The Brisbane Lions held their nerve in a close contest against North Melbourne, claiming a seven-point victory at Arden Street on Saturday afternoon in what was a test for the ladder leaders after humbling teams with a series of blowout margins.
Their only other close encounter this season was a four-point loss to Richmond in round five.
It was both reward for effort and inaccuracy from the Kangaroos that gave the Lions the win, with North Melbourne booting eight behinds to three goals, while the Lions made the most of their opportunities.
Dakota Davidson of the Lions celebrates a goal against North Melbourne in round seven. Credit:Dylan Burns, Getty Images
North Melbourne won the inside 50 count (by 20) and possessions (209 to 192) but Brisbane made the most of their moments, such as a brilliant passage from Ruby Svarc in the second quarter.
The 29-year-old ran the length of the ground and followed through to lay a tackle near the goal square, win the ball back and boot a well-earned goal.
“I thought we were outplayed in a lot of areas,” Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich told Fox Footy. “Their top five players … they all had big games. So, we’re probably lucky to get away with not playing at our best but still getting the points.
“They’re the sort of wins that you need if you’re going to have a half decent season when you’re not quite at your best.”
It could have been the Kangaroos’ day had it not been for some wayward kicks. Tahlia Randall provided a great target up forward but struggled to convert, finishing the day with three behinds.
Skipper Emma Kearney, however, booted her first this season late in the third term and had 19 disposals. She was put into the midfield late in the game to get to work in the engine room alongside Ash Riddell (22 disposals) and Jasmine Garner (21 disposals).
North Melbourne: 1.2 2.5 3.6 3.8 (26)
Brisbane: 2.0 3.1 5.3 5.3 (33)
GOALS
North Melbourne: King, Wall, Kearney.
Brisbane: Hodder, Wardlaw, R. Svarc, Davidson, Bodey.
BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Kearney, Bruton, Brown.
Brisbane: Anderson, Grider, Koenen, Dawes, C. Svarc.
Rowbottom leads Suns to victory over Swans
In the battle at the coalface between the two most recent No.1 draft picks Gold Coast’s Charlie Rowbottom left victorious over Sydney’s Montana Ham, with the Suns securing a 34-point win over the Swans in wet conditions at Henson Park.
Charlie Rowbottom pictured during round seven. Credit:Mark Kolbe, Getty Images
Both big-bodied midfielders had an impact on the game, with Rowbottom finishing with 22 disposals, eight clearances and five tackles, while Ham had 15 disposals, four clearances and five tackles.
While the Suns player had more influence, she also has an extra season under her belt than her Swans counterpart.
Rowbottom was also better supported in the engine room by Claudia Whitfort (19 disposals) and Alison Drennan (19 disposals), allowing her to play both inside and outside, and have more options to clear the ball.
Overall, Gold Coast were able to move the ball with more control and provide their forwards with opportunities to goal, with 44 inside 50s to 26. This was while Sydney’s inexperience had them on the backfoot ever since Rebecca Privitelli’s first goal was answered in opening minutes of the game.
Despite Sydney forcing opposition errors in the opening half with pressure, fatigue set in during the third quarter, which the Suns capitalised on and doubled-down on good fundamentals to win the game.
Privitelli also booted the Swans’ only other goal of the game, whereas the Suns had five contributors to goal, including captain Tara Bohanna, who is leading her side’s goal count this season.
The win keeps Gold Coast in finals contention, one win out of the eight with three rounds to go. They next play flag favourites Melbourne, then Carlton, both on their home turf at Metricon Stadium.
Sydney: 1.0 1.1 2.2 2.3 (15)
Gold Coast: 2.3 4.5 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Sydney: Privitelli 2.
Gold Coast: Jones 2, Dupuy 2, Whitford, Bohanna, Meyer.
BEST
Sydney: Privitelli, Ham, Hurley, Skinner, Dargan.
Gold Coast: Rowbottom, Whitfort, Drennan, Bohanna, Dupuy.
Adelaide goes for the kill in final quarter
Adelaide stormed home against a courageous Fremantle, who kept them in an arm wrestle until the final break, to secure an 18-point victory at Unley Oval.
The reigning premiers were kept goalless in the first and third term and trailed by nine-points at three-quarter-time, but booted four unanswered goals in the final quarter. Three of those were in the first six minutes, off the boots of Ashleigh Woodland, Chelsea Randall and Caitlin Gould, in a fast-firing display of dominance that told the Dockers they wouldn’t be beaten on home turf.
Sealing the deal with just over two minutes in the game was Danielle Ponter, who iced the cake for the Crows after a slow start and gave Adelaide their third consecutive win.
Ebony Marinoff of the Crows and Hayley Miller of the Dockers in action.Credit:Sarah Reed, Getty Images
Although Fremantle have just one win this season, they can walk away knowing they put up a good fight against a top-tier side – one that didn’t concede a single goal in the last two weeks coming into the match.
It was a high-pressured contest with the two leading tacklers in the competition, Kiara Bowers and Ebony Marinoff, going head-to-head. Bowers finished with 19 tackles, 29 disposals and 11 clearances, while Marinoff had 32 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances. Anne Hatchard was also extremely influential, with 28 disposals, eight tackles and 12 clearances.
Adelaide: 0.0 3.3 3.4 7.7 (49)
Fremantle: 1.0 3.1 5.1 5.1 (31)
GOALS
Adelaide: Randall 2, Woodland 2, Gould 2, Ponter.
Fremantle: Franklin, Roux, Seth, Hyde, Strom.
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Hatchard, Charlton, Randall, Gould.
Fremantle: Bowers, O’Driscoll, Gore, Verrier, Kauffman.
Brisbane: Anderson, Grider, Koenen, Dawes, C. Svarc.
