Friday 8 February, 7:15pm

GWS Giants vs North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos (Drummoyne Oval)

After a nail biting loss to the Brisbane Lions the GWS Giants will look to notch up their first win of AFLW 3.0 against early premiership favourites the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos. The Giants will have their work cut out but can they come away victorious on Friday night in front of their home crowd. 

Saturday 9 February, 4:45pm

Collingwood vs Melbourne (Victoria Park)

Two teams coming off narrow defeats in Round 1. Collingwood losing by a point to newcomers Geelong and Melbourne losing by four points against a fast finishing Fremantle at Casey Fields. So with both teams winless expect a fiery contest, as they look for their first win of season three. 

After 16 rounds of the NTFL season, only Nightcliff and Southern Districts have locked in their finals bookings. But after costly losses on the weekend for the Darwin Buffaloes, Tiwi Bombers and Palmerston Magpies and an important win for Waratah have seen a fascinating race for finals places emerge.

The Buffaloes will reach the finals, but are now in danger of losing the double chance. The Tiwi Bombers must win at least one of their remaining matches to reach the finals, but would be better with two wins. Palmerston can get there if they win both remaining matches and other teams slip. In short, if a team steps on a snake they can drop badly. Win and they can climb the ladder to finals.

GWS Giants Alyce Parker and Geelong Cats Nina Morrison are both the Round 1 AFLW Rising Star Nominees. This nomination capped off an impressive debut for both Parker and Morrison respectively.

Parker accumulated 18 disposals at a 72 per cent disposal efficiency, 12 handballs, six kicks, four marks and three tackles in the close loss to the Brisbane Lions at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex last Sunday.

Image Source: Chris Hyde/Getty Images/AFL Media

 

Former elite basketball player Lauren Pearce started with basketball but now has successfully made the transition to women’s football. She has called the Melbourne Football Club home since 2016 when she was drafted to the club.

“I was lucky enough to be invited to the draft and had Mum and Dad there with me,” Pearce said. “It was a weird feeling being in a room with great footballer and I was nervous to see what would come about.”

Image Source: Getty Images

The third nail biter of round 1 saw Brisbane hang on to win by two points in humid conditions over the GWS Giants at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex.

Image Source: @superfooty

New Fremantle head coach Trent Cooper was victorious in his first AFLW match. Fremantle finally locked away their first interstate win, as they caused a round 1 upset over Melbourne by four points on a hot and windy day at Casey. This was the second highest scoring AFLW match.

Image Source: @FremantleDockers 

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos thrashed Carlton by 36 points in a beautiful day down in Hobart. It was North Melbourne’s historic first win in their inaugural AFLW match against Carlton at Hobart Oval. North Melbourne really showed the rest of the competition that they would be a tough team to beat in AFLW 3.0 with their hard running, attacking football and the way they support and gel together as a team. 

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Adelaide hosted the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval in front of 7,830 fans. It was a tight tussle from both teams who gave it their all in a high pressured and exciting contest. Adelaide’s woeful kicking towards goal cost them in the end in a narrow one-point loss to the reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs. It was a memorable win for the Western Bulldogs who had never registered a win against Adelaide.

Image Source: @Western Bulldogs AFLW

A grandstand finish for Geelong’s women’s team on a historic night for the club who pulled off a one point victory in front of their home crowd faithful. AFLW 3.0 opened at the home of newcomers Geelong Cats, GMHBA stadium who hosted Collingwood in front of 18,429 adoring Aussie Rules fans. 

Image Source: Geelong Advertiser