JUST one undefeated team remains in 2022, while only one side continues to search for its first win.

The pressure valve might have released for the Western Bulldogs after a hard fought win last weekend, but now they must travel to South Australian to take on Adelaide, meanwhile the winless Saints will host a very confident Brisbane outfit. 

VFLW MATCH OF THE ROUND: WATCH CASEY DEMONS v PORT MELBOURNE LIVE FROM 10.35am AEDT ON SATURDAY, FEB 12, ON AFL.COM.AU AND THE AFL LIVE OFFICIAL APP

On top of all of this, Western Australia will get its first taste of footy since round one after approval was given for Carlton and Collingwood to enter the state — briefly — to take on Fremantle and West Coast. 

Gold Coast v Geelong at Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm AEST

• Final-quarter surges have become Gold Coast’s signature in recent weeks, kicking 44 per cent of its score in fourth quarters this year. Despite finding themselves in tricky positions in second halves at time this year, the Suns have developed a real grit, proving they can change the momentum of games and really persist. While they have been exposed a little in defence due to injuries, their ability to defend higher up the field and adapt to player availability within games has been a testament to their maturity as a unit, despite a very young list. 
• Despite being just 19 and 21 years old respectively, the loss of Darcy Moloney and Annabel Johnson will hurt Geelong. Both players have impressed this year with their attack at the ball and have played significant roles in both defence and attack. Their game style will be hard to replace this weekend.  
• Tip: This will go down to the wire, but the Suns’ drive to the final siren will see them narrowly take the victory. Gold Coast by two points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Suns v Cats

Richmond v North Melbourne at the Swinburne Centre, 2.10pm AEDT

• Injuries to key players are mounting for Richmond. Already without key position players Harriet Cordner and Courtney Wakefield, the Tigers have now lost winger Hannah Burchell and midfielder Laura McClelland for the season. Providing more support to Monique Conti through the middle of the ground will be vital if they’re to protect a weakened backline from the speed and precision of North Melbourne’s attack. 
• The Kangaroos have started to hit their straps in recent weeks, settling into some positional changes designed to take the side not just to finals this year, but find consistency in coming seasons as older players move on. In front of goal it’s their small and mid-sized forwards who are doing the damage. Key forward targets Tahlia Randall and Emma King have combined for just two goals so far this year, whereas the likes of Daria Bannister, Ellie Gavalas and Daisy Bateman have been really proactive at ground level. Shutting those smaller forwards down will be important if Richmond are to limit the Roos. 
• Tip: North Melbourne is gaining momentum, while the opposite is true of Richmond. North Melbourne by 25 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Kangaroos

Melbourne v GWS at Casey Fields, 4.10pm AEDT

• Melbourne has been strong at the contest this year, losing the clearances just once—in its loss to Adelaide in round four. Lauren Pearce, Eliza West and Eden Zanker are the trio leading the way in that regard for the Demons and it’s the versatile makeup of their midfield that helps them combat most opponents. Pearce will be key to winning it at the source against the Giants. Both Erin McKinnon and Ally Morphett are very strong in the air and position themselves well around the field, but where Pearce will get the upper hand is at ground level. 
• Greater Western Sydney was forced into some unusual positional changes in its last match due to several players being unavailable, and it breathed fresh air into a side that has been fairly stagnant in recent seasons. It’s important that the Giants take that perspective into this game against Melbourne because the rigid Giants of past years doesn’t have the edge to consistently challenge good teams. 
• Tip: Melbourne is on a 10-game winning streak at home, and this will likely continue this weekend. Melbourne by 15 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Demons v Giants

