A review of Round 8 in the 2023 rebel VFLW season.

The second half of the rebel VFLW season is under way and it remains one of the closest campaigns in history, with just two wins between first and eighth on the ladder and 10 clubs still in the finals hunt after thrilling wins for Southern Saints and Casey Demons and a big result for the reigning premier.

CARLTON vs WESTERN BULLDOGS

CARLTON 0.5, 2.7, 4.12, 5.15 (45)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.3 (9)

CARLTON gained an important percentage boost in such a close finals race after dominating Western Bulldogs by 36 points at IKON Park on Saturday.

The Blues controlled the game from start to finish in conceding just one goal to a Bulldogs team that had been performing much better in previous weeks, and may feel they should have won by a lot more after spraying 15 of their 20 shots at goal.

Carlton had winners everywhere, with 10 of the top 11 ball winners on the ground, led by Ashlee Thorneycroft (21 disposals, seven tackles, one goal), West Australian recruit Chloe Wrigley (23 disposals, five marks, 11 tackles), Millie Klingbeil (21 disposals, five tackles), Taylor Ortlepp (18 disposals, five clearances) and Jess Good (16 disposals, five clearances, 22 hitouts), while Gabriella Pound had 17 touches in her first VFLW game for four years.

Tahlia Meier (20 possessions, six rebounds) and Tarrah Delgado (14 disposals, six marks, eight rebounds) did their best to hold back the tide for the Bulldogs, while Dom Carbone laid 10 tackles and Jorja Borg had 25 hitouts.

BOX HILL HAWKS vs ESSENDON

BOX HILL HAWKS 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.9 (15)
ESSENDON 2.0, 3.1, 4.2, 5.2 (32)

ESSENDON moved ominously into the top three after outclassing a wasteful Box Hill Hawks by 17 points at Box Hill City Oval.

The Hawks blew a potential two premiership points by kicking 3.9 to 4.3 in their thrilling draw with the Bombers in Round 1 and this time it cost itself a crack at all four, booting a wayward 1.9 compared to the Bombers’ 5.2.

The home side’s only goal came late in the first quarter and they managed just seven behinds after that as Essendon gradually pulled away.

The reigning premiers’ fifth-straight win was sparked by star midfielder Amelia Radford, who stood head and shoulders above the rest with 29 possessions, five clearances, five tackles and a goal, enjoying the ruck dominance of Steph Wales (17 touches, 30 hitouts, six entries) and Megan Ryan (16 hitouts, seven tackles).

Georgia Clarke (19 disposals, six marks, six entries) and Sophie Molan (16 disposals, eight tackles) also played well, while Olivia Manfre snagged two goals from five marks.

Jordan Mifsud again led from the front for Box Hill with 22 disposals and nine tackles, Matilda van Berkel was good at the back with 17 touches, six marks, five tackles and six rebounds and Laura Stone (17 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles) also impressed but couldn’t stop their team dropping out of the top six.

SOUTHERN SAINTS vs PORT MELBOURNE

SOUTHERN SAINTS 2.0, 2.1, 3.5, 3.7 (25)
PORT MELBOURNE 1.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.4 (22)

SOUTHERN Saints were the team to take Box Hill Hawks’ spot in the top half of the ladder, holding out Port Melbourne by three points in a tough battle at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.

In an evenly-matched contest, the Borough looked like taking the upper hand with two goals early in the second quarter, giving them an eight-point lead at the main change.

However, the Saints fought back with a series of behinds before Gabriella De Angelis kicked her second 14 minutes into the third quarter.

That turned out to be only goal of the second half, with the Saints scoring the only two behinds of the last quarter holding on as Port launched one last attack that saw the ball in its forward pocket when the siren sounded.

De Angelis (20 disposals, five marks, seven tackles, two goals) was best-on-ground in a terrific display for the Saints, with Winnie Laing (24 disposals, five tackles) laying a crucial one at the death to stop the Borough getting a late shot on goal.

Alex Hynes (10 disposals, six tackles, 23 hitouts) won the ruck and Tayla Kearns (13 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles, one goal) worked hard in attack.

Emily Harley had 11 touches and kicked two goals in her first game from a serious knee injury for Port Melbourne, with Olivia Barton (19 disposals, six rebounds) strong in defence, Jessie Williams (16 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles) doing well in the middle and Kaitlyn O’Keefe and Saraid Taylor laying 21 tackles combined.

