This
week: the Kangaroos record one of the biggest AFLW wins ever, St. Kilda
records its first AFLW win ever, and Collingwood somehow does not win despite
recording almost 100 more disposals than its opponents.
The
Kangaroos have a thumping good win
The Kangaroos jump to a clear second on the rankings, after beating Richmond by 56 points on the weekend. It was the fourth largest winning margin in AFLW history, behind the Bulldogs’ 73 point win against Carlton in 2018, and the twin beltings Adelaide handed out to Melbourne and Geelong in consecutive weeks last season. One may note that both those teams went on to win the premiership.
The margin would not have been so severe if the Tigers had converted their shots at goal at an average rate, but the Kangaroos still dominated the match with 63 more disposals. They were excellent at finding loose players (or conversely, the Tigers were poor at covering their opponents), with 45 more uncontested possessions than Richmond, and almost double the amount of marks. Ashleigh Riddell and Jasmine Garner continued their great form – Riddell is averaging 20 disposals for the year, up from 13 per game last season, while Garner is averaging 18 disposals per game, also up from 13 last year.
At the same stage last season the Kangaroos were red-hot favourites for the flag. Big losses to Adelaide and Fremantle – along with the AFLW’s conference system – ultimately ended their season. Each round this year seems to throw up a new premiership favourite (and the Roos aren’t quite the bookmakers’ favourite), but the Kangaroos in 2020 look like they are still one of the competition’s strongest sides.
Don’t sleep on Collingwood, despite their loss in the west
Collingwood, along with Brisbane, is one of the most improved teams in the AFLW this season. The Magpies easily beat West Coast and Carlton, and lost by just three points to league leaders Fremantle on the weekend. Scoreboard aside though Collingwood statistically dominated this game, with 93 more disposals, 13 more inside 50s, and 19 tackles in their forward 50. Hayley Miller was Fremantle’s leading disposal-getter with 13; six Magpies had more than that, including Jaimee Lambert with 32 disposals.
The Dockers again won the game through their general pressure, with 75 tackles to 58, and gaining more territory than the Magpies with each disposal. Fremantle had 2.8 kicks to every handball, compared to 1.2 for Collingwood. Throw in a better conversion rate in front of goal, and the Dockers were able to squeak home.
But this was still an encouraging result for the Magpies on enemy turf. It could end up being a dogfight with Carlton and Melbourne (or even the Dockers themselves, if they slip) for the second and third Conference B finals spots. Next week’s match against the Demons at Marvel Stadium, before the men’s fundraiser game for the bushfires, looms as an important one for the make-up of the finals series.
Congratulations to the Saints
St. Kilda won its first ever AFLW match, against Melbourne, on the back of a booming fourth-quarter goal from Caitlin Greiser. Melbourne’s inaccuracy in front of goal (1.8) probably helped get the Saints over the line, but that shouldn’t take away from the joy of St. Kilda’s historic win, coming after a near miss against reigning premiers Adelaide. Next week they face off against the Dockers, for which the rankings consider them an almost even chance, and how many people would have thought that at the start of the season?
The Kangaroos jump to a clear second on the rankings, after beating Richmond by 56 points on the weekend. It was the fourth largest winning margin in AFLW history, behind the Bulldogs’ 73 point win against Carlton in 2018, and the twin beltings Adelaide handed out to Melbourne and Geelong in consecutive weeks last season. One may note that both those teams went on to win the premiership.
The margin would not have been so severe if the Tigers had converted their shots at goal at an average rate, but the Kangaroos still dominated the match with 63 more disposals. They were excellent at finding loose players (or conversely, the Tigers were poor at covering their opponents), with 45 more uncontested possessions than Richmond, and almost double the amount of marks. Ashleigh Riddell and Jasmine Garner continued their great form – Riddell is averaging 20 disposals for the year, up from 13 per game last season, while Garner is averaging 18 disposals per game, also up from 13 last year.
At the same stage last season the Kangaroos were red-hot favourites for the flag. Big losses to Adelaide and Fremantle – along with the AFLW’s conference system – ultimately ended their season. Each round this year seems to throw up a new premiership favourite (and the Roos aren’t quite the bookmakers’ favourite), but the Kangaroos in 2020 look like they are still one of the competition’s strongest sides.
Don’t sleep on Collingwood, despite their loss in the west
Collingwood, along with Brisbane, is one of the most improved teams in the AFLW this season. The Magpies easily beat West Coast and Carlton, and lost by just three points to league leaders Fremantle on the weekend. Scoreboard aside though Collingwood statistically dominated this game, with 93 more disposals, 13 more inside 50s, and 19 tackles in their forward 50. Hayley Miller was Fremantle’s leading disposal-getter with 13; six Magpies had more than that, including Jaimee Lambert with 32 disposals.
The Dockers again won the game through their general pressure, with 75 tackles to 58, and gaining more territory than the Magpies with each disposal. Fremantle had 2.8 kicks to every handball, compared to 1.2 for Collingwood. Throw in a better conversion rate in front of goal, and the Dockers were able to squeak home.
But this was still an encouraging result for the Magpies on enemy turf. It could end up being a dogfight with Carlton and Melbourne (or even the Dockers themselves, if they slip) for the second and third Conference B finals spots. Next week’s match against the Demons at Marvel Stadium, before the men’s fundraiser game for the bushfires, looms as an important one for the make-up of the finals series.
Congratulations to the Saints
St. Kilda won its first ever AFLW match, against Melbourne, on the back of a booming fourth-quarter goal from Caitlin Greiser. Melbourne’s inaccuracy in front of goal (1.8) probably helped get the Saints over the line, but that shouldn’t take away from the joy of St. Kilda’s historic win, coming after a near miss against reigning premiers Adelaide. Next week they face off against the Dockers, for which the rankings consider them an almost even chance, and how many people would have thought that at the start of the season?
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