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Opinion
This article is designed to give you all the important information about your favourite team while pointing out some star players.
Carlton
The Blues had what can only be described as the most poetic loss they could have possibly had. At two different points throughout the game they held a double-digit lead, and on both occasions, they let the Dogs claw their way back into the game. The calumniation of the entire season really just played out in one game.
At least the Blues get a decent draft selection and can use the entire off-season to train their players in fatigue management. Best of luck next season, Blues… you should be so much better.
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs are not, by any stretch of the imagination, a dominant top-eight side, and they are worse than they were predicted to be at the start of the season. However, it literally does not matter when you have Alice Edmonds and Ellie Blackburn.
Bulldogs players celebrate victory over Carlton. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Edmonds won the matchup quite convincingly against the other All-Australian calibre ruck and thus has cemented her spot in that side come awards time, but Ellie Blackburn virtually willed her side to win this game.
In what might be the single most dominant game by a single player this season, Blackburn kicked two insanely clutch goals, one of them being the game-winner. She had 23 disposals (all except one were kicks) and nine clearances with seven tackles. Everyone else on the Bulldogs seemed content with losing this game, but Blackburn said, “Not on my watch.”
Brisbane
The Lions are the dream team, and for anybody to beat them in a finals match is going to be a monumental task. I have spoken about this all season but there is just not a weak facet to their game. This is a historic team and we should all just sit back and enjoy the ride as history unfolds.
Jesse Wardlaw tied the record for most goals in a season after she slotted two against the Pies. Taylor Smith had a season-high two goals while Cathy Svarc was very quietly the best player on the ground, her stat line reads like a work of fiction: 18 touches, nine tackles, four clearances and a goal… incredible.
Collingwood
There is still at least one more game to play for the Pies, and it might be a home final, but do not be surprised if they don’t win. In fact, don’t be surprised if they get blown out against a team lower on the ladder.
The Lions are a difficult team to play but Collingwood put up much less of a fight than Hawthorn did. The Pies will need to have a serious look at themselves before next weekend if they are going to try and do anything in this finals series. I will be happy to be wrong, but Collingwood is the worst top-eight side.
Best of luck against the Doggies.
Melbourne
The Demons came into this game with a plan to throw everything and the kitchen sink at the Eagles to try and secure the minor premiership. They needed to win 77-0 and they came within just one point of actually achieving that. Impressive, considering they just continued to abuse the centre of the ground all day and were relentless every time they got the ball.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
West Coast
The Eagles were embarrassed by the Demons and this will be a feeling they will have to sit with for the next nine months while they wait for next season.
They knew exactly what the Demons were going to do. They knew Melbourne needed a lot of points and they needed them quickly. The Eagles should have recognised that and tried to play a much slower and cleaner game of footy to stem the bleeding.
If they chipped it around all game, they would have been able to walk away with a respectable loss. Ironic that I’m recommending this as the Eagles’ strategy considering I wanted them to move the ball quick every single other game of the season.
St Kilda
The Saints put up a truly valiant effort against the in-form Crows and they gave their home fans something to cheer about. They kept Adelaide goalless for the first half (only the third time in Crow history that has every happened) and were able to impact the scoreboard themselves. It is going to be a long off-season for the Saints, but this team can trend in the right direction next season.
Adelaide
The Crows were very obviously looking ahead to the finals and ignoring the Saints entirely which almost cost them the win and would have cost them a spot in the top four. Luckily, they managed to turn it on in the second half and came away with a win.
They might have wanted to use St Kilda as a springboard, harbouring momentum as they head into finals but they clearly took the foot-off-the-gas approach in an attempt to avoid injuries. I guess they got everything they wanted.
Geelong
The Cats blew past 100 total points in this game. If you had have told me after Round 1 that Geelong will have a game this season where they score over 100 points, I would have laughed in your face. The amount of improvement these Cats have had since the start of the season is incredibly impressive.
The Cats finish fifth on the ladder and host a finals game against the Kangas but the real test will come the week after when they have to take on a formidable top-four side.
Sydney
The Swans are just glad that the season is over. Take a holiday, a short one, regroup and all the players should quickly come back and begin a very early pre-season to try and build more team chemistry and fitness. There is a lot to work on but it is really only up from here for the Swans.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching them play this season despite them losing all 10 games. Swans fans can take solace in the fact that not very long ago, Richmond and Geelong were cellar dwellers and look at them now.
Fremantle
The Dockers, in true Fremantle form, let an inferior opponent take it to them for an entire four quarters. However, they were able to hold their nerve, inspired by their retiring superstar Kara Antonio. Antonio kicked two very important goals in her last-ever match and willed her team to victory alongside her fellow forward Aine Tighe.
Tighe kicked four goals and didn’t appear to lose a marking contest all game. An impressive performance and certainly a player to keep an eye on in the coming seasons.
Hawthorn
The Hawks put on yet another very impressive effort and almost managed to come away with a win against a solid opponent on the other side of the country. In Jess Duffin’s final AFLW game she managed to snag two goals and was always a part of the action whenever the ball went forward.
Tahlia Fellows played a similarly exciting game and in just her eighth game looked like a solidified superstar. I can’t wait to watch her next year.
Port Adelaide
The Power didn’t really show up to play against the Dons even though their supporters did. In the miserable weather and locked in to a bottom-four finish, the Port faithful still supported in droves and were gleefully yelling obscenities at the umpires well after their chances of winning the game were zero.
If you’ve noticed, I spent the whole paragraph talking about the Port fans and that’s because there’s nothing to talk about regarding what happened on the ground. I hope Erin Phillips doesn’t retire, and they come back next season with a bit more pep in their step.
Essendon
The Bombers were all class against the Power. They have been out and out the best team on the season of the expansion clubs and really proved their worth all season, exemplified by their performance against Port Adelaide. Daria Bannister played an enjoyable game kicking two goals, while young Amber Clarke was a standout performer with a goal and three tackles.
North Melbourne
Wow, what a game. The Kangas lived up to their potential and brought everything they could to a formidable Tigers side. It looked like two very even teams going head-to-head so a draw is quite a suitable result. I can’t wait to watch them in the finals. Jenna Bruton in the long sleeves was impressive off halfback, taking a serious amount of intercept marks while Ash Riddell, Mrs Consistent, had another stunner, kicking a goal from 21 disposals.
Richmond
I can’t wait to watch them in the finals. Ellie McKenzie was the best player on the ground, kicking two goals from 16 touches. The other Tiger who starred, Eilish Sheerin, has looked the best player almost every game despite it only being her first season.
GWS
The Giants seemed to be really good at home and horrific away all season long. They played so well against the Suns and many believed they played for Cora Staunton in her 50th game. Staunton has been a cult hero ever since she entered the AFLW kicking an absurd number of goals and more importantly did it at such an impressive age. Staunton doesn’t look to be slowing down either, kicking the first goal of this game.
Georgia Garnett was the best player on the ground kicking three goals and taking seven marks.
Gold Coast
The Suns had nothing to play for and they played like it. They looked slack and low on motivation and it really showed in how they played. There was a lot of turnovers and missed opportunities.
Ashanti Bush was the most enjoyable player to watch and is someone you’ll want to mark down on your Gold Coast bingo card for next season to be the most improved player. She is electric and managed to showcase the best of her, kicking two goals, one of which will likely be goal of the year.
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