VFLW Round 6 Review: Top two win again as Darebin breaks its duck

Hawthorn 1.10.16 defeated by Essendon 4.5.29 at Box Hill City Oval

Essendon kicked the final three goals of the game to come away 13-point winners at Box Hill City Oval. Hawthorn wasn’t without its chances and will rue missed opportunities, having more scoring shots than its opponent. It was a tight contest for three quarters with each side kicking one goal, until the Bombers broke away in the final term.

Mia Rae-Clifford kicked two crucial goals for the Bombers and was lively in the forward line creating opportunities. Georgia Nanscawen was well held by the Hawks and well down on her usual output, but in her place Eloise Ashley-Cooper, Alana Barba and Lori Stepnell found plenty of the football to keep Essendon in the contest.

The Hawks’ new inclusions had plenty of influence, with Tamara Luke and Nadia Von Bertouch playing a role in the contest, while returning Gold Coast Sun Georgia Bevan had 19 disposals and nine tackles. Eloise Chaston kicked Hawthorn’s only goal and almost had three more in her first game for the club.

Southern Saints 5.5.35 defeated Williamstown 4.1.25 at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Oval

Williamstown shot out of the blocks kicking the first three goals of the game, but were overrun by a more experienced Southern Saints outfit. After those three goals the Seagulls only managed to add one more to its tally in the third quarter, while the Saints kicked four of their own.

Tara Bohanna was again influential collecting 22 disposals, three marks and seven tackles and sparking the comeback for the Saints. Jaqui Vogt had an impressive 11 tackles while Ebony Nixon provided plenty of drive of half-back, and Tayla Kearns and Gabrielle De Angelis combined for four of St Kilda’s five goals.

The Seagulls’ Aimee Whelan had 19 disposals and eight tackles and was important around the contest. Ash Melnikas again brought her physicality with 11 tackles, and Scarlett Dunell showed pace on the wing collecting 19 disposals and three marks.

North Melbourne 4.6.30 defeated by Darebin 6.6.42 at Arden Street

A four-goal performance from Darebin’s Stephanie Simpson inspired the Falcons to their first win of the VFLW season. The game was evenly poised with only one point separating the two teams at half-time before the Falcons kicked four goals to two in the second half to come away with the 12-point win.

Stephanie Simpson was the catalyst for the Falcons with her four goals from 13 disposals. Simpson stood tall in attack clunking five contested marks to go with her efforts. Samara David and Alice Caddy were also influential for Darebin, creating plenty of opportunities with their 24 and 20 disposals respectively.

North Melbourne captain Meagan Kiely led from the front for her team, picking up 23 disposals. Molly Eastman and Katelyn Cox did plenty through midfield and Alexia Hamilton had two goals.

Port Melbourne 6.6.42 defeated Western Bulldogs 1.2.8 at ETU Stadium

Port Melbourne kept their unbeaten run alive in season 2021 with another dominant win, this time over the Western Bulldogs. The Borough held the Dogs goalless in the first half and added four of their own to help them on their way to a 34-point victory. The Dogs made it a much more even contest in the second half, winning the third quarter and keeping Port to only two goals in the final term, but it wasn’t enough.

Sabrina Frederick took no time announcing her arrival at Port Melbourne, hitting the scoreboard with two goals and taking six marks. Pip Peshke continues to star in the Port Melbourne midfield, picking up 25 disposals and well supported by Courtney Bromage and Claire Dyett around the contest.

AFLW pair Isabelle Pritchard and Annabel Scott helped the Dogs wrestle back some of the momentum through the midfield. while Molly Denhy-Maloney played her best game for the Dogs collecting 17 disposals and taking six marks.

Casey Demons 4.6.30 defeated by Geelong 5.2.32 at Casey Fields

Geelong was able to hold off the fast-finishing Demons to win a close one at Casey Fields. The two teams traded blows in the first half with Geelong taking a five-point lead into the main break. The Cats were able to break away in the third quarter but couldn’t kick another goal against the wind in the final term. Casey peppered the goals in the fourth quarter but couldn’t find a winner.

Darcy Moloney and Theresia Meissner were huge for the Cats in holding up the Dees through the midfield. It was Geelong’s tackle pressure that kept them ahead with Paige Sheppard, Tamara Smith and Laura Gardiner all tallying tackles in the double digits to keep the Demons at bay.

Melbourne 2020 draftee Isabella Simmons kicked two crucial goals for Casey and was well supported by fellow draftee Megan Fitzsimon who had 16 disposals and nine tackles. Mietta Kendall and Caitlin Conroy did well to hold the Geelong forwards throughout the contest.

Collingwood 2.10.22 defeated Carlton 0.4.4 at Victoria Park

Collingwood remains undefeated after a low-scoring win over Carlton at Victoria Park.

Rain, wind and hail impacted the contest, making free-flowing football tough for both sides. Collingwood made the best of it, getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with the only goal of the half. The Pies dominated time in forward half making scoring difficult for the Blues who had all their scoring opportunities in the final term.
 
Amelia Velardo was a standout for the Pies creating a lot of play off half-back and intercepting well, finishing with 20 disposals. Marla Neal and Demi Hallett fought hard at the contest laying 20 tackles between them, and they were well supported by captain Caitlin Bunker and Georgia Ricardo who had her best game for the Pies. 
 
Maddy Guerin was a lone figure at times for the Blues doing it all in defence, midfield and attack. Guerin finished with 27 disposals and nine tackles. Jorja Borg and Akayla Peterson did well to try and manufacture something for the Blues in the final quarter.