WILLIAMSTOWN vs CASEY DEMONS

WILLIAMSTOWN 1.2, 3.3, 3.5, 5.6 (36)
CASEY DEMONS 3.1, 4.1, 6.4, 6.6 (42)

CASEY Demons held off a last-quarter rally from Williamstown to break a five-match losing streak and keep their finals hopes alive with a six-point triumph at DSV Stadium on Sunday.

The Demons used the wind their advantage with three goals to one in the opening term and held the lead all day, including by a game-high 18 points just before three quarter-time.

Two Seagull goals in the first half of the last quarter set up a nervous finish for both teams, but the Demon defence held firm and didn’t concede again to stay within two wins of the top six ahead of games against the two teams immediately above them in the next fortnight.

Leah Swain took full advantage of the absence of a recognised Seagull ruck with 35 hitouts and seven tackles, while her back-up Teagan Williams had 19 taps, 14 disposals and a goal.

The ruck ascendancy allowed Shannon Danckert (19 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles) and Amber Kinnane (12 tackles) the chance to get to work at ground level.

Experienced Williamstown trio Nicole Julian (19 disposals, five tackles), Bridie Kennedy (17 disposals, five marks, six tackles) and Danika Pedersen (15 disposals) were best for the Seagulls, while Emily Eaves (14 disposals, five clearances, 10 tackles) also did well.

DAREBIN FALCONS vs GEELONG CATS

DAREBIN FALCONS 0.0, 0.1, 0.1, 0.4 (4)
GEELONG CATS 1.2, 1.4, 2.6, 4.9 (33)

LADDER-leader Geelong held Darebin goalless as it cruised home by 29 points to consolidate pole position at Bundoora’s La Trobe University

The Falcons fought hard, only conceding one goal before the 18-minute mark of the third quarter, but they couldn’t put the score on the board themselves.

The Cats finally managed to break the shackles late in the contest on the back of a 53-15 advantage on the inside-50 count.

Breanna Pratt was exceptional for Geelong with 17 touches, five marks and two goals.

She had great support from Abby Favell (28 disposals, seven marks, six tackles, six entries), Breanna Beckley (23 disposals, seven marks), Olivia Fuller (16 disposals, six marks, one goal) and Sarah Perrott (13 disposals, 13 hitouts, seven entries).

Angelica Gogos once again stood out for the Falcons with 24 disposals, 12 clearances and seven tackles.

Alyssa Mifsud (20 disposals, five clearances, seven rebounds) fired in defence, alongside Bec Goring (16 disposals, five tackles, six rebounds), while Sally Lynch (16 disposals, 27 hitouts, six rebounds) won the ruck.

COLLINGWOOD vs NORTH MELBOURNE

COLLINGWOOD 2.3, 3.5, 7.6, 7.7 (49)
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.2, 0.3, 1.3, 6.3 (39)

COLLINGWOOD grabbed a share of the ladder lead, but only after some nervous moments as it held off a last-quarter surge to beat North Melbourne by 10 points at AIA Centre on Sunday.

The Magpies dominated most of the game, holding the Kangaroos goalless until the 16-minute mark of the third quarter when Audrey Rhodes finally put the visitors on the board.

The home side’s lead reached 39 points when star midfielder Jess Bates kicked her second goal just before the three-quarter time break.

North suddenly came to life in the last quarter, banging on five unanswered goals as Rhodes kicked her second and Emily Paterno and Sophia McCarthy each struck twice.

The first four majors of the last term came inside 13 minutes to give the Kangaroos hope of a remarkable comeback win, however the deficit proved to great for the visitors who went down by 10 points.

rebel VFLW Coaches MVP leader Bates was again in dominant form, piling on 31 disposals, 10 clearances, seven tackles, seven inside-50s and two goals.

Quality assistance came from Elizabeth Jackson (21 disposals, 10 clearances) and captain Caitlin Bunker (17 disposals, five clearances, 16 tackles), while Monique De Matteo kicked two goals and Sarah King won 34 hitouts and kicked a goal.

The in-form Rhodes was a big part of sparking North’s comeback with her 18 touches, 11 tackles and two goals, while captain Jess Jones (21 disposals, five marks, 21 hitouts) and Annabel Scott (20, seven marks) were terrific all day.

ROUND 9 FIXTURE

Saturday, May 20: Casey Demons vs North Melbourne (11:00am, Casey Fields – VFL double header); Essendon vs Geelong Cats (11:00am, NEC Hangar); Collingwood vs Southern Saints (11:00am, Victoria Park); Box Hill Hawks vs Carlton (3:15pm, Box Hill City Oval – VFL double header); Port Melbourne v Williamstown (4:30pm, ETU Stadium – VFL double header). Sunday, May 21: Western Bulldogs vs Darebin Falcons (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.