A review of Round 6 in the 2023 rebel VFLW season.

It was a remarkable weekend of action, with one match decided on the final kick and another by a goal with one minute remaining.

Two teams overturned Round 1 defeats, while there was an ominous re-entry for a competition powerhouse after a major fright.

SOUTHERN SAINTS vs WESTERN BULLDOGS

SOUTHERN SAINTS 3.1, 3.1, 3.4, 4.7 (31)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.2, 3.7, 3.8, 3.8 (26)

TESSA Boyd kicked a goal with just 80 seconds on the clock to break a long drought and rescue a nail biting five-point win for the Southern Saints over an unlucky Western Bulldogs at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Saturday.

The Saints had looked like cruising to a big victory when they kicked three unanswered goals in the first quarter but found themselves behind by the main change as the Bulldogs matched that output in the second.

A goalless third term left the Dogs four points up and heading to the scoring end, but they couldn’t add to their three quarter-time tally, as the Saints plugged away with behinds to draw within one before Boyd saved the day.

Her goal at 18:40 of the final term was the home team’s first since Gabriella De Angelis kicked truly at 11:15 of the first quarter – a full 67 minutes between drinks. However, the Bulldogs endured a 43-minute drought of their own, with debutant Tallia Pulcino’s major at 16:48 of the second proving to be their last of the day.

Boyd’s matchwinner was reward for a terrific performance that also yielded 24 disposals and seven rebound-50s. She fought out best afield honours with De Angelis (23 disposals, six marks, seven tackles, one goal), while Caitlin Matthews (20 disposals, eight marks, six rebounds) was a tower of strength in defence and Lucy Burke (15 disposals, two goals) dangerous in attack.

The Bulldogs were led by Sarah Skinner with 20 touches, five marks, eight tackles, five inside-50s and five rebounds in an assured performance, with support coming from Tahlia Meier (21 disposals), Imahra Cameron (16 disposals, five marks) and the league’s dominant ruck Jorja Borg (10 disposals, four marks, 32 hitouts), while Pulcino laid seven tackles to go with her goal.

COLLINGWOOD vs DAREBIN FALCONS

COLLINGWOOD 4.1, 5.7, 6.9, 8.11 (59)
DAREBIN FALCONS 0.1, 0.2, 1.3, 5.3 (33)

COLLINGWOOD consolidated its position in the top six in comfortable style, defeating a hard-working Darebin by 26 points at Victoria Park on Saturday.

The Magpies locked up the four points early with four goals to none in the first term but the Falcons refused to give up, conceding just one major in each of the second and third terms before finally getting their reward when Alyssa Mifsud kicked their first goal after the three quarter-time siren before they added four more in the last quarter.

In a low-possession game (212-154), rebel Coaches MVP leader Jess Bates had the ball on a string for Collingwood with 34 possessions, five marks, nine clearances, 13 tackles and a goal in one of the best games of the season. Matilda Zander (21 disposals, 10 clearances, seven tackles, one goal), Caitlin Bunker (17 disposals, six clearances, 13 tackles, five entries) and Imogen Evans (13 disposals, 11 tackles) were also terrific.

Angelica Gogos (18 disposals, seven clearances, 12 tackles, five entries, one goal) was tireless for the Falcons, Karly McNiece (12 disposals, seven rebounds) was hard to get past and Bec Goring laid eight tackles.

NORTH MELBOURNE vs GEELONG CATS

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.4 (22)
GEELONG CATS 0.2, 1.7, 2.8, 3.10 (28)

OLIVIA Cicolini made herself a hero and kept Geelong on top of the ladder with a goal with the last kick of the day to pinch a six-point win over North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval on Saturday.

The Kangaroos beat the Cats by nine points in Round 1 and looked on track to repeat the dose when they led 20-5 late in the second quarter, but they only managed two behinds for the rest of the day as the visitors gradually pegged them back.

Consecutive behinds levelled the scores with just under seven minutes left and the game looked headed for a draw before Cicolini’s set shot cleared outstretched arms on the line and the siren sounded as the Cats celebrated the goal.

Geelong’s fifth straight win since that opening round loss to North came despite never leading before that final play and was sparked by Renee Garing (20 disposals, eight clearances, 11 tackles), Cheryl de Groot (19 disposals, five tackles, five entries), Charlotte Simpson (18 disposals, seven clearances), Analea McKee (14 disposals, six marks) and Kalani Scoullar (30 hitouts), while Cicolini finished with two crucial goals in a low-scoring game.

Annabel Scott (22 disposals, six tackles) and Jess Jones (17 disposals, six entries, five rebounds, 16 hitouts) vied for best Kangaroo honours, with Marli Klaumanns-Moller (18 disposals), Audrey Rhodes (14 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles) and Tegan Bradley (16 disposals, five rebounds) also impressive.

BOX HILL HAWKS vs CASEY DEMONS

BOX HILL HAWKS 2.1, 4.4, 7.7, 7.8 (50)
CASEY DEMONS 1.2, 1.2, 1.4, 2.5 (17)

BOX HILL Hawks moved back into the top six and sent Casey Demons spiralling to a fourth-consecutive defeat when they powered to a 33-point triumph at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

In front of a large and appreciative crowd in South Gippsland, the Hawks took control with Sophie Locke’s second goal on the quarter-time siren and dominated the second and third terms with 5.6 to 0.2.

