ALL EYES will be on North Melbourne and Collingwood clashing under Saturday night lights at Marvel Stadium, in a match which could have lasting effects on the make-up of the finals.

Brisbane versus Adelaide looks to be an intriguing affair on Sunday, while the Western Bulldogs will host Melbourne for the annual Hampson-Hardeman Cup.

Friday, February 19

St Kilda v Geelong at RSEA Park, 7.10pm AEDT

• It will be St Kilda's third game in four weeks at Moorabbin, a ground which can often throw up a tricky wind. The Saints recorded 14 fewer inside 50s and clearances against Carlton last week, but have regained defensive recruit Bianca Jakobsson from a corked back.
• The Cats have now lost three on the trot, and while two have come against top-tier sides North Melbourne and Collingwood, last week's loss to the Dogs would have hurt. There are no big concerns over the midfield core winning the ball or the backline as a whole, but there's a disconnect between the middle and the forward line.
• Tip: This could be quite the torrid affair, with both sides having had a few scoreless quarters this season. It's time for the Cats to break the duck, but it'll be close. Nine points.

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Cats

Saturday, February 20

Carlton v Richmond at Ikon Park, 3.10pm AEDT

• The troops have returned, and Carlton is on the board in 2021. The Blues looked a different side with Mua Laloifi and Gab Pound in defence. Maddy Prespakis saw off Georgia Patrikios, but now another former Calder Cannons teammate in Mon Conti awaits.
• Things seemed to click for Richmond in the last quarter against Collingwood, running in waves and finally converting some chances in front of goal. This is another stern test, and the Blues won't be caught quite as off guard, having seen what the Tigers can do at their best
• Tip: While it won't be quite the comprehensive rout seen in the round one match last year – Richmond's first at AFLW level – Carlton is still a class above the expansion team. Blues by 23 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Blues v Tigers

Fremantle v Gold Coast at Fremantle Oval, 2.10pm AWST

• The Dockers reigned supreme last week, knocking off the might of Adelaide on its own home deck, and recording 10 straight wins in the process. The backline was only caught off guard when Erin Phillips was shifted forward late, and the pressure around the ground forced numerous turnovers from the Crows.
• Things just aren't going to plan for the Suns. They seriously struggled with the wet conditions against the Giants, and while key backs Lauren Ahrens and Jade Pregelj are coping remarkably well with adversity, they'd have less to deal with if the Suns won more ball around the ground.
• Tip: Like last year's semi-final between these two sides (albeit the Suns' fourth consecutive road trip), this could get ugly. The Dockers are at the top of their game, and the Suns are very inexperienced. Dockers by 39 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Suns

North Melbourne v Collingwood at Marvel Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT

• The Roos don't lose often. In fact, last week marked just the fourth time North hadn't sung the song after a game, with two of those losses coming against Melbourne. We're unlikely to see the Roos concede six goals in a quarter again, but this will be far from a walk in the park.
• Collingwood and North are building a nice little rivalry – the Pies lost to the Roos by just two points in last year's semi-final, but got the win with some strong attacking play in January's practice match. New senior assistant coach Scott Gowans will also be carrying some important IP, having coached the Roos for two years before being forced out by a COVID-19-induced restructure.
• Tip: The last time North Melbourne lost two games in a row was in 2019, and the perfect weather conditions under the roof at Marvel should suit their ball movement. This is the match of the round. Roos by three points.

WATCH IT LIVE Kangaroos v Magpies

Sunday, February 21

Brisbane v Adelaide at Hickey Park, 12.10pm AEST

• Brisbane is loving life at the top of the ladder, piling on goals for fun when the need strikes. Sunday proves to be their first big test, the Lions having comfortably accounted for expansion sides Richmond, Gold Coast and West Coast. Veteran forward Lauren Arnell is in career-best form, and keys Dakota Davidson and Jesse Wardlaw are benefiting from her smarts.
• Inaccuracy struck the Crows once again while playing Fremantle, kicking 1.7 and slumping to a 30-point loss. Erin Phillips had an impact when moved forward, but the switch possibly came too late. Skipper Chelsea Randall (concussion) should be a big inclusion this week.
• Tip: These two sides have history, having participated in the first AFLW Grand Final and playing in some tight contests since then. A tough call given the Lions' strong form, but the Crows might just have the edge. Eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Crows