Fremantle v Carlton at Fremantle Oval, 3.10pm AWST

• Fremantle has returned home after a successful hub experience, winning four of its five matches, and playing an extra game compared to the rest of the competition. The Dockers’ forward pressure has become a real signature of their game, averaging nearly 18 tackles inside 50 and 36.7 inside 50s each game. This has led them to create repeat opportunities at goal and average the second-most scoring shots each game in the competition. 
• On the flip side, Carlton is really struggling to apply pressure, particularly in the forward half. The Blues are averaging just four tackles inside 50 this year — the fewest in the competition — while also conceding the most inside 50s of any side each week with 36.8. A lack of defence in the forward line and midfield is really putting what is typically a composed backline under immense pressure and, in turn, leaking 45.2 points a game. Fremantle’s ability to control territory, and Carlton’s inability to do the same spells trouble for the Blues. 
• Tip: Fremantle is playing at home in front of their fans for the first time in a month, there’s no better time to get back on the winners list. Fremantle by 35 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Dockers v Blues

St Kilda v Brisbane at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Oval, 1.10pm AEDT

• An opportunity to register its first win of the season went begging on Tuesday for St Kilda, unable to control play despite having more of the footy and soundly beaten at stoppages without important midfielder Olivia Vesely being rested despite a 17-day layoff between games. The Saints are up against one of the toughest midfields in the competition in Brisbane and simply cannot let the Lions transition easily from stoppages to outside run. That second layer around the contest needs to be really strong for the Saints if they’re a chance to contain Brisbane. 
• Brisbane is on the charge now it’s played three consecutive games with limited disruption. The composure of experienced players on the ball is vital, but the Lions have deep stocks when it comes to run and carry, which makes them super adaptable to conditions within games. Orla O’Dwyer, Greta Bodey, Sophie Conway and Cathy Svarc can all cut defences open with power and speed, and have good connection with contested ball players, so are very hard to shut down. 
• Tip: The Lions will continue that momentum. Brisbane by 20 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Lions

West Coast v Collingwood at Mineral Resources Park, 12.10pm AWST

• West Coast is fresh off its first win of the year and home for the first time in a month, but the question is whether the side will be able to take those positives into its match against Collingwood. The Eagles are very good at winning clearances but struggle to make that control effective once the ball is outside the contest, which is not too dissimilar to Collingwood this year. Whichever side can create more effective attack out of the contest will have the upper hand in this game. 
• The Eagles use the ball by foot more than most sides this year, whereas the Magpies are heavily reliant on moving the ball by hand, which makes it tough to gain ground when players aren’t finding enough space to run and carry on the outside. They win plenty of the ball, but simply aren’t using it in a way that is dangerous in attack, averaging the fewest inside 50s in the competition with just 20.2 per game. 
• Tip: This one will be a battle of game styles, but the experience of Collingwood will see them win out. Collingwood by five points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Eagles v Magpies

Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval, 4.40pm ACDT 

• Adelaide has been squeezing the life out of opponents slowly but surely as the clock ticks on, trapping the ball in its forward half and really limiting opponents’ opportunities to attack. The Western Bulldogs defensive unit has proven it can withstand a barrage of inside 50s for long period of time, but never across a full four quarters. This will be a big challenge for the Dogs. 
• What the Dogs have conceded, however, is plenty of disposal, and they've allowed opponents to use the ball by foot around the ground. This is exactly what the Crows excel at. The Bulldogs need to force a messy, chaos game if they’re to push Adelaide, not allow the home side to use the neat kicking and uncontested ball to maintain control of the game. 
• Tip: This is a tough ask to back up the Bulldogs’ first win of the season. Adelaide by 30 points. 

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Bulldogs

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FREMANTLE used its return home to rediscover its powerful best, going on a second-half rampage to beat Carlton by 42 points at Fremantle Oval on Saturday. 

After 23 days in a Victorian hub and smarting from their first loss of the season last week, the Dockers went on a five-goal run in the second half to win their sixth game of the season, 7.9 (51) to 1.3 (9). 

DOCKERS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

It was a tough and tight clash early, but the Blues were unable to maintain their pressure and control the ball after the main break, falling to their fourth consecutive loss by more than 30 points.  

Dangerous Freo forward Mikayla Morrison was the star, forcing mistakes in the Blues' defence and finishing her work with three excellent goals. 

Captain Hayley Miller lifted to drive the third-quarter surge, winning nine of her 24 disposals in the decisive quarter and finishing with eight clearances. 

