THERE'S been a few alterations since Monday, but it's still a blockbuster round of footy.

We'll have a much better picture of how sides are placed at the conclusion of round three of the NAB AFLW competition, with a series of games between relatively even sides.

GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS

7.10pm AEDT, Friday, February 12
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, Vic

• Of immediate concern to Geelong is scoring just three majors across two matches (admittedly against pace-setters North Melbourne and Collingwood), including six goalless quarters. Despite losing two matches, the Cats have laid the equal-second fewest tackles this season.
• A third Friday night match for the high-scoring, free-flowing Dogs, who are starting to hit their groove, and confidence will be up after a breakthrough win last week. The Bulldogs aren't getting too much of the footy (ranked second-last for disposal), but using it well when they have it.
• Tip: Two sides who have had contrasting fortunes so far this year, and who have historically struggled with consistent form. The Dogs' momentum might carry them over the line here, eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Bulldogs

GWS v GOLD COAST

3.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Blacktown International Sportspark, NSW

• After weeks on the road in pre-season and round one, two consecutive home games are just what the doctor ordered for the Giants. Coach Alan McConnell has highlighted the team's disposal (41 per cent efficiency against Adelaide) as an area of concern.
• The Suns will be desperate to get at least one goal after the board after a dismal two-point effort last week against Brisbane. They took just one mark inside 50 for the game and allowed 22 up the other end.
• Tip: A difficult one to call, with both sides coming off a poor performance. The last time these played resulted in a one-point win to the Giants, but the Suns might just get over the line here. Four points.

WATCH IT LIVE Giants v Suns

ST KILDA v CARLTON

5.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
RSEA Park, Moorabbin, Vic

• St Kilda have alternatively dominated and been dominated in its games this year. With Caitlin Greiser, Jacqui Vogt, Kate Shierlaw and Darcy Guttridge, the Saints have the potential to score quickly, but struggled to translate their possession into a meaningful tally against North Melbourne.
• It's starting to get a little serious for pre-season premiership fancy Carlton, sitting at 0-2 in a nine-round season. The inclusions of defenders Mua Laloifi (concussion) and Gab Pound (hand) and midfielder Lucy McEvoy (cheekbone) will help enormously.
• Tip: Patrikios v Prespakis, yes please. The two former Calder Cannons teammates will face off in the middle of the ground, but it's the latter looking likely to finish with the choccies. Blues by 17 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Blues

MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE

7.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Casey Fields, Vic

• Melbourne has done everything asked of it in the first two rounds of the season, seeing off second-year clubs Gold Coast and Richmond. Conceding early majors would be a bit of a concern, but the number of goals they've created at their end (16 in two weeks, equal-second highest) would please coach Mick Stinear.
• Similarly, North Melbourne has ticked every box in front of it thus far. The Roos are winning plenty of the footy (ranked second for disposal), controlling play (second for marks) and converting inside 50 (equal-second for goals).
• Tip: By the end of this match, one team will have lost their first game for the season. Despite the somewhat chaotic conditions the blustery Casey Fields can throw up, the powerful Kangaroos should hold firm. North by 22 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Demons v Kangaroos

ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE

12.40pm ACDT, Sunday, February 14
Norwood Oval, SA

• Is the rampaging Adelaide back as one of the premier sides of the competition? Early signs indicate yes, although their two wins have come against strugglers West Coast and GWS. Danielle Ponter's habit of converting one goal into three is proving to be a dangerous one for opposition sides.
• The all-conquering Dockers head to Adelaide, having just overtaken the Crows' own record for consecutive wins (now nine straight). There'll be a few battered bodies after playing in a torrential downpour, and accuracy will be front of mind after kicking 2.11.
• Tip: Will Chelsea Randall return to her defensive roots to take on the equally athletic Gemma Houghton? This match is very much a flip of a coin, but the Crows' midfield depth may be too much. Crows by five points.

