AFLW Finals Week 1: Recap
Demons history makers, Roos find it easy, Swans book a semi and the Hawks win their first final
by Keenan D'Souza
The AFLW couldn’t ask for a better first week of a hyped-up finals series: week 1 of the AFLW finals had everything.
The Demons beat the Cats by 4 points at Ikon Park, as they record the largest comeback in AFLW history, with a 28-point resurgence that booked their ticket to another preliminary final. The Cats looked unstoppable. Unlikely goal kicker Becky Webster opened the game’s account up for an early major, before her side took in a 32-10 half time lead. The game ballooned out to a 28-point lead when Aishling Moloney snapped through her first goal, however this storied Melbourne outfit went on a 34-2 run to cap off the game to win another final. Forward Chloe Scheer had a chance late when an errant kick from Amy McDonald landed directly in her chest. Scheer, about 15 metres out directly in front, missed what would have been the match winning goal.
The Demons await their preliminary final opponents, whilst the Cats will lick their wounds and prepare for a semi-final match up with the Swans next Saturday.
The Kangaroos do what they do best and win, this time over Carlton at Ikon Park 49-13, with the two-time reigning premiers making short work of the Blues, who were able to manage a 2-point advantage at quarter time. Kate Shierlaw booted the first major of the match early in the 2nd quarter, before North went on to snag another 3 goals to go into the half time break with a 23-point lead. Jenna Bruton signed off on her 100th match with a goal in the 3rd quarter. Superstar duo Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell had 31and 33 disposals respectively, whilst Jasmine Ferguson had a game high 7 marks. North Melbourne didn’t go unscathed however, with Alice O’Loughlin helped off in tears after hurting her knee in the last quarter.
The Roos will again play in a preliminary final, whilst Carlton utilise their double chance and play Hawthorn in the Semi-final.
Sydney dismantled the Bulldogs with a 29-point triumph in a wet and windy 46-17 elimination final win at Henson Park. Captain Lucy McEvoy wasted no time, slotting through the game’s first goal with just 19 seconds docked off the clock, equalling the fastest goal in an AFLW final. The champion Chloe Molloy - the league’s leading goal scorer - played a role in defence, yet as Chloe Molloy usually does, she still added a goal to the stat sheet, along with 12 intercepts and 14 contested possessions. Tanya Kennedy held Dogs co-captain Isabelle Pritchard to 14 disposals, with the Bulldogs managing just 1.1 (7) in the second term. Sydney will now travel to Geelong to face the Cats.
Hawthorn has finally won its first AFLW final, besting the Suns away from home by 18 points at People First Stadium. The Hawks lost their last 4 finals, bowing out in straight sets fortwo years in a row, but a commanding 3rd quarter saw the club finally get that monkey off their back. Eliza West was best on ground after a 29 disposal one-goal game, whilst her teammate Laura Stone had two majors over her own. Hayley McLaughlin, Jasmine Fleming and Casey Sherriff all registered a calm 20 touches each. For the Gold Coast, who were also in search of their club’s first finals win, sisters Georja and Darcie Davies were amongst the team’s best. Hawthorn will now return to Melbourne and play the Blues in a do or die semi-final on Saturday.
AFLW Finals Week 1 Results:
Melbourne 56–52 Geelong (Qualifying Final)
North Melbourne 49–13 Carlton (Qualifying Final)
Sydney 46–17 Western Bulldogs (Elimination Final)
Hawthorn 57–39 Gold Coast (Elimination Final)
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