Defenders Laura Pugh and Emma O'Driscoll were pillars in defence when the team was under pressure early, limiting the damage the Blues were able to do when their midfield was in control.  

Ebony Antonio put the icing on the cake with a spectacular grab that will be hard to top for Mark of the Year.

Carlton brought a physical approach on their second road trip for the season and controlled territory in the first quarter, holding the ball in their forward half for long periods. 

The visitors were unable to take full toll on the scoreboard, however, with star forward Darcy Vescio kicking the Blues' sole goal with a brilliant left foot snap over their shoulder. 

The Dockers adjusted after quarter-time and took the lead through former skipper Kara Antonio, with the home team kicking seven consecutive goals in total in their biggest win for the season. 

Carlton ruck Brea Moody returned from health and safety protocols and controlled the middle with 29 hit-outs, while teenage midfielder Mimi Hill was outstanding with a game-high 25 disposals. 

INJURY CONCERNS FOR BOTH SIDES
The Blues will anxiously await the result of scans for star midfielder Maddy Prespakis who was crunched in a contest, suffering an apparent back injury that forced her from the ground for a significant period. She later left the ground in an ambulance for assessment, with the extent of any injury unclear post-match. The Dockers, meanwhile, finished without dangerous forward Roxy Roux, who was taken from the ground as a precaution after experiencing hamstring awareness. 

"GOALS FROM EVERYWHERE"
Carlton coach Daniel Harford was left lamenting the dangerous Dockers' ability to get goals from a variety of sources, including their midfield, with Morrison (three) and Hyde (two) replacing usual suspects Gemma Houghton and Ebony Antonio atop the goalkickers list. The Dockers' ability to rotate the dangerous Morrison and Gabby O'Sullivan (six inside 50s) in the midfield, and send Miller forward at times, gave them an unpredictable look that was hard to contain, with forward Kara Antonio also central to setting up several goals. 

DID YOU SEE THAT?
Carlton star Darcy Vescio controlled the first quarter, creating opportunities with their strength in the contest and ability to shrug off opponents. The 28-year-old kicked the opening goal one minute into the match with a brilliant left foot snap, and created two more similar opportunities, hitting the post with the second. Vescio was in everything early, with the Dockers forced to make several switches in defence to keep a close check on them, ultimately succeeding and keeping the star goalkicker to 1.2.

SAY WHAT?
"That was the best part of our game, our ball movement. We've become a really good into-the-breeze team (and) our backs are holding up well. We scored five out of our seven goals [into the breeze], so our ball movement into the breeze has been really good. There's still a long way to go as far as playing the good sides. Adelaide are obviously the trendsetters at the moment, then there's Melbourne, ourselves and North Melbourne, who have just lost the one game. There's not a lot between those sides. – Fremantle coach Trent Cooper

"Jekyll and Hyde is what we were today. I thought our first half was terrific and they're a seriously good team back here. We set the game up really well early and weren't able to capitalise in that first quarter like we would have liked to. I thought we owned the second quarter … and I came in really bullish at half time. Fremantle upped their game. I put it down to more of a mental application issue, as opposed to a football application issue." – Carlton coach Daniel Harford

WHAT'S NEXT
Fremantle has a bye in round seven, giving it 14 days to prepare for a top-of-the-table clash against Adelaide at Fremantle Oval on February 26, with superstar midfielder Kiara Bowers set to return from suspension. Carlton returns home to take on the winless St Kilda next Saturday at Ikon Park.   

FREMANTLE        1.0   2.1   6.2   7.9 (51) 
CARLTON             1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3 (9)

GOALS 
Fremantle: Morrison 3, Hyde 2, K Antonio, Stewart
Carlton: Vescio 

BEST
Fremantle: Morrison, Miller, K Antonio, O'Sullivan, O'Driscoll, Pugh, Hyde
Carlton: Hill, Moody, Egan, Prespakis, Vescio 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Roux (hamstring awareness)
Carlton: Prespakis (back)   

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: 2,524 at Fremantle Oval

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