AFLW round 6: GWS stuns rival Sydney in record-breaking derby, Demons star kicks a bag against Eagles

The Power were irate at the call that saw defender Amelie Borg hit with a free kick against her for deliberately rushing the ball through, with Port Adelaide leading by one point with less than eight minutes remaining in the game.

The decision — made against Borg who had been scrambling to collect the ball — gave the Cats a shot at goal from the goalsquare which Mikayla Bowen kicked truly to secure the lead and eventual victory for Geelong.

Port Adelaide queried the call among others on Monday with the league determining upon review that while Borg was not under immediate physical pressure when she rushed a behind, it was assessed that her action was not intentional and that the moment should have seen a behind awarded rather than a free kick.

Former AFLW player Kate McCarthy had labelled the decision as “may be the worst adjudication for deliberate rushed behind I have ever seen”.

“Never even took possession and wasn’t even a professional fumble,” she wrote on X.

GIANTS MANAGE BEST WIN IN THEIR HISTORY

— Ed Bourke

GWS has produced the greatest win in its AFLW history to seriously dent the finals hopes of archrival Sydney in front of a record crowd at Henson Park.

There were tears of relief from under-pressure Giants coach Cam Bernasconi and his players when they beat the Western Bulldogs last week, but on Sunday their reaction in front of a Swans-dominated crowd of 7,171 was unbridled joy.

GWS missed chances early when it had the breeze in the first term, but it did not matter with Sydney kept to just 1.2 after halftime with no room to breathe as the Giants sustained a high-pressure game to the end to hang on for a seven-point victory.

It was the first time the Giants had won back-to-back games since 2021, and they dealt Sydney its second surprise defeat in as many weeks to leave the Swans staring at a steep cliff with a brutal month to come.

Sydney finished round 6 one game inside the top eight but will next embark on two daunting interstate trips to face Adelaide and a red-hot North Melbourne in Tasmania before a home clash against Carlton, and another away journey to meet second-placed Melbourne.

THE ROCKS OF HENSON PARK

Ally Morphett dominated in the ruck to help the Swans’ midfielders take a 30-17 advantage at clearances, but they could not convert it into territory as GWS stifled their ball movement to the extent that Chloe Molloy only took one mark for the entire game.

GWS key defenders Emily Pease and Cambridge McCormick were immense behind the ball with 20 intercept possessions between them.

Pease laid two desperate tackles at halfback with six minutes left to hold up play for the Giants, and took a crucial intercept mark peeling off Lucy McEvoy moments later.

McCormick went back with the flight to take an emphatic intercept grab above her head with 10 seconds left when the Swans launched one last desperate attack.

‘I’LL TAKE THOSE ODDS’

GWS star Zarlie Goldsworthy had never experienced back-to-back AFLW victories, and was emotional on the final siren.

“It was just amazing, to come out here in front of all this red and to deliver … we haven’t had two wins in a row for a while. It’s been a long time coming, we’ve fought so hard for this. I’m just so proud of the girls,” Goldsworthy told Fox Footy after racking up 31 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal in the victory.

“You always have belief, but until we were able to come out here and do it … I think we were paying 13 to 1, so I’d take those odds any day.”

COACH KILLERS

The Swans had flashy moments and Zippy Fish was superb, gathering a ball at full speed to set up a major for Paris McCarthy seconds after she had snapped her own goal across the body.

But Scott Gowans would be fuming after they gave up crucial red-time goals in the second and third quarters.

On the stroke of halftime, a miscued Swans spoil tumbled out the back and allowed Tarni Evans into an open goal to cut the Swans’ lead to seven points at the main break.

Demons deny Daisy Homecoming Victory

- Lucy Watkin

Five goals to Melbourne forward Eden Zanker has helped the Demons to a 51-point

thrashing of Daisy Pearce’s West Coast Eagles at Casey Field.

It was no happy homecoming for the Demons former Premiership captain Daisy Pearce, who

now coaches the West Coast Eagles, with her former side leading from start to finish at

Casey Fields.

It took no time for the Dees to start the demolition job with Eden Zanker and Tayla Harris

combining for three goals in the first four minutes of the game.

The Dees won the territory battle in the first quarter with 17 inside 50s to the Eagles five to

kick start the game.

That dominance continued throughout the next three quarters with the game largely played

in the Dees forward half allowing Tayla Harris and Kate Hore to capitalise with two goals

each.

Zanker was everywhere for the Demons inside 50, kicking five goals and taking nine marks in

the contest, accuracy kept the key forward from claiming a new AFLW goal kicking record.

Melbourne kicked the first 10 goals of the match before a mini fight back from the Eagles

saw them win the last quarter with three unanswered goals.

The win is a much needed percentage boost for the Dees who have now taken second place

on the ladder at the halfway point of the season.

RECORD WATCH FOR ZANK

Fans were on record watch after Eden Zanker kicked five goals in just a quarter and a half of

football at Casey Fields. The current record is seven goals in a game and with over a half to

go it looked like Zanker would well and truly take it. Tough conditions at Casey Fields and

some inaccurate kicking saw her finish with 5.3 for the day but given the service inside 50

from the Dees classy midfielders more bags could be on the horizon for Zanker.

DAISY’S DEMON HOMECOMING

After not facing each other in Daisy Pearce’s first season as coach, AFLW fans were hoping

to see the Dees face off against in Pearce in 2025. Pearce who was the Dees premiership

captain played alongside a number of Dees players out there today and it would also mark

the first time she would go head to head with her old coach Mick Stinear. While there is

definitely plenty of love for Daisy Pearce at the Demons, Eden Zanker did concede to

Channel 7’s Nat Edwards that it was nice to get the bragging rights over her old captain.

