AFLW 2019: Round 5 Preview
Last updated: Mar 1, 2019, 9:17PM | Published: Mar 1, 2019, 11:47AM
With two top-of-the-conference clashes headlining Round 5 action, come Sunday, we may have two new sides sitting on top of their respective ladders.
Perhaps more exciting than that (for Magpies fans at least) is the prospect of watching one team fight to avoid the most dreaded tag in sport - a winless, wooden spoon season!
All that action and more in a ripping Round 5 of the 2019 AFLW season.
When, where and weather: Sat 4:45pm (AEDT) @ Moreton Bay Sports Complex, Brisbane. The forecast is gloomy for this one, expect rain to spoil what would have been a pretty exciting game otherwise.
Comment: Assuming this will be rain-affected which advantages the Cats with the likes of Cranston, Keryk and Garing all able to notch up double-figure tackle counts. I’m not sure they have the forwards to take advantage of any clearance dominance though so I expect a midfield scrap with the occasional Lion shot on goal. Will be great to see two great intercepting backs in Kate Lutkins and Meg McDonald go at it – they will relish the wet conditions.
Who wins it and why: If this is dry and the Lions bring the pressure they brought last week it will be a comfortable win for Brisbane. I think the Lions still have too much fire power even in wet conditions, but if the rains the score will be a lot closer.
Brisbane by 7.
View Match Page: Lions v Cats
When, where and weather: Sat 7:10pm (AEDT) @ Ikon Park, Melbourne. Early blustery conditions are forecast to ease off in the evening. No rain. Great conditions for footy.
Comment: The big inclusion for the Pies is the return of Ash Brazill. Against good sides Brazill stems the flow and helps avoid embarrassment but against the Blues she may well be capable of leading this Collingwood side to their first and likely only victory of 2019. Expect she goes to Tayla Harris and if she can contain her as well as help drive the ball forward that’s half the win right there. The other factor is Maddi Prespakis. Collingwood simply must tag her ir the game will be gone.
Who wins it and why: This game will be closer than many people (bookies included) are thinking. No team wants to finish with a winless season and that is what is staring Collingwood in the face if they drop this game. Few people have given the Pies as much stick as I have so far in 2019 but I think they can win this. Will be a kick or two in it.
Magpies by 4.
View Match Page: Blues v Magpies
When, where and weather: Sun 2:05pm (AEDT) @ Blacktown International Sports Complex, Sydney. Very small chance of rain but it is always possible in Sydney so check the forecast and radar prior to bounce.
Comment: I have a feeling that the Giants are about to get flogged here. Melbourne will be (and rightly so) ropeable about their Conference A predicament where they could finish the season on 2nd, 3rd or 4th highest points and not play finals. They will want to take that rage out on someone and I don’t think GWS have the personnel to stop them. The Dees will dominate clearances and as such I can see Tegan Cunningham dominating up forward, ditto Katie Hore. If they are even half smart the Melbourne coaching staff will tell their defenders to just let Staunton and Bonner play on then tackle.
Who wins it and why: I have not seen anything in the Giants defence this season to suggest they can stop the Dees forwards which means they have to stop one of the best clearance teams in the AFLW at the coal face. Just don’t see it, Giants have lacked composure and skill execution all season.
Demons by 25.
View Match Page: Giants v Dockers
When, where and weather: Sun 4:05pm (AEDT) @ Avalon Airport Oval, Melbourne. Going to be a hot one in Melbourne again Sunday and there is the chance of a thunderstorm late afternoon so monitor radar.
Comment: Bookmakers have the Kangaroos installed as favourites for this game but I just don’t see how the Crows don’t win. Adelaide have the best starting midfield in the comp, they have a dangerous forward line, they have probably THE best defender in the comp in Chelsea Randall and they have a host of lesser-lights who are all really capable. We saw what happened to the Kangaroos last Sunday when they cam up against a good clearance team – they struggled. Yes, they won, but it was far from convincing and I think rain, hail or shine, the Crows hand the Kangaroos their first loss of 2019.
Who wins it and why: The Crows win this on the back of clearance dominance and a best-on-ground game from Chelsea Randall.
Adelaide by 8.
View Match Page: Kangaroos v Crows
When, where and weather: Sun 6:05pm (AEDT) @ Fremantle Oval, Perth. Windy conditions in Freo for this twilight fixture but aside from that looks like great weather for footy.
Comment: Such a tough game to get a bead on. Will Ellie Blackburn play after that pretty severe head knock last Sunday? How will Brooke Lochland and Isabella Huntington go after such long injury layoffs? If all three play to their best then the Bulldogs are right in this, but if this trio needs to be carried (or doesn’t play in Blackburn’s case), the defending AFWL Premiers are in trouble, because one thing is for sure, Fremantle will be filthy about last week’s shallacking, and out for redemption. Bowers, Donellan, Hooker, Houghton, Antonio, Miller, Cain – the Dockers have a host of midfield and forward stars who can really trouble the Bulldogs.
Who wins it and why: I can’t see Freo dropping this game. The path to a win is as clear as day thanks to the Lions example – relentless full-team pressure and the Dogs will wilt. The Dockers are twice as quick as the Lions are on the counter too.
Fremantle by 13.
View Match Page: Dockers v Bulldogs
