Roos return to winner’s list in emphatic statement; Blues punish scrappy Tigers – AFLW Wrap

North Melbourne are back on the AFLW winners list, just a week after their incredible 32-match streak came to an end.

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And Friday night’s 31-point victory over fellow contenders Melbourne is a statement to the rest of the competition as the Roos became the first side to defeat the Dees this season, 10.5 (65) to 5.4 (34).

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“Just really proud of the group. The hunger was there, the drive was there. Just a bloody great win,” star Jasmine Garner told Fox Footy.

“To everyone’s credit it was a weird week – like Covid days again with the flu going through the group.

“(But) we went back to the basics and got it done.”

The reigning champs were made to do it the hard way after conceding a horror goalless opening term in Melbourne great Kate Hore’s milestone 100th match.

The Dees made the Roos pay for every error – even veteran Emma Kearney coughing up a goal for dissent in a moment that only fuelled Melbourne’s momentum.

But what looked to be the perfect celebration of skipper Hore’s milestone, after her brilliant opening quarter snap, dissipated in the blink of an eye.

North Melbourne responded to leave the Demons in their dust with the next nine goals of the contest.

The bulk of those came off turnover, and the scoreboard displayed an even spread reflective of the ultimate team effort.

Jenna Bruton (32 disposals, one goal) was pivotal in arguably her best game for the club, moving from contest to contest with ease, and difference-maker Eilish Sheerin dominated with 10 clearances.

Then there’s Jasmine Garner, with a two-goal, 31-disposal outing. Business as usual.

The Roos closed off the corridor and prevented Melbourne’s short kicks, leaving Tom Wilson’s side struggling for answers.

In a game poised as a changing of the guard, Melbourne failed to rise to the challenge.

Two late majors to Mia Austin softened the blow, but their short-kick game was heavily exposed and they spent much of the second half goalless.

Conversely, having already banked comprehensive victories over top four sides Geelong and Carlton, North Melbourne proved it remains the unwavering favourite.

But it wasn’t all good news for the Roos with Taylah Gatt (ankle) succumbing to injury late in her first game of the season.

Bella Eddey and Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner also missed through illness, while Tessa Boyd (back soreness) was a late omission.

MELBOURNE: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 5.4 (34)

NORTH MELBOURNE: 0.2, 4.3, 6.4, 10.5 (65)

Dees: Austin 3, Fitzsimon, Hore

Roos: Garner 2, Shierlaw, O’Shea, Gavin Mangan, Randall, Bruton, Bogue, O’Loughlin, Wall

Dees: K. Hore, M. Austin, T. Hanks, T. Harris, M. Fitzsimon

Roos: J. Garner, J. Bruton, E. Sheerin, A. Riddell, E. O’Shea

Dees: S. Heath-Barker (calf)

Carlton are back in the AFLW’s top four with a dominant 55-point victory over Richmond in a match coined ‘Jim’s Game’.

The Blues set up their 11.10 (76) to 3.3 (21) win off the back of an electric 33-point opening term – a score that would eclipse the entire effort of the Tigers by full time.

Unable to defeat contenders Melbourne and North Melbourne in recent weeks, the Blues made a statement on Friday of their own AFLW hopes.

Sophie McKay, Keeler Sherar, Erone Fitzpatrick and debutant Tayla McMillan all had goals on the board within the first 12 minutes in a red-hot start.

The Blues finished with twelve more inside 50s for the term, recording 60 per cent time in forward half in worrying signs for the Tigers.

And the alarm bells kept ringing for Richmond as they conceded Carlton’s highest score of the season.

Oliva Wolmarans (10 disposals, two goals) was once again a shining light for her side, but in a scoreless second half, she simply fell victim to a lack of supply as early injuries to Baia Pugh and Aoibhin Cleary left the Tigers short on rotations.

In a day full of Irish flair – celebrating Jim’s game in honour of the late Jim Stynes – Fitzpatrick (three goals, 16 disposals) and Dayna Finn (27 disposals) were among the best on ground.