MILESTONE MCNAMARA

There was no guarantee that Eliza McNamara would ever make back on the field after a

traumatic spinal injury she suffered in the gym in 2022. So it was special to see the hard

working winger make the 50 game milestone against the Eagles. McNamara almost got a

goal to celebrate but was still one of the Dees best with her 24 disposals and 406 metres

gained.

Saints rip Tiges of first win

- Chloe Williams

Richmond had one hand on its first win of the season, but St Kilda surged to claim a hard fought seven-point victory.

Chelsea Frawley said pre-game that her late father Danny would’ve “loved nothing more to see this game played hard and fair, and hopefully finished with a Saints win”- and that it was.

They maximised the unruly conditions late at RSEA Park, using the wind to convert three goals in the final term and continue their push towards finals.

While it was St Kilda that came in the dominant clearance side by a fair margin, Richmond largely controlled the stoppage to provide itself more opportunities to score.

Richmond Coach Ryan Ferguson deployed a spare behind the ball, allowing his side to maintain field position for much of the afternoon.

The Saints clawed their way back into the contest despite recording less inside 50s and losing both Molly McDonald and J’Noemi Anderson to lower leg injuries.

The pressure was hot in the second term, with both teams well exceeding the AFLW average (208) with ratings of 236 and 259 respectively.

It soon boiled over as a 50m penalty against Richmond saw Anderson cut the margin to five points from close range - a turning point in the game with four minutes to play in the second term.

Richmond’s Ellie McKenzie proved her worth back in the middle after a stint in the backline last week.

Showing how vital her impact is forward of the ball, she kicked two goals - including the only major of the third term - to accompany 25 disposals.

A set shot miss from Katie Brennan with 58 seconds remaining in the third term proved costly as St Kilda mounted its fourth term comeback.

Almost doubling their score in the final term, Charlotte Baskaran, Ash Richards and Jesse Wardlaw sealed the Saints’ third win of 2025.

TWO SAINTS DOWN

Molly McDonald and J’Noemi Anderson both exited the game with lower leg injuries.

Both players are integral to St Kilda’s structure, shaping as a huge double-blow if they are to miss an extended period.

The Saints will finish the round on the cusp of the top eight, remaining in the race to secure their first finals campaign.

NEW SAINT MAKES IMPACT CLEAR

Charlotte Baskaran has made an impact for St Kilda this season, and her first goal in Saints colours came at just the right time to level the game for the home side late.

With 11 disposals and that crucial goal, it marks her best game in her new colours since round one.

BLUE SOCKS FOR SPUD

St Kilda’s blue socks marked its second AFLW Spud’s Game, continuing to champion mental health awareness across both the men’s and women’s competitions.

“Check in on your mates, ask how they’re really going and have each other’s backs on and off the field,” said Chelsea Frawley pre-game.

OBSCURE INJURY

Much-loved umpire “Razor” Ray Chamberlain was sidelined for the second half, seen getting ice strapped to his calf early in the third term.

“He’ll have to get onto the Lachie Neale program,” said Fox Footy commentator Kate McCarthy, later dubbing him “hyperbaric Chamberlain.”

Lions too good for Dogs in tough conditions

- Lucy Watkin

The Brisbane Lions are back into finals contention after their 25-point win over the

Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval.

It was a hard fought win for Brisbane who had to contend with strong winds and

heavy rain throughout the afternoon at Whitten Oval.

Despite the tough conditions the Lions uncontested game was on show, owning the

aerial battle with 65 uncontested marks including 11 marks inside 50.

The Lions struck first through Neasa Dooley and had to fight hard through the

Bulldogs pressure to generate more opportunities.

After going a player down when Charlotte Mullins was removed from the match with

a concussion, Brisbane rallied in the second with goals through Dakota Davidson

and Taylor Smith to extend their lead to 16 points at halftime.

Conditions didn’t ease up in the third quarter and the Lions continued to pepper the

goals before finding a major with Taylor Smith’s second.

Louise Stephenson kept the Bulldogs in it with two goals of her own but Neasa

Dooley and Sophie Conway put the game away for Brisbane in the last.

The win over the Dogs marks the Lions third away win of the season, crucially

putting them back into the top 8 at the end of round six.

SEASON BEST FOR CONWAY

Sophie Conway was everywhere for the Lions in the hard-working winger having her

best game of the season so far. The two time All Australian showed of her

endurance winning 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions also kicking the sealer

for the Lions.

LIONS UNEARTH ANOTHER IRISH GEM

The Lions have unearthed plenty of Irish talent of the years with Orla O’Dwyer and

Jennifer Dunne key cogs in the Lions Premiership in 2024. There was plenty of hype

on new Irish recruit Neasa Dooley in the lead up to the season and it looks like the

Lions have found another gem in Neasa Dooley who kicked two goals in the win one

an expert crumb and snap on goal in the last quarter.

BULLDOGS’ BLACKBURN PROBLEM

Ellie Blackburn has been one of the most impactful players in the history of the

AFLW but the former Bulldogs captain has been well down on her usual output in

2025. Part of this comes down to the decision to use Blackburn as a permanent

forward for the season so far. While up forward it has felt Blackburn has been

starved of opportunity to get her hands on the footy and against the Lions she had

her best game of the season spending more time on the ball. Does coach Tam Hyett

need to throw Blackburn back into the midfield permanently to support her young

and developing midfield that struggled against the experienced Lions?