The AFLW 2024 season gets underway on Friday night with a double header.
The Swans will take on Collingwood in the season opener in Sydney before a Daisy Pearce-led West Coast attempt to get the AFLW champion’s coaching career off to the perfect start against Richmond.
See the two match reports below.
Every game of the 2024 AFLW season is live and ad-break-free on Fox Sports and Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE BUYING INSTEAD. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
ULTIMATE AFLW GUIDE | Every club’s off-season moves, key contenders and league changes
The first centre bounce for Sydney-Collingwood is from 7.15pm AEST before West Coast-Richmond is from 9.15pm AEST.
GAME ONE – SYDNEY VS COLLINGWOOD
Who else but Swan Chloe Molloy to get us underway in AFLW season 2024?
The Sydney star managed to lose her opponent inside the opening minutes and nail her set shot from just 15m out.
But moments later Grace Campbell had the equaliser in a hot first term.
The Pies had the ball locked in their front half, but weren’t able to convert.
And despite all the territory, a quick transition from the Swans saw Lucy McEvoy convert.
“Collingwood would be pulling their hair out,” commentator Erin Phillips said.
The Pies put themselves in front to start the second while Sabrina Frederick saved her side another blow when she was left alone on the goal line to deny Sydney.
But the Swans wouldn’t be denied seconds later when Montana Beruldsen pinched the footy and snapped truly.
At the main break, scores were level 18-all – but Sydney had three straight goals and the Pies 2.6.
Collingwood’s Brittany Bonnici had a whopping 10 contested disposals to half time – six clear of the best Swans player.
Tempers boiled over in a physical third term as Sydney started to pull away.
Two spot fires broke out in the space of seconds after back to back big Collingwood hits.
Swan Maddy Collier stayed down after Tarni White got her late, before Muireann Atkinson collided with Sydney’s Chloe Molloy.
“Massive bump on Maddy Collier,” Abbey Holmes said.
“She’s walking from the ground in the hands of the doctors.”
Atkinson came off second best after her head clash with Molloy that Fox Footy’s Daniel Harford felt was accidental.
“I think she’s in a bit of trouble Tarni,” he said.
“The same passage of play.. she just runs into Chloe Molloy. It’s just clumsy more than anything else.
“Nothing malicious in that one I don’t think.”
The Irish recruit was later ruled out of the match after failing her HIA.
Down by four goals, it was Stacey Livingstone – the Collingwood veteran defender in her 67th game – who nailed her first AFLW goal in what is now her ninth season to bring the Pies back from the brink.
Alana Porter then set up the thrilling finish when she got on the end of a brilliant transition play – after Sydney thought they’d iced it down the other end with a shot on goal deemed touched by Sarah Sansonetti in the square.
But the Pies ran out of time as their inaccuracy came back to bite them at full time, falling 50-35.
GAME TWO – WEST COAST VS RICHMOND
Match begins at 9.15pm AEST.
Discussion about this post