TWO TEAMS will get the opportunity to belt out their song for the first time this year, with four winless sides set to face off against each other in round five.

This weekend also marks the first AFLW Indigenous Round, while a number of showpiece games – Fremantle v Brisbane, Collingwood v Melbourne and North Melbourne v Carlton – will cause further demarcation in the competition.

The above teams occupy six of the top eight positions on the ladder.

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Friday, February 26

Geelong v Richmond at GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT

• The Cats will be lining up for their third consecutive Friday night match, but it hasn't gone to plan thus far. Geelong is the second-lowest scoring team in the competition, just ahead of Gold Coast, and has been struggling to move the ball with pace and fluency.
• If there's such a thing as an in-form side yet to win a game in 10 attempts, Richmond is just that team. The Tigers recorded their highest score ever against the Blues last week, just pipping their previous best effort – which came against Geelong last year.
• Tip: Just like 2020, both these sides will be hoping to break their winless streak against each other. The Tigers are in better form, but it'll be close. Four points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Tigers

Saturday, February 27

Western Bulldogs v Greater Western Sydney at VU Whitten Oval, 3.10pm AEDT

• After just falling short against St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs have pulled off three straight wins, two against last year's preliminary finalists Melbourne and Carlton. The Dogs are incredibly efficient with their ball use, averaging the third-fewest disposals in the AFLW with just five players having kicked goals. 
• After a tough start against Fremantle and Adelaide, GWS has settled, recording two wins against strugglers Gold Coast and West Coast. The Giants are getting a more even contribution in the midfield, while the defence is well-organised and disciplined. A bag from Cora "Scora" Staunton never hurts, either.
• Tip: The Giants are back on the road for the first time in three weeks, and the Dogs know Whitten Oval (and that cross-wind into the pocket) inside and out. Dogs by 17 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Bulldogs v Giants

Fremantle v Brisbane at Fremantle Oval, 2.10pm AWST

• The almighty Dockers just keep rolling on their merry way, defeating every opponent in their path. They're never reliant on one goalkicker, having had 13 players kick majors this season, the highest number in the AFLW. 
• Brisbane showed great resilience against Adelaide after another poor opening quarter. The twin towers of Jesse Wardlaw and Dakota Davidson keep defences busy, but it's the work of the improved Greta Bodey at ground level that's catching teams on the hop.
• Tip: This will be a battle of Freo's versatile attack versus Brisbane's well-established defence. The Lions will give it a red-hot crack, but probably aren't quite at the Dockers' level yet. Not many are. Fremantle by 17 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Lions

North Melbourne v Carlton at UTAS Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT

• Coach Darren Crocker used the word "clunky" a few times in his post-match presser after last week's loss to Collingwood. There's been an unexpected loss of connection in the Roos' usually fluent movement of the ball down the field, making life difficult for the forward line.
• Carlton has shaken off its early-season woes to record two wins, but they've come against expansion sides St Kilda and Richmond. The Blues have produced horror first quarters, kicking just 1.2 across four first terms. They can't afford to play catch-up against North Melbourne.
• Tip: This is a must-win game for both sides, who would not have been expecting to be in this position halfway through the season. Both have been Jekyll and Hyde teams this year – who will show up on Saturday night? Blues by three points.

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WATCH IT LIVE Kangaroos v Blues

Sunday, February 28

Adelaide v St Kilda at Norwood Oval, 12.40pm ACDT

• The Crows were just too good for Brisbane last week, overcoming both the Lions and their own poor accuracy in front of goal. The last two weeks have seen Adelaide kick 7.16. In a positive for the side, Nikki Gore seems to have established herself in defence in her third season, while Erin Phillips appears to be most dangerous when forward.
• The Saints have successfully broadened their paths to goal this year, recording nine goalkickers already, only one fewer than their entire 2020 season. Ruck Rhi Watt is in ripping form, averaging 9.5 contested possession, the highest in the side.
• Tip: The last time these sides met, the Saints looked set for an unlikely victory before conceding two late goals. Adelaide has had several significant inclusions since then and will be too experienced for the Saints. Crows by 15 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Saints

Collingwood v Melbourne at Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT

• Can the Pies make it a club-record five straight wins? We've rarely seen Collingwood in this type of form, and its built on the back of a strong well-rounded performance. The backline – led by Stacey Livingstone and Ruby Schleicher – is so effective it's hard to believe All-Australian Ash Brazill (ACL) is still to return. 
• From the sublime to the ridiculous. Melbourne piled on six goals in a quarter against North Melbourne but couldn't find the middle of the goals to save themselves against the Dogs, kicking 2.12. The importance of the speed and class of Kate Hore (who missed with illness) and Sinead Goldrick (concussion) cannot be undersold.
• Tip: Melbourne could slip eight points adrift of the top two should it lose this game. Collingwood's midfield trio of Brianna Davey, Jaimee Lambert and Britt Bonnici have hit another level, and draw this in the Pies' favour. 11 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Magpies v Demons

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

• The Eagles will be happy to be home after consecutive cross-country games in Brisbane and Sydney. Like the Tigers, the Eagles are improving week by week, with the form of Grace Kelly, Bella Lewis and Mikayla Bowen particularly promising. The team just needs to stick with its pressure and run for longer, and that first win will come.
• The Suns have stayed in Perth this week after playing Fremantle, and some bonding time may have been just what the doctor ordered. David Lake didn't beat around the bush, calling out his side's "lazy" two-way running in the second half against Fremantle.
• Tip: It's possibly the first time West Coast has gone into a match favourites, but the patches of form it's shown in the past few weeks have been encouraging, while the Suns can't find the scoreboard. Eagles by nine points.

