JUST TWO home and away rounds remain in the 2021 NAB AFLW season, and teams are still jostling for a finals position.

Brisbane hosts North Melbourne in the match of the round, while Fremantle and Melbourne should also be a cracker.

And who will win consecutive games for the first time, West Coast or Richmond?

Friday, March 19

Gold Coast v Carlton at Metricon Stadium, 4.10pm AEST

• Frustratingly, the Suns still remain without a win, and with two rounds remaining, time is starting to run out. Maddi Levi had an instant impact in her return up forward, but the Suns have struggled to maintain possession on the outside, ranked last for average uncontested possessions.
• There's no two ways about it, it's crunch time for Carlton. The Blues have to win big on Friday night – and again the following week – and hope results go their way in order to qualify for finals. They effectively outplayed the powerful Fremantle for all but 10 minutes last week.
• Tip: Unfortunately for Gold Coast, Carlton is here on a mission and the Suns are standing in their path. Blues by 27 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Suns v Blues

Saturday, March 20

Geelong v Greater Western Sydney at GMHBA Stadium, 1.10pm AEDT

• A short turnaround for Geelong, having played in the heat in Perth on Monday. They'll be looking to rebound after comfortably their worst performance for the year, struggling with the Eagles' intensity and as has been the case all year, breaking down across half-forward.
• GWS will be full of confidence after a comprehensive win over St Kilda and have a good (but short) record against Geelong. The wet-weather specialists won't have the rain on their side this week but will be looking to out-run the Cats on the outside, an area of concern for both teams.
• Tip: It really depends on what form Geelong produces – the confidence and run against Carlton or the confusion against West Coast? GWS may have too much power out of the middle. Giants by 15 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Giants

Collingwood v St Kilda at Victoria Park, 3.10pm AEDT

• Collingwood was seriously tested against Brisbane last week, losing its first match for the year and integral defenders Lauren Butler (hamstring) and Jordy Allen (foot) for the season. The new defensive mix will be something to watch for, as will Bri Davey's bounce back after being well-held by Cathy Svarc.
• What a week to draw Collingwood for the beleaguered St Kilda. The Saints will be buoyed by the availability of Rosie Dillon, who copped a knock to her larynx last week, while Nat Exon (shoulder) may also boost the side who were comfortably outplayed by the Giants.
• Tip: Collingwood is still pushing for a top-two spot and home preliminary final, meaning it'll be keen to put the foot down. Pies by 32 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Magpies v Saints

Brisbane v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 4.10pm AEST

• Brisbane is flying high, winning three consecutive games – against Fremantle, GWS and Collingwood – on the road. Cathy Svarc is curating a long list of tagging victims, while the Lions are never solely reliant on one player to star, with Emily Bates, Ally Anderson and Dakota Davidson featuring in recent weeks.
• After a mid-season slip-up, losing to Collingwood and Melbourne, North Melbourne has just done what it needs to do without ever quite hitting top form. Things get incredibly difficult now, with games against two powerhouses in Brisbane and Fremantle.
• Tip: These teams are the short-kick queens of the competition, ranked first (Roos) and second (Lions). North Melbourne might have the edge in the midfield, but the Lions have the dominance around the ground. Brisbane by eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Kangaroos

Sunday, March 21

Richmond v West Coast at the Swinburne Centre, 12.40pm AEDT

• Can Richmond record a consecutive win for the first time, and its third victory overall? The Tigers showed good maturity when challenged in the third quarter by the Suns, and Katie Brennan has tapped into a rare vein of form, starring up forward.
• West Coast produced its best ever game of footy against a hapless Geelong, hassling on the inside and tearing the Cats apart on the outside. They've now shown they can pile on the goals, which will have given the team enormous confidence after a tough 18 months.
• Tip: Both teams coming into this match after a win would have raised eyebrows at the start of the season, but they're in the best form we've seen from the fledgling sides. The Tigers may have too much midfield firepower, especially with Emma Swanson suspended. Richmond by 13 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Eagles

Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval, 3.40pm ADCT

• Adelaide will be looking to rebound from a surprise and poor loss to Melbourne, beaten in the clearances and conceding a whopping 40 inside 50s. The Crows still lead the competition in contested possessions and are second for disposals.
• After two straight losses to more experienced sides in Collingwood and North Melbourne, the Bulldogs desperately need a win to keep their finals hopes alive. Izzy Huntington is averaging 2.6 contested marks a game – the next best, Maddy Boyd, is on 1.6 – but faces a fierce battle against Sarah Allan.
• Tip: Adelaide should be stung by its performance against Melbourne, and despite a healthy percentage, would prefer to wrap up a finals spot this week rather than next against Collingwood. Crows by 23 points.  