The Demons kicked the only goal of the last term to pull the final margin back and remarkably finished with exactly the same quarter-by-quarter scoreline as their loss to Southern Saints last week.

The Hawks easily won disposals (264-191) and marks (60-22) while also laying more tackles (83-68) as Maddie Boyd (22 disposals, eight marks, 10 hitouts, one goals) dominated around the ground.

Boyd had assistance from Jordan Mifsud (19 disposals, nine tackles), Akayla Peterson (18 disposals, six tackles), Janet Baird (14 disposals, five marks, five tackles), Grace McRae (15 disposals, eight tackles), Nadia von Bertouch (14 disposals, six marks), Hannah Fosbrooke (12 disposals, two goals), Annie Muir (12 disposals, nine tackles) and Matilda van Berkel (18).

For the Demons, Shree Fairchild (19 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles) and Shannon Danckert (19 disposals, six clearances) threw everything at Box Hill, while Alex Kirkwood (14 disposals, six tackles), Niamh O’Neill (12 disposals, eight tackles, five inside-50s) and Leah Swain (31 hitouts) also tried hard.

WILLIAMSTOWN vs ESSENDON

WILLIAMSTOWN 0.2, 2.2, 2.3, 3.3 (21)
ESSENDON 0.1, 1.3, 1.4, 4.6 (30)

REIGNING premier Essendon is in the top six for the first time this season, but it needed 10 minutes of brilliance to edge past a much-improved Williamstown by nine points at DSV Stadium.

The Seagulls had the better of a low-scoring struggle for three quarters, leading at all three breaks, but a goal to Georgia Clarke and two to regular defender Kendra Heil between the fifth and 15th minutes of the final term secured a third-straight win for the Bombers.

Clarke was magnificent for the visitors with 20 disposals, six marks, five tackles and that go-ahead goal. The Bombers were also well served by Grace Dicker (20 disposals, 11 tackles, five entries, one goal) and co-captain Courtney Ugle (21 disposals, seven marks), with Joanne Doonan (18 disposals, eight tackles), Eloise Chaston (16 disposals, seven tackles) and Ash van Loon (15 disposals, five tackles) tough under the pack and Steph Wales (17 disposals, 19 hitouts, five entries) strong in the air.

Former Bomber Nicole Julian was Williamstown’s best with 23 disposals, nine tackles and six rebounds, while Perri King (15 disposals, 16 tackles, five entries) and Maddie Edwards (15 disposals, 12 tackles) worked themselves to a standstill, Emily Eaves (19 disposals, five entries) had plenty of the ball and Alana Sarec (26 hitouts, six tackles) and Sarah Cameron (two goals) won their positions.

PORT MELBOURNE vs CARLTON

PORT MELBOURNE 0.2, 1.2, 3.3, 3.5 (23)
CARLTON 0.3, 0.3, 0.4, 0.8 (8)

PORT MELBOURNE overturned a convincing four-goal loss to Carlton from Round 1, turning over the Blues by 15 points at ETU Stadium on Sunday for a fifth-straight win to maintain second spot.

The Borough were well beaten by the Blues in that opening round game as well as a practice match, but relished getting them on home turf, conceding their lowest ever score and holding a team goalless for the first time in their VFLW history.

The first goal didn’t come until 15 minutes into the second quarter when Stella Reid kicked truly and Port added two more in the third for the only other majors of the game.

Port’s win came despite conceding 42 inside-50s and earning just 19 of their own, with Carlton also winning disposals 233-215, hitouts and clearances.

Jessie Williams (20 disposals, six marks, eight clearances, five rebounds) continues to relish her move up the field, Lauren Caruso (19 disposals, 10 tackles) and Kaitlyn O’Keefe (16 disposals, six clearances, 13 tackles, one goal) were impossible to avoid, and Olivia Barton (17 disposals, six rebounds), Taylah Watson (14 disposals, eight marks, five tackles), Saraid Taylor (12 tackles), Kate Adams (nine tackles) and Kate Dudley (32 hitouts) all did their jobs.

Maddie Di Cosmo was again prolific for Carlton, compiling 30 possessions which was ten more than any other player on the grounds. Chloe Wrigley laid a game-high 14 tackles, while Marianna Anthony had 20 disposals in here second game for the Blues after crossing from North Melbourne.

ROUND 7 FIXTURE

Saturday, May 6: Darebin Falcons vs Box Hill Hawks (10:30am, Genis Steel Oval – VFL double-header with Northern Bullants); Geelong Cats vs Collingwood (10:30am, Deakin University); Carlton vs Casey Demons (2:15pm, IKON Park – VFL curtain closer); Port Melbourne vs North Melbourne (7:00pm, ETU Stadium). Sunday, May 7: Essendon vs Southern Saints (11:00am, NEC Hangar – VFL double-header); Western Bulldogs vs Williamstown (11:00am, ETU Stadium).

Click here to view full fixture and ladder.

Broadcast and streaming: All matches in the 2023 rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website (AFL.com.au) and AFL Live Official App.

Live scoring and stats: Live scoring and stats will be available via both the AFL Live Official App and VFL App. Download the VFL App from the Apple or Google Play stores.