Historic draw shakes up finals race; Irish star eyes goalkicking gong after ‘massive day’: AFLW Wrap

The AFLW’s first ever Dreamtime game in Darwin ended in a draw!

Plus an epic bag of six goals has put an Irish star in the box seat for the leading goalkicker award. Read on for our Saturday AFLW Wrap.

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FIRST EVER DARWIN DREAMTIME GAME ENDS IN DRAW

The first ever AFLW Dreamtime clash in Darwin ended in a draw!

Traditional rivals Richmond and Essendon couldn’t be separated on Saturday night, finishing 6.6 (42) apiece in an exhilarating showdown that went down to the final seconds.

After a frenetic final quarter — including injury carnage to Jess Hosking (hamstring) and Steph Wales (knee) — Tigers skipper Katie Brennan’s late snap just went past the wrong side of the post to even the scores.

It was a game both teams desperately needed to win in the lead into finals, with the sixth-placed Tigers (26 points) fighting for a top four spot, while the Bombers are clinging onto eighth position (22 points).

With just one home and away round remaining, Essendon may need to defeat Collingwood to guarantee its spot in the post-season and hold out the likes of Melbourne (20 points) and Geelong (18 points).

St Kilda can also climb to 20 points with a win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

MOLONEY BAGS SIX TO TAKE GOALKICKING LEAD

A sublime six-goal performance from Aishling Moloney kept Geelong’s faint finals hopes alive and put the Irishwoman in the box seat to take out the AFLW goalkicking award with a record tally.

Moloney’s career-best bag proved the difference as the Cats, who led by only two points at halftime, kicked the last five goals of the game to secure a 33-point win in Perth on Saturday.

After two crisp set shot finishes in the final term – which could’ve included another if not for a reversal after she caught her opponent high – Moloney went past Chloe Scheer (five goals) to boot a club-record haul and overtook Kate Hore and Eden Zanker’s 20 goals last season to claim the record for the most goals in a single AFLW campaign.

The 26-year-old, who won the AFLPA Best First Year Player gong, told Fox Footy after the game she had newfound respect for the West Australian teams as she battled fatigue following the long cross-country trip.

“It was a massive day at the office. I’m delighted to get the win. We dug it out in the end … it was looking sketchy there for a while, but excited to get the win at the end of the day,” Moloney said.

Slight chance remains

As the siren sounded, Geelong’s finals equation was simple – beat Adelaide at home next Friday night, and have Essendon lose both its remaining games: against Richmond and struggling Carlton, to qualify.

The Cats have a strong percentage and have dealt with one of the harder fixtures this season after they stormed into a preliminary final in 2023.

But they will rue key moments in the first three games of the season: a home loss to Melbourne, the draw the following week with North Melbourne, and a bizarre goalless performance against the Blues at Ikon Park.

Eagles’ centre bounce perfection

AFLW medal fancy Ella Roberts was electric as she racked up 11 disposals and a goal in the first quarter, but actually wasn’t involved in the Eagles’ best play of the afternoon.

Ruckman Sarah Lakay spiked the ball forward at a centre bounce in the second term, straight into the path of Isabella Lewis, who scooped the ball up and drilled a pass to full-forward.

The ball went to ground, but Kellie Gibson was positioned beautifully for a textbook crumbing goal.

When former netballer Verity Simmons slotted her first career goal moments later, the Eagles were within a kick, but Moloney took care of the outcome for the Cats.

EAGLES 1.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.5 (23)

CATS 2.0, 4.0, 6.1, 9.2 (56)

BEST Eagles: Roberts, Schilling, Lakay, Thomas, Drennan, Lewis. Cats: Moloney, Kearns, Prespakis, Morrison, Bowen, Parry.

GOALS Eagles: Roberts, Gibson, Simmons. Cats: Moloney 6, Bowen, Parry, Surman.

UMPIRES Kerr, Morgan, van Raay

INJURIES Eagles: Roux (back). Cats: Crockett-Grills (ankle), Friswell (ankle).

CROWD 2,015 at Lathlain Park

AFLW GOALKICKING LEADERS

Aishling Moloney (Geel) 21

Taylor Smith* (BL) 16

Caitlin Gould (Adel) 14

Danielle Ponter (Adel) 14

Kate Shierlaw (NM) 14

*Yet to play this round

DOCKERS LOCK IN MAIDEN FINALS BERTH

Fremantle will feature in the AFLW finals for the first time in three seasons after an 30-point away win over GWS at Henson Park on Saturday.

