AFLW 2019 Round 2 In Review

It was a ripping Round 2 of the AFLW despite some best efforts, with the Dockers announcing themselves as premiership contenders. The Kangaroos continued their winning ways and the Blues and the Magpies did little to shift their very short wooden spoon odds. 

North Melbourne 7.6 (48) def GWS Giants 2.11 (23)

Who, What, Why: 

The footy world is going mad for the Kangaroos after travelling to Sydney and beating the Giants. Undefeated after two weeks and putting 25pts on GWS sounds pretty impressive, but dig a little deeper and you’ll see that both sides had 13 shots on goal on Friday night.

The Giants controlled their fair share of that game but just couldn’t kick it through the big sticks. Combine this with the dominant Crows inside 50 count against the Blues on Sunday and you start to see that the Roos are not that far ahead of the pack in terms of talent, but they have kicked straighter when it mattered, which is so important in low scoring AFLW clashes.

GWS lost Emma Swanson (shoulder) early on which hurt as she was great in Round 1, while the Kangaroos also lost gun young onballer Ash Riddell midway through the third term (ankle).

Emma Kearney (22 disposals) showed what she can do if you don’t put a very hard tag on her, whilst Allison Drennan (11 disposals, 9 tackles) stepped up as a defensive midfielder in just her second game.

Key Takeaway: North Melbourne did what they needed, but it could have quite easily been a single digit margin had the Giants kicked straight. GWS will relish Carlton at home this weekend, while the Kangaroos face the Bulldogs in Tasmania, where there will likely be a blueprint shown to other sides as to how to shut Kearney down.

Melbourne 3.8 (26) def Collingwood 1.3 (9)

Who, What, Why: 

The Magpies can thank Ash Brazill for stopping this score from being a 50+ thumping. The former Australia Diamond netball defender was everywhere on Saturday, she was so influential in the backline (and Collingwood were getting so smacked in the midfield) that Brazill even drifted up later in the game to have a run on-ball.

Melbourne never looked like losing this - despite the wind making it a game where each team needed to take advantage when they had it. This helped Collingwood stay competitive for two quarters. Elise O’Dea was everywhere, gathering 26 disposals in her best afield performance.

Edan Zanker was very quiet second up, but the rest of the Demons forward line fired with Katie Hore, Tyla Hanks and Tegan Cunningham all dominating.

For the Magpies, Mikala Cann was the big improver second up with 11 tackles and 7 disposals. She is creeping up into the B Grader status, which is what Collingwood desperately need more of. Cann just needs to find a bit more of the footy and she could be one of the few positives for the Pies in 2019. Positives from the debutants Eliza Hynes and Kate Lynch.

Key Takeaway: The Demons never looked like losing and will be competitive all season. Collingwood were certainly brave in defeat, but it is hard to put up a real fight without elite skill, and the Collingwood side just lack the basic skills that the other sides possess. Will be a long season for the black and white.

Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) def Geelong 2.4 (16)

Who, What and Why: 

This was a cracking game in which the Cats absolutely had the chances to win. Ellie Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb were both dominant for the Western Bulldogs, but it was the injection of Mon Conti (19 disposals, 5 tackles) that proved the difference in the midfield battle.

Conti languished at half-forward in game one, and it was great to see coach Groves get her more involved in the game. For Geelong it was Julia Crocket-Grills and Renee Garing (ably supported by Olivia Purcell and Madeline Keryk) who picked up the midfield slack in the absence of #1 AFLW Draft pick, Nina Morrison, who suffered an ACL at training midweek.

The Cats got Phoebe McWilliams back for this clash, who played quite well, but they were still without three of their best on-ballers in Mel Hickey, Rocky Cranston and Nina Morrison. You could argue they are their best three midfielders, and if you take that class out of any AFLW team they would struggle much more than Geelong did. Aasta O’Connor going down in third quarter took even more experience away from the Cats midfield.  

Key Takeaway: Geelong should get Cranston and possibly Hickey back for this crucial Round 3 clash in Adelaide. they are just missing too much midfield quality - especially against the Crows, who ooze class - and their decision to not tag Blackburn last week, bodes well for Ebony Marinoff and/or Erin Phillips this Saturday.

Adeaide 9.3 (57) def Carlton 7.2 (44)

Who, What and Why: 

 Two late changes caused some early controversy, with Tayla Harris and Chelsea Randall both sitting out the game. Despite what the commentators would have you believe, these late outs dramatically favoured the Blues. Randall is a gun, Harris can mark strongly, but as yet, can’t hit the backside of a barn.

The Crows should have won by 40+, but thanks to four free kicks right in front of goal to the Blues - and three quarters of lackadaisical effort by Adelaide, Carlton were well in it for most of the game. The Crows last quarter was absolutely dominant, with Erin Phillips and Ebony Marinoff both breaking free of the hard tags they had faced all game from Jess Edwards and Milly Milane respectively.

Carlton seem very confused as to what to do with Bri Davey. The sooner they play her on-ball or off a half-back flank the better. She spends far too much time up forward with her talent wasted.

Anne Hatchard (22 disposals, 7 tackles) announced herself as the newest permanent member of the Crows on-ball brigade, while Stevie-Lee Thompson kicked 4.0 and had 17 disposals in a game that meant we're very likely to see her stay forward from now on.

Key Takeaway: Said it last week, but again: when your best player is an 18 year old rookie, you have big problems, and once again the Blues were carried in the midfield by Maddy Prespakis. They will challenge the Pies for the spoon this season. Adelaide are building to something big in 2019.

Fremantle 10.7 (67) def Brisbane 6.4 (40)

Who, What and Why:  

Three games this week were severely wind-affected, and this was probably the biggest factor in the Dockers' win over the highly fancied Brisbane Lions. it was a pretty close first half, but when Fremantle kicked one against the wind, the floodgates opened up.

Fremantle Oval is also quite a big field, which favoured the Dockers leg speedat ground level. The Dockers troubled and isolated the Lions defensive unit, who like to work as a team and peel off to help each other.

Ali Anderson is a star. Another 26 disposal, five tackle game. Kept trying for four quarters, as did Nat Exon (17 disposals, 8 tackles), but it was the Dockers' on-ballers, particularly Dana Hooker (26 disposals, 5 tackles) and Kiara Bowers (15 and 5) who turned the tide purple.

Gemma Houghton is going to tear a team apart at some stage this season, and it could be this weekend against the Magpies.

Key Takeaway:  The Lions were not that bad - but still lost by 27pts. It was a 5-6 minute period against the wind that blew this game wide open, but there were signs that they can improve dramatically. Jordan Zanchetta had her best game for the Lions, while young forward/ruck rookie, Jesse Wardlaw looks on the cusp of realising just how damaging she can be. Both teams are contenders this season, expect they both win well in Round 3.

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