Jasmine Garner surely bolstered her chances of winning North Melbourne’s best and fairest award after leading the Roos to a 25-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday, keeping them in the hunt for the top four.
The 28-year-old finished with a game-high 27 disposals, along with two goals, nine marks and five tackles. Alice O’Loughlin also had a great game with two majors and Emma Kearney was prolific with 21 disposals.
The Power took the Roos to task in the first half, keeping North Melbourne to just a three-point lead at the main change. Yet despite being good in the contest, Port Adelaide lacked connection and flow in their ball movement.
Jasmine Garner in action during round eight. Credit:Sarah Reed, Getty Images
Vice-captain Ange Foley had a day out, including booting a goal from 55-metre, but the Kangaroos’ experience won out in the second half of the game in which they turned it up a notch, with the expansion team unable to match.
It could have been a far bigger blowout had the Kangaroos kicked straight, after finishing the day with seven goals to 11 behinds. Inaccuracy could be their biggest opponent leading into the final two rounds, with wayward kicks plaguing them all season.
North Melbourne next play top-four challengers Collingwood then Richmond, while Port Adelaide face St Kilda then Essendon.
Port Adelaide’s Maria Moloney under pressure. Credit:Sarah Reed, Getty Images
Port Adelaide: 3.1 4.2 4.3 4.5 (29)
North Melbourne: 2.2 4.5 5.8 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Foley, Houghton, Mules, Johnson
North Melbourne: O’Loughlin 2, Garner 2, Randall, E King, Abbatangelo
BEST
Port Adelaide: Foley, Ewings, Yorston, Boag, Phillips
North Melbourne: Garner, Kearney, Riddell, Abbatangelo, Brown
Bombers keep Sydney winless in close battle of the expansion teams
Sophie Alexander kicked back-to-back goals for the Bombers. Credit:Dylan Burns, Getty Images
Expansion side Essendon find themselves one win out of the eight after holding off a lively Sydney on Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park with a four-point victory in the first instalment of the Pride Round double-header.
After a tight contest, the Swans recorded their highest score at 44 points and showed signs of promise, but remain without a win as Essendon nudged their way onto the victor’s list and up the ladder, leapfrogging Hawthorn and Carlton.
Essendon were down by 10-points at the main change with Sydney applying strong forward pressure and finding more avenues to goal. Yet, two back-to-back goals in the third term, from Sophie Alexander and Cat Phillips, put them right back in it as the Swans seemed to run out of steam.
Senior coach Natalie Wood said she was impressed in her side’s ability to get the game back on their terms in the second half, especially after a big loss to Brisbane two weeks ago.
“We had a focus on being able to respond in the second half, and that’s probably a step forward for us to be able to, I guess, swing some momentum back and really get ourselves back in the game in the third quarter,” said Wood.
“As an expansion team you’re always trying to build. We spoke about at half-time [that] it was a really big opportunity for us to build … I’m really proud for the group, and I think what they have a really good understanding [of] now, eight weeks in, is that getting four points in AFLW is really difficult.
“Getting four points in AFLW is really difficult.”
Essendon coach Natalie Wood
“And, you know, getting a tough one today, the girls need to celebrate that and really enjoy it because it’s hard to get four points. I’m pretty impressed with the group.”
Essendon have a healthy percentage going into the final two rounds but face flag favourites Melbourne next weekend at Casey Fields, then Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval, while Sydney next play Fremantle at Henson Park, then Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Essendon: 3.1 3.3 6.6 7.6 (48)
Sydney: 3.0 5.1 5.2 7.2 (44)
GOALS
Essendon: Bannister 2, Phillips 2, Alexander 2, Toogood
Sydney: Hamilton 2, Dargan 2, Hurley 2, Hurrell
BEST
Essendon: Alexander, Toogood, Cain, Clarke, Wales
Sydney: Lochland, Hurley, A Hamilton, Sheppard, Szigeti
Young stars steal the show in Geelong win over West Coast
In Geelong’s nine-point victory over West Coast, it was the youth on the park that shone bright, particularly 19-year-old Georgie Prespakis, who returned from her two-match ban for a dump tackle with a prolific performance.
The Cats midfielder finished with 21 disposals, 11 tackles and eight clearances at Ikon Park on Saturday. Yet despite having a remarkable season and polling high in the coaches votes, her suspension keeps her out of W Award contention.
Joining Prespakis in midfield dominance was Nina Morrison, who finished with 19 disposals and four tackles, despite having surgery for an open dislocation in her finger earlier in the week, and Darcy Moloney, who was strong around the contest.
The Cats celebrate a win during Pride Round.Credit:Dylan Burns, Getty Images
For West Coast, 17-year-old Ella Roberts booted the opening goal and continued to show development in her game in the forward line.
Eagles teenager Charlotte Thomas played a pivotal role in defence, applying pressure to an attacking Cats side and having a hand in Geelong’s inaccurate 10 behinds to four goals.
Veterans Emma Swanson (24 disposals) and Dana Hooker (20 disposals) were also influential.
In unfortunate news, developing Greater Western Sydney young gun Emily Pease will miss the remainder of the season after tearing her ACL at training during the week, the club confirmed on Saturday.
Giants coach Cam Bernasconi said it was really disappointing news.
“She’s been having a wonderful season, and we’re going to miss having her out there for the rest of this year. We’ll support Em in every way, and we know this is just a minor setback in what will be a long and successful AFLW career.”
Geelong: 1.4 1.6 4.8 4.10 (34)
West Coast: 1.0 1.0 3.1 4.1 (25)
GOALS
Geelong: Crockett-Grills, Moloney, Scheer, Scott
West Coast: Roberts, Schmidt, Hooker, Humphries
BEST
Geelong: Prespakis, Moloney, Morrison, Fuller, McDonald,
West Coast: Roberts, Swanson, Hooker, Thomas, McCarthy
