THE FINALS picture will look a lot clearer at the conclusion of this weekend, with a number of "eight-point" matches in the round six fixture.

Supporters will not be permitted to attend NAB AFLW matches from Saturday, March 14, due to the everchanging nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday, March 13

Geelong v North Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT

• Geelong is now two from two after dropping its first three matches. The forward line has been continually tweaked, but the combination of Phoebe McWilliams, Kate Darby, Anna Teague and Georgia Clarke seems to have done the trick.
• While the Kangaroos can't completely guarantee themselves a finals spot if they get this win over the line, the wheels would have to fall off and spontaneously combust for the team to miss April action, if indeed they get Friday night's four points.
• Tip: North Melbourne is on a roll, and while Geelong plays well at home, the Kangaroos' midfield runs just too deep. Roos by 19 points.

Saturday, March 14

Brisbane v Collingwood, Hickey Park, 2.10pm AEST

• Brisbane suffered its first loss for the year, falling to Fremantle on Sunday. The Lions have once again benefited from a healthy list this season, but looked somewhat literally off the pace against the rampaging Dockers.
• It's been an up-and-down – but still vastly improved – season from Collingwood this year, but the Magpies will take some confidence from their comfortable win over Western Bulldogs. Chloe Molloy's best position for the side – forward, midfield or even back to defence – is still to be determined.
• Tip: As a cross-conference game, this has big ramifications for both sides, with effectively a bonus four points on offer. Brisbane has been more consistent this season, and should just get over the line by five points.

St Kilda v Richmond, RSEA Park, 5.10pm AEDT

• The Saints had their opportunities but were ultimately outclassed by Carlton last week. They've been competitive in most games, but have struggled to hit the scoreboard, kicking the second-fewest goals this year.
• Richmond's winless season rolls on. It's been a frustrating season for the Tigers, who have kicked the third-fewest goals, given away the most free kicks and conceded the highest number of points.
• Tip: St Kilda has been close in a number of games this year, but will be too strong for the beleaguered Richmond. Saints by 17 points.

Melbourne v Carlton, TIO Traeger Park, 6.10pm ACST

• Melbourne comfortably has the strongest defence in the competition, conceding just 16.8 points a match. The addition of Libby Birch has been enormous, as has the move of Daisy Pearce behind the ball.
• Carlton's defence hasn't been quite as stingy, but Kerryn Harrington and Charlotte Wilson are building some good form together. Both are capable of strong intercept marks and have neat foot skills, setting up the rebound well.
• Tip: Second v third in Conference B, this is crunch time. The winner of the Alice Springs clash will have a handy four-point buffer over the loser, the latter falling back into the chasing pack. Blues by three points.

Sunday, March 15

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, VU Whitten Oval, 1.10pm AEDT

• Things are starting to unravel at VU Whitten Oval. The Dogs sit 11th for disposals, last for long kicks, second-last for contested possessions but oddly enough, second for clearances.
• It's just full-steam ahead for Fremantle. The Dockers are only the second team to be undefeated after five rounds, with Brisbane in 2017 also notching up the achievement.
• Tip: Fremantle isn't quite as strong on the road as it is at home, but the Dockers will be too powerful up forward for the Bulldogs. Dockers by 26 points.

Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney, Hisense Stadium, 2.40pm ACDT

• Adelaide has one of the longest injury lists in the competition, but will be hoping Erin Phillips (soreness) and Eloise Jones (shoulder) are available for this must-win clash. Scoring once inside 50 is a huge issue; the Crows are last-place in the competition with a percentage rate of just 24.1.
• GWS is facing a season-defining fortnight with matches against fellow Conference A sides Adelaide and Geelong. Star midfielder Alyce Parker bounced back to her best against Richmond, finishing with 24 disposals (up from 11 the week before).
• Tip: Both sides have been hot and cold at the best of times this year, but Adelaide just runs a little deeper. Crows by seven points.

West Coast v Gold Coast, Mineral Resources Park, 2.10pm AWST

• West Coast would be hoping to rebound after a very poor performance against a strong Melbourne side. Hitting the scoreboard has been the biggest issue; the Eagles are averaging a competition-low 15.4 points a match.
• Gold Coast is facing the second leg of a fairly hellish travel schedule, backing up a game in Mackay with one in Perth. The Suns tired as last week's game progressed – could it be an issue again?
• Tip: The Suns are still the most outside of chances of making finals and have more to play for. Gold Coast by 14 points.

