency.

When Melbourne wanted to play, they looked electrifying: their midfield trio, particularly Karen Paxman, was again sublime, while Taylor Harris looked the best ruck in the comp. Tahlia Gillard was very quiet until the dying stages of the game, but when it mattered most, she made multiple gave-saving defensive plays. An incredible young star.

North Melbourne

The Kangaroos didn’t back down from the challenge of the Demons at the MCG and their brilliance from last week continued. Ashleigh Riddell starred through the middle with a scintillating 26 touches (she appeared to be everywhere around the ground), while Jasmine Garner was again up to her usual tricks of 20-plus disposals.

Emma King had a day out with two crucial goals and a number of stoppage-defining ruck taps.

Richmond

The Tigers were magical for three quarters. Their pressure all around the ground was suffocating and made the Crows look like a bottom-ladder team, not the reigning premiers.

But it all came unstuck in the final term, and with Richmond’s woes in front of goal, the scoreboard was simply not run up enough to secure the victory. The Tigers desperately need their captain Katie Brennan back to kick some goals and provide some forward leadership that is sorely lacking.

Monique Conti spearheaded the Tigers’ run and carry offensive pressure with 26 touches, while Courtney Wakefield only managed two goals two, but showed immense promise.

Adelaide

The Crows were put to the sword all day, but proved why they are one of the premiership favourites when it mattered most. Marijana Rajcic, Teah Charlton, and Sarah Allan were all stalwarts in defence and managed to keep Richmond to just three goals, despite them having 38 inside 50s.

Abbie Ballard lit up the fourth quarter kicking two high-pressure set-shot goals. With her booming right foot and teammate Ashleigh Woodland up forward, the Crows are always a chance to kick bulk goals in a matter of minutes. Opposition defenders beware.

Port Adelaide

The Power were largely disappointing in their first-ever game at Alberton. Their inability to remain disciplined (particularly in the final term) cost them dearly.

There were a few bright spots, particularly down back, with Alex Ballard showing a level of maturity not often shown from a second gamer, while Ebony O’Dea took a few crucial intercept marks to help stem the bleeding.

Western Bulldogs

The Dogs look incredible in season 7. Their ability to constantly apply immense forward pressure and win the game off half-back is astounding.

Skipper Ellie Blackburn and fellow superstar midfielder Kirsty Lamb both had 18 disposals and had free reign to do as they pleased all game. Blackburn continues to play without regard for her own safety, a tough-as-nails captain that the girls really seem to rally behind.

Fremantle

The Dockers were disappointing again. The conditions played very much in Geelong’s favour, but the wet weather should never be an excuse for such a lacklustre performance.

Freo lacked fight all game and were only spared a larger deficit by Geelong’s inaccuracy in front of goal. The bright spot was Kiara Bowers, whose 12 tackles and heavy pressure all game showed why she’s been such a consistent mainstay with the Dockers.

Geelong

The Cats are the real underdogs of season 7 (pardon the pun). They look elite coming out of defence, and if they can sure up their forward line accuracy, they can be a real threat to the rest of the competition.

Their midfield is starting to gel really well, and it helps when you have the likes of Georgie Prespakis, who had nine clearances and Amy McDonald, who had a season 7 high 29 disposals.

My warning to the rest of the AFLW… do not sleep on the Cats. They will bite you.

Essendon

Wow. Just wow. What a game!

The Bombers showed terrific class, poise and a will to win in the finals quarter. Despite coming up one point short, Essendon proved to everyone (including themselves) that they are not just an expansion club.

I touched on this last week – Essendon look the real deal, and their last quarter performance showcased how incredible they can be. Madi Prespakis was everywhere again while Bonnie Toogood applied pressure all around the ground, laying six tackles.

Madison Prespakis of Essendon in action. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Carlton

The Blues needed a bounce-back game, and they delivered on that need. While the last quarter had Carlton fans all around Australia incredibly nervous (myself included), the ability to hold onto their lead and keep their nerve proves that this young side has such a bright future.