WATCH IT LIVE Eagles v Suns

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NORTH Melbourne has rebounded from two straight losses, overpowering Carlton in the second half to win by 22 points.

The Blues led by four points at half-time, but the Roos kicked five goals in the final term in the 9.5 (59) to 6.1 (37) win at UTAS Stadium on Saturday night.

ROOS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

It means Carlton is in a fight to qualify for finals, slipping to two wins and three losses with four rounds remaining.

With the AFLW best and fairest winner Maddy Prespakis cooling her heels on the sidelines due to a one-match suspension, Jess Hosking spent more time on the ball and was industrious with 14 touches, while Nic Stevens (19) was outstanding at half-forward.

But North's weight of numbers in the middle proved to be too much, with Garner (32, nine clearances), Kearney (28, five clearances) and Riddell (23, nine tackles) powering the home side.

Both sides have not been at their best this year, and the game oscillated between brilliantly clean passages of play and sloppy, pressured turnovers.

North Melbourne came out firing, keen to atone for last week's disappointing loss to Collingwood, with Kate Gillespie-Jones and Garner booting goals after some quick movement out of the middle courtesy of Riddell and Emma King.

Darcy Vescio's hot form continued with a purple patch in the second term, kicking an opportunistic snap, converting a set shot and setting up Lauren Brazzale with a clever kick after spotting the winger out of the corner of her eye.

It gave the Blues a slender lead, but after numerous missed and rushed opportunities in front of goal by North, the diminutive Daisy Bateman surprised herself by converting a set-shot from 35m.

Mimi Hill – taken with pick No.10 in last year's NAB AFLW Draft – made things interesting in the last term with her first two AFLW goals, but North Melbourne broke the dam walls of Carlton's previously resolute defence, piling on five straight goals.

The finals picture
With Melbourne yet to play in round five, the Roos have leapt into sixth spot on the ladder, with the 2021 season seeing the top six qualifying for finals. There are four rounds remaining, and Carlton, one of the pre-season premiership fancies, is anchored in eighth spot. It's not all doom and gloom, with the Blues just one win adrift, but it makes things a lot harder from here, especially being 35 per cent below the Dees in seventh. 

Duffin's welcome return
North Melbourne welcomed back All-Australian defender Jess Duffin following a break of 714 days due to the birth of her daughter Georgie in late June. She played in bursts but looked to have lost none of her touch as she slotted back into defence. Duffin took a goal-saving mark in the first term and was clever with deft touches around the ground. She'll be better for the run, but it was a more-than-handy inclusion for Darren Crocker.

Carlton's first-quarter blues
You'd be forgiven for skipping Carlton's opening terms this year if you were a Blues supporter. The team have been a notoriously slow starter, kicking a cumulative 1.2 from five opening stanzas. The Blues had 11 inside 50s in the first quarter against the Roos but were scoreless, struggling to find a clean mark within scoring range. Nic Stevens was in everything but Tayla Harris was well held and Darcy Vescio only came to life after the first break.

Say what?
"We reviewed (ball movement) pretty strongly earlier in the week, and we just thought we didn't use the ball well or efficiently last week, and felt we played too rushed. Tonight, I just thought throughout the game, our ability to control the tempo of the game was really good. There were times when we could go quick, but there were also a lot of times when we got a mark or a free kick and the girls just controlled the tempo." - North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker

"We were monstered in the midfield. We've got a young developing midfield against one of the best and most experienced in the business and they had their way with us, particularly after half-time. We just weren't able to set up properly; we were a bit 'deer in the headlights' a couple of times and they did what they wanted, particularly through the front of the contest, which was annoying." - Carlton coach Daniel Harford

Up next
North Melbourne will be wary of Richmond's momentum after the Tigers' first win, but should have the firepower to get the job done on Friday night at the Swinburne Centre. Carlton will be hoping to bank four points, hosting the winless Cats at Ikon Park on Sunday.

NORTH MELBOURNE     2.1     2.2     4.5     9.5 (59)
CARLTON     0.0     3.0     3.0     6.1 (37)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Abbatangelo 2, Bateman 2, Gillespie-Jones, Garner, Bannister, Campbell, M. King
Carlton: Vescio 2, Hill 2, Brazzale, Stevens

BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, Kearney, Riddell, Bruton, Randall, Abbatangelo
Carlton: Stevens, J. Hosking, Laloifi, Pound, Vescio, Hill

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil 
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 820 at UTAS Stadium

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