In another bumper day of AFLW action, North Melbourne have put up the highest score in their history to belt Port Adelaide, Collingwood moved into the top eight with a win over Carlton and Melbourne handed West Coast a footballing lesson.
Read on for all the stats, news and results below.
Bannan boots five as Demons belt West Coast
Melbourne forward Alyssa Bannan has kicked a career-high five goals to help propel her side to a 70-point AFLW win over West Coast.
In stifling 33-degree heat in Perth on Sunday, Bannan kicked three goals in the opening term alone to set up the 11.16 (82) to 2.0 (12) win.
The Demons led by just 15 points at halftime, but Bannan added two more after the long break and set up a number of her teammates for other goals in the easy win.
The final inside-50 count read 52-9 in favour of Melbourne.
Melbourne kicked 7.13 to 0.0 in the second half in what proved a handy percentage-boosting win.
Bannan finished with 5.1 and four marks from her 13 disposals, while Tyla Hanks (22 disposals), Eliza West (20 disposals, nine tackles, five clearances) and Olivia Purcell (19 disposals, five clearances) were also crucial.
“It was an incredible job. I can’t kick five goals without the support of the team,” Bannan told Fox Sports after the match.
“Props to the team, they did amazing. I cramped at the last bit. The heat was a big factor today, but the team did well to pull together.”
Melbourne lost to Adelaide by 10 points last week, but their gaping win over West Coast ensured they stayed equal on points with second-placed North Melbourne.
The defending premiers take on North Melbourne, Fremantle and Brisbane in a challenging run home before finals.
“Having a really difficult end of our home-and-away season will be a really good lead-in to finals,” Bannan said.
Saturday’s result was another wake-up call for lowly West Coast, who were pumped 79-1 by the Demons at Casey Fields in the final game of last season.
Roos break record en route to Port Adelaide smashing
North Melbourne have overcome a slow start to thrash Port Adelaide by 63 points and record their biggest total in AFLW history.
Port jumped out of the blocks at Arden St on Sunday, scoring the opening goal and dominating early play in their territory.
But once Alice O’Loughlin slotted the first of her two goals midway through the first term, the Kangaroos were away.
North kicked 13 of the next 15 majors to run out winners 13.9 (87) to 3.6 (24).
It eclipsed the Kangaroos’ biggest previous score of 12.4 (76) set against Richmond in 2020.
North’s stars got busy in the second quarter as Ash Riddell and Tahlia Randall kicked goal of the year contenders within minutes of each other.
O’Loughlin’s second goal was from an almost identical spot tucked away in a pocket during the third quarter to the delight of the parochial North crowd.
Riddell (35 possessions, two goals) and fellow prolific midfielder Jasmie Garner (39 disposals, one goal) predictably ran riot as the inexperienced Power squad struggled to keep up with a team eyeing a breakthrough premiership.
North (6-1) find themselves in second on the ladder, only behind undefeated powerhouse Adelaide, ahead of the final three games of the home-and-away season.
Collingwood power into top eight with win over Carlton
Collingwood have surged into the AFLW’s top-eight after their hot start proved enough to account for rivals Carlton by 17 points at Ikon Park.
Boosted by an upset victory over the Brisbane Lions last week, the Magpies carried that momentum into Sunday’s match and dominated from the first bounce.
The contest was virtually over by quarter time after Collingwood kicked three goals while keeping the shell-shocked Blues scoreless.
As the rain set in during the second term, the Magpies’ held firm before they ultimately prevailed 4.3 (27) to 1.4 (10) in a low-scoring scrap.
“I thought our pressure was outstanding for a start, and then we’re able to get some of our offensive game going off that,” Magpies coach Steve Symonds said.
“After quarter-time, we still looked pretty good, we just didn’t take our opportunities in front of goal in the second quarter.”
Carlton were far more competitive after halftime, but lacked any attacking prowess as they were forced to wait until late in the third quarter for their goal.
“Collingwood’s pressure was amazing. I thought they really brought some great heat,” Blues coach Matthew Buck said.
“It probably took our midfield by surprise a little bit and showed us a new level.”
In her 50th game, Irish product Sarah Rowe was in everything for Collingwood and finished with 18 touches.
But it was captain Bri Davey who led the charge, with another superb performance from the 2021 league best-and-fairest winner.
Davey kicked the first goal of the game against her former club after roving off ruck Sabrina Frederick to perfection.
The 28-year-old stuffed the stat sheet to finish with 21 possessions, 15 tackles and nine clearances.
AAP