Darcy Vescio kicked three goals to no one’s surprise; they are an absolute superstar of the competition. Gabby Pound played an excellent game down back as well, but Breann Moody was best on ground again for mine.

She is a player you need to keep an eye on, because a ruck who is clean with the footy and is dangerous in front of goals is a super weapon.

Collingwood

The Pies were classy again this week. Their pressure off half-back and their ability to turn that into scoring chances is beyond impressive.

Jordan Membrey was a major benefactor of those half-back turnovers, booting two goals and taking a few nice pack marks.

Jaimee Lambert was the best player out on the oval this week; her ability to find the footy and then go and get it is uncanny. She might need to start seeing a tagger each week.

Sydney

The Swans are a sorry case in the AFLW competition, because they play with so much heart, their fans have shown out in droves across both their games, but they just can’t catch a break.

Everyone is going to rejoice when they win their first game. If they play as they did against the Pies in the first quarter, for every quarter, they have a chance of winning next week against the Giants.

Ally Morphett didn’t have too many touches of the footy, but her ruck work looks excellent and could potentially become a star of the competition.

GWS

The Giants were impressive in the first quarter, really taking it to Brisbane; but lost all control after the Lions were able to pile on a few early second-quarter goals.

Tarni Evans and Jasmine Grierson both played incredibly well down back, which despite the Lions scoring so many goals, was the reason more didn’t fly through. If the Giants can take it to more teams the way they took it to Brisbane in the first quarter, they can really threaten a finals berth this season.

Brisbane

The Lions went at peak offensive prowess again. Their second 10-plus goal game in a row really showcases how incredible they are whenever they go forward.

What’s more impressive is the breadth of goal scorers they seem to have each week. Eight different Lions hit the scoreboard, a mixture of forwards and midfielders.

Emily Bates was superb all game, and her 20 touches at 82 per cent efficiency and a goal might put her in contention for player of the round status.

Hawthorn

The Hawks fans have a lot to look forward to in the future. This season might become a bit of a wash, but the future is bright. The Hawks refused to let the much smoother Saints walk over them and thus continued to try their hearts out until the final siren.

Aileen Gilroy, one of the more experienced players on the side, lights up the ground every time she touches the ball and even managed to kick a very nice goal. Cult hero Sarah Perkins was forced to play all game in the ruck after Tamara Luke went down with a knee injury very early; and was incredibly brave playing the whole game out, and even making the stoppages look competitive despite her inferior height.

St Kilda

Are the Saints the real deal? That is a question I have been pondering all afternoon. Their two performances have been stellar, but they have beaten only expansion clubs thus far. Next week’s game against the Demons will likely answer my question.

For now, they look electric when they move the ball through Georgia Patrikios and Hannah Stuart in the middle up to Caitlin Greiser, Kate Shierlaw and Jessica Matin, who have combined for 12 of the Saint’s 17 goals on the season so far.

If you’re a fan of good footy, it might be a good idea to get yourself out to RSEA Park next week for their clash with the Dees.

Gold Coast

The Suns played a much better brand of footy this week, which culminated in being able to convert defensive stoppages into scoring chances. Alison Drennan dominated all game with 24 touches, nine tackles and a goal; her season has started incredibly hot, and I look forward to watching her match up against some of the Lions’ elite midfielders next week.

I mentioned that the Suns needed some leadership last week, and Tara Bohanna brought that in leaps and bounds, leading by example with her work rate off the ball and her game-sealing goal on the final siren.

West Coast

The Eagles disappointed me in the last game of the round. Last week they looked unstoppable when they moved the ball quickly and accurately, hitting targets along the wing on the rebound from defence.

Only once did they even attempt to make this work this week, and it clearly showed on the scoreboard.

Aisling McCarthy played another excellent game, laying 11 tackles and even kicking a late goal by reading the stoppage better than everybody else. I hope the Eagles bring that fast-paced, fast-break action next week because they’re going to need it to beat the dangerous Dons.