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Bulldogs

Fremantle v Melbourne at Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST

• Fremantle should be riding high after its come-from-behind win over Carlton. Kiara Bowers is seemingly unstoppable in the midfield at the moment, rebounding from a quiet first quarter where she had just four disposals to finish with 28. She's now favourite for the AFLW best and fairest.
• The equation is simple for Melbourne – its currently in the top six but is vulnerable to dropping out if the Dogs or Blues get on a roll. Pinching a win here would be ideal, but if the Dees are to lose, keeping it to a manageable margin will be key.
• Tip: Fremantle rarely loses at Fremantle Oval, but Melbourne pulled one out of the box against Adelaide at Casey Fields last week. Saying that, the Dockers may have too many forward targets. Freo by 14 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Demons

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BRISBANE'S giant-killing run has continued, notching a fourth straight victory and taking a temporary hold of top spot with a 15-point win over North Melbourne at the Gabba.

The Lions had the better of the play for much of the wet-weather day, but it took a Courtney Hodder moment of brilliance midway through the final quarter to seal the 4.11 (35) to 2.8 (20) victory.

LIONS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

It was the Lions' first game ever at the Gabba, and first home game in a month, and came just six days after toppling previously unbeaten Collingwood in Melbourne.

North had the better of possession, winning the disposal count 257-213, but the Lions' pressure was suffocating.

They trailed by a point at quarter-time, and despite some wayward kicking that threatened to derail their performance, eventually ground past the Kangaroos.

Second-year midfielder Isabel Dawes (19 disposals) was relentless for all four quarters, while the rock-solid backline led by captain Emma Zielke and Kate Lutkins were almost impenetrable.

Goals to Jess Wuetschner and a clever effort from Sophie Conway in the third term gave the home team some breathing space, but it was Hodder's magic in the fourth that had the home fans cheering.

The Lions can seal a top-two spot with a win over Melbourne at Casey Fields next Saturday.

North Melbourne's midfielders had plenty of the ball, with Jenna Bruton (26), Ash Riddell (25), Jess Duffin (24) and Emma Kearney (24) leading the way.

Did you see that?
Take a bow Courtney Hodder. The Lions livewire ripped any chance North had of snatching victory from it midway through the final term with a piece of individual brilliance. Greta Bodey squared the ball with her left boot to around 35m from goal, when suddenly Hodder appeared from nowhere to spoil a Kangaroos defender. Hodder kept her feet, gathered and snapped on her right foot in congestion to give the home team the breathing space it needed.

The ladder now
The season could hardly be set for a better conclusion, with both teams running into final-round opponents that will not only shape the top six, but the top two and minor premiership. Brisbane plays Melbourne at Casey Fields and needs to win to give itself a chance of finishing in the all-important top two. Currently the Lions are neck and neck with Collingwood and Fremantle. North has a desperate final round against Fremantle at Arden Street and still needs to win to ensure it will play finals.

What the Svarc?
Cathy Svarc has done it again. The Brisbane midfielder has added another scalp to her growing list of tagging victims after keeping Jasmine Garner quiet. Just a week after putting the clamps on Magpie Bri Davey (14 disposals), she did so against the prolific Kangaroo, keeping her without a touch in the first term and to just 14 for the game. 

Say what?
"Enormously proud of them. They had every reason possible to fall off the cliff after three travels and six days into this one and getting happy with what you've achieved, but they keep finding new ways to test themselves and keep improving. We know they can play, but half the battle is believing that they can play and belong at the top end of the comp." - Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich

"Our season's in our own hands. We either win tonight or we win next week and we play finals and the girls are well aware of that. We'll review the game and look at areas we need to grow and get better as a team." – North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker

What's next?
North Melbourne returns home for a blockbuster final round next Saturday afternoon, hosting Fremantle at Arden St from 1.10pm AEDT. Brisbane also heads south for its last home and away match, travelling to Casey Fields on Saturday to play Melbourne at 3.10pm AEDT.

BRISBANE     1.2       1.8       3.9       4.11 (35)
NORTH MELBOURNE          1.3       1.4       2.5       2.8 (20)

GOALS
Brisbane: Davidson, Wuetschner, Conway, Hodder
North Melbourne: Abbatangelo, Bateman

BEST 
Brisbane: Dawes, Lutkins, Zielke, Bates, Svarc, O'Dwyer
North Melbourne: Bruton, Riddell, Kearney, Duffin

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Campbell (head)
North Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 6613 at the Gabba

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