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval, 3.10pm AEDT

• The Dogs will be aiming for three wins in a row for the first time since the end of 2018-start of 2019, but this looms as a big task. Opposition teams have yet to find an answer for Izzy Huntington's marking up forward, or Ellie Blackburn's stellar form around the ground.
• Melbourne should be riding high, having produced some of its best ever footy against North Melbourne, piling on six goals in a quarter. The tall, multi-pronged attack of Tegan Cunningham, Jackie Parry, Eden Zanker and Alyssa Bannan is hard to shut down, with smooth mover Kate Hore the icing on top.
• Tip: The Hampson-Hardeman Cup is hotly contested between two of the forerunners of AFLW football, who played exhibition matches dating back to 2013. Dees should have too many paths to goal though, 19 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Bulldogs v Demons

Greater Western Sydney v West Coast at Blacktown International Sportspark, 5.10pm AEDT

• GWS should have some confidence under its belt after a mature performance against Gold Coast in the wet. Bec Beeson's form in the midfield is building nicely alongside star Alyce Parker, while the backline looked steadier, given it was Lou Stephenson's second match, after missing much of January due to work commitments.
• West Coast produced one outstanding quarter of footy against Brisbane, catching their more experienced opponents on the hop, but inaccuracy killed them, kicking 1.5. If the Eagles can keep up that pressure for longer, they'll be much better placed.
• Tip: Who knows what weather conditions Sydney will throw up this week, but back-to-back trips across the country could affect West Coast. Giants by 14 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Giants v Eagles

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ST KILDA remains in touch with the NAB AFL Women's top eight after landing a knockout blow on Geelong with a third-quarter blitz at RSEA Park on Friday night.

The Saints bombarded the Cats with nine scoring shots in the third term to turn a one-point half-time lead into an unassailable 25-point buffer at the final break.

SAINTS v CATS Full match coverage and stats

Saints spearhead Caitlin Greiser capped her dominant performance with a third major in the final term before two late Geelong goals salvaged some pride in the 7.9 (51) to 3.4 (22) result.

It leaves the Cats winless and anchored to the bottom of the table after four rounds.

Starting in sticky conditions, the Saints suffered a scare in the opening stages when Kate McCarthy was left dazed and taken from the field after a run-down tackle from Cat Sophie Van De Heuvel.

The Saints kicked the only major of the term through Greiser before Cat Rocky Cranston booted her first major of a disappointing season to date to level things up in the second quarter. 

St Kilda could've been further in front at the main break if not for butchering several chances but made up for it with a barrage of entries after half-time.

The side recorded 13-3 inside 50s in the third term alone, the Cats left with few answers to break through a Saints wall across half-forward.

Put through concussion tests in the second quarter, McCarthy returned in the third term and booted the final goal of the match which leaves her side at 2-2 with five rounds remaining.

Saints shoot the lights out
Not even a short-lived concern with the RSEA Park lights could dull the Saints as they delivered a third-term onslaught. The permanent lights at the venue went out just moments before three-quarter time, leaving the temporary reinforcements to carry the load. It left the ground announcer to cheekily request nearby Moorabbin residents to turn their air conditioners off, such was the warm conditions on the evening.

Watt about that move?
Saints co-captain Rhi Watt continues to add strings to her bow in her third AFLW season. The former volleyballer, who has previously played the bulk of her time in defence, was used in the ruck again on Friday night and had the better of Geelong veteran Aasta O'Connor. Watt finished with 16 disposals, 13 hitouts, five clearances and two contested marks, helping the Saints to a clear stoppage ascendancy (23-17).

All-Australian battle
Saints coach Peta Searle conceded Cats co-captain Meg McDonald had the better of forward Caitlin Greiser in the opening quarter despite the Saints star booting an early major. Greiser then started to get on top in the contest of two All-Australians in the second term before kicking a goal on the three-quarter time siren only seconds after injuring her finger. She finished with 3.2 to be the most influential player on the ground.

Say what?
"While it didn't indicate it on the scoreboard, I thought the way we were trying to play the game and move the ball was much more positive (in the second quarter), so it was a bit easier to go into half-time with some positives and reinforce that." – St Kilda coach Peta Searle

"We need to make sure we can shut an opposition team down when they get a run-on. If we're winning the contested possession, we look really good. If we're not, we need to get better at squeezing the contest and slowing the game down and giving ourselves to win the next one." – Geelong coach Paul Hood

ST KILDA     1.1     1.3     4.9     7.9     (51)
GEELONG     0.2     1.2     1.2     3.4     (22) 

GOALS
St Kilda: Greiser 3, Shierlaw, Shannon, Vogt, McCarthy
Geelong: Cranston, Rankin, McWilliams

BEST 
St Kilda: Greiser, Watt, Smith, Lucas-Rodd, Dillon, Patrikios
Geelong: Webster, Purcell, A.McDonald, M.McDonald, Van De Heuvel

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Nil
Geelong: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: 1454 at RSEA Park (Moorabbin)

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