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Dockers

RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD

3.10pm AEDT, Sunday, February 14
Swinburne Centre, Vic

• We're fast becoming accustomed to rescheduled games, and at the start of the week, Richmond was drawn to play West Coast and Collingwood to make the trip north to face Brisbane.
• Despite boasting some high-profile forwards in Katie Brennan and Sabrina Frederick, the Tigers have kicked just three goals across two games. Inaccuracy and supply have been issues, but they simply need to get on the board more to win games.
• Collingwood steadily dismantled Geelong, proving they have too many threats all over the park. Ruby Schleicher is becoming a genuine rebound defender, while the pacey Sarah Rowe slotted in perfectly across half-forward after missing round one with a shoulder injury.
• Tip: The Tigers were hoping to break their duck against West Coast, but a fixture reshuffle proved that was not to be. Unfortunately, that win is now unlikely to come this weekend. Pies by 28 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Magpies

BRISBANE v WEST COAST

4.15pm AEST, Monday February 15
Hickey Park, Qld

• Brisbane nearly played a perfect match against Gold Coast, holding their intrastate rivals to just two points while kicking 10 goals. The Lions appear to have a good mix of experience and youth, with the latter – led by Nat Grider, Belle Dawes, Jesse Wardlaw and Dakota Davidson – beginning to dictate matches.
• West Coast lost no admirers for its tough performance in soggy conditions against Fremantle, with Mikayla Bowen and a much-improved Belinda Smith among those trying their hearts out. After needing to dip into top-up players to fill the emergency slots, Melissa Caulfield (hamstring) and Maddy Collier (concussion) are now available.
• Tip: Lions have too much momentum at the moment, and the Eagles are making one of the longest trips in footy from Perth to Brisbane. Lions by 32 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Eagles

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GREATER Western Sydney has inflicted more pain on Gold Coast, getting off the mark for 2021 with a 10-point win at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday afternoon.

With rain sweeping the ground through most of the match, scoring was difficult, but two first-quarter goals from the Giants was enough to eke out a 2.6 (18) to 1.2 (8) victory.

GIANTS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

Alyce Parker was magnificent for the winners, racking up 24 disposals, including six clearances, and laying five tackles.

Rebecca Beeson (24) was also terrific, while captain Alicia Eva (14 and a goal) and Elle Bennetts (15) were also strong contributors.

Once Alan McConnell's team established a healthy 16-point lead at half-time, their defence held up brilliantly, repeatedly turning away Gold Coast's forward forays.

The Suns generated 21 inside 50s, but managed just three scoring shots, while the powerhouse Giants thrived with the ball on the ground.

After scoring a record low two points against Brisbane last round, Gold Coast looked like equalling the mark before a goal from Jamie Stanton with two minutes remaining gave them faint hope.

Alison Drennan was tireless, gathering 21 disposals, including nine clearances, and 12 tackles, while Stanton (18 and a goal) also impressed.

The Suns remain one of four winless teams in the competition.

The first blow     
Two Giants called into the 21 this week got their team off to the perfect start – and it ended up being a decisive blow in the slippery conditions. Tait Mackrill played-on from a free kick 60m out from goal and expertly pumped the ball long to the advantage of Taylah Davies who juggled the wet ball before clutching it to her chest. The 26-year-old then calmly went back and drilled the goal from an angle to give the Giants a lead they never relinquished.

The hero
The Giants had many good players, but it was All Australian Alyce Parker who stood tall. Parker earned an equal match high 24 disposals with Rebecca Beeson, but it was her power running from contest to contest to help create an overlap of numbers that stood out the most. Not only did she win six clearances at the coalface, but also won six intercept possessions to show her two-way running. It's easy to see why Parker is the early season leader for disposals in the competition.

Did you see that?
With the Suns struggling early on, coach David Lake did not waste any time before switching things up. As the teams came out for the second quarter, he threw Sarah Perkins – starved of opportunities for the previous five quarters – into the ruck. Perkins gave the Suns some life around the contest and was also responsible for setting up their only goal. Deep in the fourth quarter, the Adelaide premiership player ripped the ball straight out of the ruck from a throw-up and kicked it forward to find Jamie Stanton for a mark and goal. Could we see this more in the future?

Say what?
"I think the way we prepared was always going to be, not necessarily with the weather in mind, but to certainly play a more combative brand of footy than we have been, because I felt like we haven't really stood for much in the last couple of weeks. It was nice to see we put our stamp on the game like we did." – GWS coach Alan McConnell

"I thought we started a little bit slow, we should have been getting inside 30, getting the footy in a bit further. We just got to the top of 50. GWS took advantage of that and were able to go the other way. We probably didn't defend hard enough in the early part of the game." – Gold Coast coach David Lake

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     2.3     2.5     2.6     2.6     (18)
GOLD COAST                               0.0     0.1     0.1     1.2     (8)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Davies, Eva
Gold Coast: Stanton 

BEST 
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Beeson, Bennetts, Eva, Stephenson, Tully
Gold Coast: Drennan, Ahrens, Stanton, Levi, Surman

INJURIES 
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil 

Reports: Nil

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