The Dockers sealed a top-eight spot, and firmed for a home elimination final as Aisling McCarthy flexed her muscles in a superb 22-disposal, three-goal performance.

McCarthy kicked two of her goals in the opening term and racked up nine disposals as her speed and classy finishing proved the difference between the two sides on a blustery afternoon.

Her second goal from a set shot came from a rare interchange infringement penalty against GWS, who appeared to have one too many players on the ground late in the quarter.

Play was halted in the middle, with McCarthy receiving an automatic free kick and 50m penalty as the closest player to the ball in a huge blow to the Giants.

Brazill goes down

Already without Aine Tighe (knee) and acting captain Hayley Miller, who again did not play with a persistent calf issue, the Dockers could be without the crucial intercept defender for their final home and away game against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

‘Fumbly’ Giants pay GWS

GWS coach Cam Bernasconi told Fox Footy at quarter-time his players had been too fumbly and had to take a breath after a “chaotic” opening term.

Tarni Evans used her body well against Emma Driscoll for an out-the-back goal against the run of play, but despite Alyce Parker’s tireless grunt work in the middle, the Giants rarely looked threatening to their opponents.

Orlagh Lally made the Giants pay for their inefficiency when she kicked a superb goal off her left boot as she ran towards the boundary in an immediate response to Evans’ goal.

GIANS 1.0, 3.0, 3.1, 4.1 (25)

DOCKERS 3.3, 5.7, 6.8, 7.13 (55)

BEST Giants: Parker, Beeson, Smith, Pease, McCormick, Zreika. Dockers: McCarthy, Lally, Driscoll, East, Newton, Kauffman.

GOALS Giants: Newman 2, Evans, O’Dowd. Dockers: McCarthy 3, Lally 2, Hetherington, Kauffman.

UMPIRES Hughes, Nund, Williams

INJURIES Giants: nil. Dockers: Brazill (ankle).

CROWD 1,335 at Henson Park

PORT CLOSE IN ON FIRST EVER FINALS APPEARANCE

Port Adelaide is a whisker away from securing a maiden AFLW finals berth after overpowering a hapless Gold Coast to claim a third interstate win this season.

Gemma Houghton and debutant Jo Miller booted two goals each as the Power kicked away from the Suns after a tense first quarter to claim a 34-point victory at People First Stadium.

A suspected serious knee injury to Daisy D’Arcy in what was meant to be a 50th-game celebration for the Gold Coast star was a shattering blow for the home side midway through the second term.

D’Arcy had racked up 13 disposals when she burst out of a stoppage at halfback, took a bounce and tried to baulk around Power defender Amelie Borg before she crumpled to the ground in pain.

Teammate Charlie Rowbottom fought valiantly with 25 touches, six clearances and five inside 50s, but the Power were still able to win the clearance battle and made far more of their opportunities in front of goal.

Port debutant shines

Former triathlete Jo Miller was the final player added to Port Adelaide’s list ahead of this season as an injury replacement pick up for Indy Tahau.

With veteran defender Ange Foley rested from the clash, Miller was handed a debut in her home state, and the dream got better when she was floored following a mark at half-forward and marched to the goal square.

Miller erupted in celebration after putting through the Power’s first goal, and went on to kick another, telling Fox Footy after the siren that the experience had been “absolutely amazing”.

The 25-year-old’s effort will pose a difficult selection call for coach Lauren Arnell ahead of next Sunday’s home clash against GWS.

Finals 90 per cent loaded

Their fixture hasn’t posed the challenges of some other finals contenders, but Port Adelaide had to stare down the round 2 ACL injury to captain Janelle Cuthbertson and won its last two games without star forward Julia Teakle, who could still be a fortnight away with her own knee injury.

Richmond beating Essendon in the Dreamtime game on Saturday night would mean the Power earnt a well-deserved finals berth on percentage, while they would also lock up a spot before next week if the Western Bulldogs beat St Kilda in Ballarat on Sunday.

SUNS 0.4, 1.4, 2.5, 3.6 (24)

POWER 1,1, 3.4, 5.8, 8.10 (58)

BEST Suns: Rowbottom, McLaughlin, Wilson, Dupuy, Whitfort, Lynch. Power: Dowrick, Houghton, Scholz, Borg, Lamb, Miller.

GOALS Suns: Maurer, Oliver, Dupuy. Power: Houghton 2, Miller 2, Lamb, Dowrick, Scholz.

UMPIRES Bridges, Manthey, Talbot

INJURIES Suns: D’Arcy (knee). Power: nil.

CROWD 2,160 at People First Stadium