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Hawthorn have survived an AFLW arm-wrestle to post a seven-point victory over the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Exploiting the Bulldogs’ injury woes, the Hawks won 6.10 (46) to 5.9 (39) to snatch their first win of the season – and only the second in their history – at Mars Stadium on Sunday.
Kirsty McLeod created a strong start for the Bulldogs by kicking two majors but her efforts went to waste, with her side unable to capitalise on a hard-earned five-point lead at quarter-time.
Hawthorn finished the first half with a nine-point lead, thanks to two unanswered goals by McDonagh and Gilroy.
The Bulldogs rebounded by winning four more contested possessions than Hawthorn early in the third term, having lost the first half count by five, and goals from former No.1 draft pick Gabrielle Newton, Sarah Hartwig and Brianna McFarlane gave them a 10-point lead.
But ex-Brisbane premiership player Greta Bodey (two goals, 11 disposals) answered with her first goal in Hawks colours to reduce the margin to three-points.
With fatigue setting in, the Bulldogs lacked the composure to withstand Hawthorn’s pressure as Bridie Hipwell goaled, and another major to Bodey sealed the victory.
The Hawks dominated with fast ball movement in the corridor to deliver perfect service to the capable hands of Gaelic football converts Aine McDonagh (one goal, 11 disposals) and Aileen Gilroy (one, nine).
Emily Bates (22 disposals, three clearances) was dangerous for Hawthorn, while skipper Tilly Lucas-Rodd (21, five) led from the front and kicked their first goal.
The Bulldogs were well served by the relentless fight of skipper Ellie Blackburn (20 disposals, nine clearances), Isabelle Pritchard (26, five) and Jessica Fitzgerald (19, three).
Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard said her older players’ experience kept their side in the game.
“It was about our mature players stepping up and running the game,” Goddard said post-match.
“Batesy did some really important things in the depth of the game, same with (Lucas-Rodd), just soaking up seconds on the clock and being able to show the young players on our team the way that we need to play when those games are tighter.
“That’s how we got over the line at the very end, a bit of maturity, calmness and finding a way to grind it out.”
Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke said he had faith his players wouldn’t dwell on their 0-2 start to the season.
“We’re just switching off at certain times, not capitalising when we do have a good bit of play,” Burke said.
“What we’re going to do is just really focus on coming out against Melbourne and taking a game to that level that we can play – so not going over and above, you know, doing anything superhuman.”
Hawthorn will next travel to face Fremantle while the Western Bulldogs visit premiership favourites Melbourne at home.
BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 10: Tilly Lucas-Rodd of the Hawks celebrates a goal with teammates during the 2023 AFLW Round 02 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Hawthorn Hawks at Mars Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Collingwood have demolished Fremantle by 21 points to register their first win of the AFLW season.
Led by superstar captain Brianna Davey, the Magpies never trailed at Victoria Park on Sunday to keep the Dockers scoreless in the first and third terms.
Nell Morris-Dalton was Collingwood’s only multiple goal-kicker, with two, as the Magpies prevailed 7.4 (46) to 3.7 (25).
Fremantle refused to throw in the towel, winning the last quarter after the ball spent the majority of the term in the visitors’ attacking half.
Davey was brilliant with 19 disposals and a crucial goal, Aishling Sheridan (21 possessions) had one of her best games for the Magpies, while fellow star Britt Bonnici (20) put in another top performance in her comeback from an ACL injury.
Former league best-and-fairest winner Kiara Bowers could not have done anything more for Fremantle, finishing with a game-high 23 possessions and 18 tackles.
Collingwood had the tough task of facing Melbourne in round one, matching it with the reigning premiers for the first-half before being blown away in the third term.
Fremantle were coming off an eight-point win over West Coast in their derby.
Collingwood will be back at Victoria Park next Sunday when they host Gold Coast, while the Dockers are at home to expansion club Hawthorn at Fremantle Oval on Saturday.
Essendon have marked their historic first AFLW fixture at Windy Hill with a 12-point win over St Kilda, continuing their unbeaten start to the season.
Prolific midfielder Madison Prespakis starred again with a game-high 29 disposals in the Bombers’ 6.4 (40) to 4.4 (28) victory on Sunday.
It was Essendon’s first game at their spiritual home in a national competition – either men’s or women’s – since August 1991.
Prespakis continued her hot form, winning 15 contested possessions and five clearances to lead her side to victory.
Georgia Gee (19 touches, one goal), co-captain Bonnie Toogood (17, one), Sophie Alexander (19 disposals) and Brooke Walker (15, six clearances) were also strong contributors the Bombers.
“There hasn’t been a game of footy here for so many years and for us to create our own history and get our first win here is incredible,” childhood Bombers fan Prespakis told the Seven Network.
“I love the Essendon footy club and this is our home and this is our journey, so I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
The Bombers’ win came at a cost, with co-captain Steph Cain undergoing a concussion test during the final quarter after her head met the turf in a dump tackle from Jaimee Lambert.
Cain (13 disposals) also hurt her right shoulder earlier in a physical encounter.
Lambert starred for St Kilda with 25 touches, six clearances and a goal, while Tyanna Smith (13 disposals, five clearances) and Georgia Patrikios (15, two) worked hard.
Essendon were dominant early and grabbed the ascendancy with three straight goals in the opening 10 minutes.
The visitors gradually dragged their way back into the contest, kicking four of the next five majors to level the scores midway through the third quarter.
But the Bombers steadied late in the third term and turned for home 12 points in front.
Neither side managed to score in a hard-fought final period, leaving St Kilda winless from the opening two rounds.
© AAP
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