Dockers veteran Ebony Antonio was emotional after Fremantle’s 14-point win over Sydney on Saturday, admitting it had been a tough road back to what was her return game.
Antonio was previously sidelined with a posterior cruciate ligament injury while her side struggled to notch premiership points, but both changed their fortunes at Henson Park.
“I’m actually really emotional. [It’s] been a tough journey, it’s been a tough year for the group, and I’m just so proud,” she told Fox Footy after the victory in her 50th game.
Ebony Antonio celebrates with teammates. Credit:Brendon Thorne, Getty Images
“It hasn’t been the best season. We have really high expectations of our group and the girls have been down at times, but there’s one thing for sure, we’re a really special group, and we’ve been united within the four walls of Freo footy club.”
The 30-year-old star forward was prolific and finished with 15 disposals and a goal. Teammate Kiara Bowers also had an impressive game with 20 tackles, 19 disposals and eight clearances, and skipper Hayley Miller had 27 disposals and eight inside 50s.
Antonio admitted earlier in the week via social media it was a “bittersweet moment” to be playing her 50th game after a “rough few months”, citing health struggles and thanking her cardiologist and Freo’s medical and high-performance team.
“During the pre-season I found myself in a situation where I thought I was done due to a health diagnosis. After numerous tests and a minor procedure I was only just recently given the green light to continue my AFLW career,” she posted to Instagram.
“In a blessing in disguise, the PCL injury allowed me to focus on my health.”
Sydney: 2.0 2.1 4.3 4.4 (28)
Fremantle: 2.0 3.2 5.5 6.6 (42)
GOALS
Sydney: Hurley, Ham, Lochland, Privitelli.
Fremantle: Webb 2, Antonio, Gore, Miller, East
BEST
Sydney: Ham, Smith, Szigeti, Lochland, A. Hamilton.
Fremantle: Miller, Bowers, Runnalls, Strom, Gore.
Kangaroos find their kicking boots
After consistently booting more behinds than goals this season – including 10 goals to 20 behinds in the previous two rounds – North Melbourne finally found their kicking boots in a 32-point win, 9.3 (57) to 4.1 (25), over Collingwood on Saturday afternoon.
Contributing to the scoreline was seven different goalkickers, including two from Charli Granville, who replaced an unwell Sophie Abbatangelo. With Abbatangelo back next week, North Melbourne have plenty of depth to choose from when it comes to the forward line.
Notably, Tahlia Randall also kicked two, putting some of the yips she was plagued with earlier in the season to bed.
Mikala Cann of the Magpies and Erika O’Shea of the Kangaroos compete for the ball. Credit:Dylan Burns, Getty Images
North Melbourne’s win could be put down to their run, spread and carry – along with kicking straight – as they were able to find and use space to their advantage and create more avenues to goal. The Kangaroos finished with almost double the amount of inside 50s – 38 to 21 – and twice as many marks inside 50.
Collingwood lost a few key players to injuries. Ash Brazill was a late out due to a pulled adductor at training and Ruby Schleicher took a knock to her hip, which saw her miss the latter half of the game.
The comprehensive victory keeps the Kangaroos in the hunt for a top-four finish. While still out of it on percentage, a win against Richmond next week could see them slot in. For the Pies, a win on Saturday would have locked in their double chance, but now they have the tough ask of beating Brisbane on the road next weekend.
Collingwood: 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.1 (25)
North Melbourne: 1.1 6.1 7.2 9.3 (57)
GOALS
Collingwood: Molloy, James, Brown, Chiocci.
North Melbourne: Granville 2, Randall 2, Eddey, E. King, Garner, Wall, O’Loughlin.
BEST
Collingwood: Molloy, Allen, Lambert, Chiocci, Butler.
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bresnehan, Bruton, Randall.
Bulldogs set for finals, McLeod subbed out early in return game
Kirsten McLeod made her long-awaited return after spending over 575 days on the sideline due to the ongoing effects of concussion, but it was short-lived with the Bulldogs forward going down with an ankle injury just minutes into the first quarter.
The 28-year-old was subbed out in a cruel twist of fate, but the Dogs still got the job done without her against West Coast, securing a 32-point win on Saturday afternoon.
Kirsten McLeod was injured minutes into her return game. Credit:Daniel Carson, Getty Images
The win sets the Western Bulldogs up for a good chance to play finals with one round to go, as they remain in the cusp of the eight – one win ahead of Gold Coast, who are in ninth spot.
While the Eagles put up a good fight, the Bulldogs had better control of the ball over the four quarters, winning the possessions, inside 50s, and clearances.
The Bulldogs had more pressure with 61 tackles to 37, Kirsty Lamb and Alice Edmonds contributing eight each to the count, while Edmonds also had an impressive 23 hit-outs.
In West Coast’s last home game for the season, Ashleigh Gomes got a goal in her debut and Emma Swanson had a match-high 28 disposals, followed by teammate Belinda Smith on 23.
West Coast: 0.3 0.3 2.4 3.5 (23)
Western Bulldogs: 3.1 3.2 6.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
West Coast: Lewis, Gomes, Hartill.
Western Bulldogs: Berry 2, Hartwig 2, Cranston, Bateman, Newton, Brown.
BEST
West Coast: Swanson, Smith, Lewis, Thomas, Roberts
Western Bulldogs: Lamb, Berry, Edmonds, Pritchard, Blackburn
