Round 12 AFLW Recap
Molloy’s record day as Swans down Dockers, Roos finish top and Hawks round out the Top Eight
by Keenan D'Souza
Chloe Molloy put together a player of the week performance, kicking four majors to pull Sydney ahead of Fremantle in a one-point nailbiter to become the league’s leading goalkicker. Beating the Dockers 37-36 at Cockburn ARC Oval, Molloy snagged four of her side’s five goals, finishing the season with an AFLW record 27 goals. Fremantle used the infamous “Wharfie Time” to wrestle some momentum, but that pesky defender, Chloe Molloy, dropped back and took a match-saving mark in defence. This is the Swans' ninth win of the year, a club record, earning the women’s program their first ever home final berth. The win wasn’t without trouble, though, as Caitlin Reid left the game prematurely due to a head clash with Hayley Miller in the first period.
North Melbourne has finished on top again, beating the Tigers by a huge 68 points at Windy Hill. North kicked 7 goals in a row to begin the contest, Richmond without a major during the first half. The Skipper, Jasmine Garner, had 28 touches, while Tahlia Randall kicked three goals in the second half to finish the home and away season on 25, just short of Molloy’s tally. Richmond superstar Monique Conti had a game-high 33 disposals and 9 clearances.
Geelong have locked in a top 2 finish for the first time in its women’s division, with a 68-point shellacking over the Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium. Jackie Parry kicked a monster 5 goal bag. The Bulldogs had some notable outs, including Isabelle Pritchard, Ellie Blackburn and Jess Fitzgerald, and they could not match the dominant Cats, who finished with just one loss for the entire regular season and winning eleven in a row.
Carlton locked in a top 4 spot with a 5-point win over the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena. The Blues were down a dismal 22 points at half time but resurrected to kick 5 goals in the second half. Star Sophie McKay kicked all three of her goals in the second half, including the lead snatching maximum with less than 3 minutes left and Irish talent Erone Fitzpatrick had an impressive 27 disposals and 2 goal assists. The Lions finished off the game in disappointing fashion ending a disappointing season.
Hawthorn have booked their ticket to the post season for the third season in a row with a 55-point demolition over the Eagles. It was Hawthorn’s highest-ever score in an AFLW game, scoring 94 points built off five unanswered goals in the second period. Hawthorn dominated inside F50 entries 52-19, almost doubling clearance 33-19. The records don’t stop there; Eliza West set a club record, 14 clearances, and Lucy Wales achieving both 27 disposals and 27 hit outs. The Eagles horror day only got worse when star Ella Roberts went down with a knee injury within the first minute, later revealing a ruptured ACL. She will miss the 2027 AFLW season.
The Suns were victorious on the weekend but agonisingly missed a top 4 berth by 0.2 per cent despite beating GWS 62-53. The Suns needed a big win to secure that top 4 finish, but GWS had other ideas, leading by 11 heading into the last quarter. Early goals to Sunny Lappin and Anne Hatchard put the Suns in front for good.
Melbourne secured another top 4 finish with a scrappy win over Adelaide at Unley Oval in torrential conditions. The Dees rested stalwarts Paxy Paxman and Olivia Purcell, but players like Ryleigh Wotherspoon stepped up, kicking 3 majors. Adelaide, a usual contender finished the year 5-7, missing finals for just the second time in its existence. Kate Hore looked hurt after a late bump, but coach Wilson assured fans that she will be right to play Geelong in the Qualifying Final.
The Bombers gave coach Natalie Wood an appropriate send off with a seven-point triumph over old enemies Collingwood at home. The Bombers dominated the game, but couldn’t do it where it counts, being wasteful in front of the big sticks, allowing the Pies to get back into the match. Rookie Ash Centra had a ‘Player of the Match’ game with 25 touches, 7 clearances and a goal to garnish. Essendon legend Maddy Prespakis had 34 disposals of her own, doing so with heavy strapping on her quad.
The Power finally ended St Kilda’s disastrous season, winning by a straight kick away from home. In peculiar circumstances, a storm paused the game for almost a whole hour. Matilda Scholz took advantage of the Saints weak ruck stocks but the Saints won’t be upset to see the backside of this season.
AFLW Round 12 Results:
Sydney Swans 37–36 Fremantle
North Melbourne 101–33 Richmond
Geelong 88–20 Western Bulldogs
Carlton 40–35 Brisbane
Hawthorn 94–39 West Coast
Gold Coast 62–53 GWS Giants
Melbourne 47–29 Adelaide Crows
Essendon 38–31 Collingwood
Port Adelaide 51–45 St Kilda
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