Richmond’s own emerging talent Isabel Bacon, who has seen increased midfield minutes in the absence of Monique Conti, battled bravely against a strong Carlton engine room.

But the Tigers are still at least a fortnight away from a return for Conti.

CARLTON: 5.3, 8.4, 9.5, 11.10 (76)

RICHMOND: 1.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.3 (21)

Blues: Fitzpatrick 3, Morris-Dalton 2, A. McKay, S. McKay, Hill, McMillan, Sherar, Scholz

Tigers: Wolmarans 2, Scott

Blues: M. Hill, A. McKay, E. Fitzpatrick, H. Cordner, D. Finn

Tigers: G. Seymour, E. McKenzie, I. Bacon, L. Graham, O. Wolmarans

Tigers: A. Cleary (ankle), B. Pugh (shoulder)

Eagles back into final contention | 00:54

The Western Bulldogs have cemented their spot in the AFLW top eight, off the back of Heidi Woodley’s four-goal burst to sink Port Adelaide.

The 21-year-old forward dominated with 18 disposals in the 10.2 (62) to 8.1 (49) win on Friday.

Staring down a four-goal deficit early in the final term, the Power did find their fight with three of the next four goals.

But a free kick to small forward Rylie Wilcox next to the goal square, with less than three minutes on the clock, helped the Dogs snuff those hopes as they held on for the 13-point victory.

“Just kept Port Adelaide at arm’s length,” Fox Footy commentator Jess Webster observed as the final siren approached.

Jess Fitzgerald’s hard-running goal in the final quarter was definitive of her influence in the contest with 21 disposals to help the Bulldogs to their fifth win of their year and move to sixth on the ladder.

Fitzgerald was just two disposals behind Bulldogs’ co-captain Isabelle Pritchard with 23.

For Port, super star ruck Matilda Scholz and Abbey Dowrick, each with 22 disposals, did everything they could to keep Port Adelaide in touch with the eight – instead they are stuck in 14th on the ladder, with two wins and five games remaining as their finals’ hopes begin disappearing.

The use of Scholz, who dominated in ruck with a remarkable 40 hit outs, was questioned throughout the game.

With a back injury ruling out Bulldogs’ star ruck Alice Edmonds, Scholz had a distinct advantage before a ball was kicked.

She dominated in the ruck and went into half time with 17 hit outs and a game-high 12 disposals at that point – yet Port Adelaide still trailed by 13 points and failed to capitalise on territory when they got it.

“When it’s not a hit out, what are they doing (with her) to take advantage,” women’s AFL pioneer Debbie Lee commented on Fox Footy

“They’re using her defensively, creating the plus one,” two-time AFLW All-Australian Meg McDonald responded.

“(Scholz is) constantly winning the hit out and yet there is not a lot of dynamic movement from the inside mids, she’s tapping (the ball) to a (one-vs-one) that is forced to fight for it in a contest.”

In positive news for the club, recruit Ellie Hampson made her long-awaited club debut after missing the opening half of the season with a hip injury and did her utmost to keep her new side in the contest.

Playing a role predominantly up forward and pushing up the ground when required, she set up the Power’s first for Shineah Goody, who kicked two for the match, and had a significant influence with three goals and 12 disposals.

“Where would they be without her?” McDonald asked after her third pegging back to the margin to 13.

The 25-year-old arrived at Alberton ahead of the 2026 season after making the move from the Brisbane Lions, where she was a Grand Final hero in 2023 with two goals.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.2. 3.2. 7.2 10.2 62

PORT ADELAIDE 1.1. 1.1 4.1 8.1 49

Bulldogs: Grigg, Fitzgerald, Laloifi, Pritchard, Woodley

Power: Mules-Robinson, Scholz, Young, Dowrick

Bulldogs: Woodley 4, McKee, Blackburn, Smith, Hartwig, Fitzgerald, Wilcox.

Power: Hampson 3, Goody 2, Young, Woodland, Mules-Robinson.