CARLTON has delivered Melbourne's second defeat of the year and strengthened its finals hopes at the same time in a crucial result at Alice Springs' Traeger Park.

The Blues did little more than hang in the contest in the opening half but dominated from the restart, keeping the Demons goalless to post a 6.4 (40) to 3.6 (24) triumph.

They climbed into second spot in Conference B in the process, after Collingwood briefly leapfrogged them courtesy of its impressive victory over Brisbane earlier on Saturday.

DEES v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

Melbourne is also still in the top three, but the loss was a body blow with two rounds to go, particularly knowing how agonisingly short it has fallen in previous seasons.

Reigning NAB AFLW Rising Star Madison Prespakis was outstanding and arguably the best player afield, gathering 23 disposals and kicking a 40m goal on the run early in the final term.

Prespakis and the creative Chloe Dalton were excellent even when their teammates weren't but Carlton came to life once the likes of Lucy McEvoy, Tayla Harris, Georgia Gee and Grace Egan rose to the occasion.

Natalie Plane, Gabriella Pound and Vaomua Laloifi were other strong performers as the Blues improved to a 5-1 record.

The Demons should have been further in front than eight points at half-time, amassing double as many inside 50s (15-8) and uncontested possessions (73-36).

WATCH IT LIVE How to follow the AFLW this weekend

Karen Paxman won a match-high 27 possessions and Kate Hore exploded out of the blocks with nine of her 19 touches by quarter-time, including a goal of the year contender.

Melbourne will also rue a number of wasted opportunities in front of goal in the third quarter, with none of Aliesha Newman, Tegan Cunningham, Maddison Gay and Elise O'Dea capitalising.

Hooray for Hore
AFLW fans are used to watching Kate Hore highlights but she took her electrifying play to another level in the opening term.

Not only was Hore a strong contributor but she is now the clubhouse leader for goal of the year.

She received the Sherrin on the wing, took three bounces in charging inside 50, chipped a pass to Niamh McEvoy that fell short, kept running, got the ball back and snapped a terrific goal.

Hore deservedly came to the bench for a rest afterwards.

Waiting for scans
Demon Sarah Lampard suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture to her right knee two years ago and could face another extended stint on the sidelines.

The 22-year-old collided with Carlton forward Darcy Vescio in the third term and instantly grabbed for her left knee once she hit the ground.

The game was stopped as Lampard was stretchered from Traeger Park.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

Harris proves her ground-level wares
Star Blue Tayla Harris is supposed to be "useless" once the ball hits the deck, or at least that was Collingwood defender Stacey Livingstone's take.

There might need to be a rethink on that theory after Harris' effort on Saturday night.

Harris took only two marks – one of them preceding a set-shot goal – but had a hand in plays that led to majors for Brooke Walker, Georgia Gee and Grace Egan after winning ground-balls.

There was also her huge, and fair, hit on Maddie Gay in the third term that left the Demon down for a short period.

Walking wounded
This was a physical contest all night in Alice Springs' heat, with a number of players going down during the match.

Kerryn Harrington had her jaw inspected in the first quarter, not long before Aliesha Newman's head crashed into the ground in a tackle from Madison Prespakis.

Both players returned but Harrington was bleeding from the nose after another altercation later in the night.

Melbourne's Sinead Goldrick also left the game in the second term with a 'corkie' after copping an accidental knee.

Say what?
"I was absolutely cooked when I got to the end of that and I'm just glad I put it through in the end." – Demons forward Kate Hore on her goal of the year contender

"It was a very hard hitout but it was great I got to see some of my cousins who live here and that made (the win) even more special … we won a really important game and it just shows how hard we worked over the pre-season together and it really (comes out) in games like this." – Carlton midfielder Madison Prespakis

What's next?
Carlton returns to the familiar confines of Ikon Park next Saturday to take on newcomer West Coast, while Melbourne's season could be on the line against the high-flying Dockers at Fremantle Oval a day later.

MELBOURNE  2.3       3.3       3.5       3.6 (24)
CARLTON        1.1       2.1       4.1       6.4 (40)

GOALS
Melbourne: Hore, Perkins, Scott 
Carlton: Walker 2, Gee, Harris, Egan, Prespakis

BEST 
Melbourne: Paxman, Hore, Gay, Sherriff, O'Dea, Pearce
Carlton: Prespakis, Plane, Dalton, McEvoy, Harris, Laloifi

INJURIES
Melbourne: Lampard (left knee), Goldrick (leg)
Carlton: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Melbourne: Nil
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Bailes, Porter, Toner