Sydney AFL has seen the conclusion of its fifth round of Women’s Football on the same weekend that Melbourne welcomed the return of the VFLW league.
A number of GIANTS were in action across the weekend in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne, and there’s a month’s worth of action to catch up on in the Women’s Footy Wrap.
UNSW Canberra 1st Grade Women’s
Women’s football returned to Canberra three weekends ago and Britt Tully has continued from where she left off at the GIANTS.
The dominant midfielder has been named amongst Gungahlin’s best in all three games this year, kicking three goals along the way.
Fellow GIANT Jodie Hicks has also been in good form, kicking three goals in her past two games for ladder-leading Belconnen Magpies.
Hicks has also been named in the Magpies’ best players once, while former GIANT Hannah Wallett has kicked eight goals in three games and has been named in their best players in every match so far.
Finally, Hannah Dunn, who played in the GIANTS’ first-ever AFL Women’s match as a top-up player, has been impressive in her two games for third-placed Queanbeyan, being named in their best players twice.
AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division
Macquarie University Warriors sit undefeated at the top of the ladder, having beaten defending premiers UNSW-ES Bulldogs and perennial finalists Sydney University in the past month.
A move to half back has seen GIANTS ruck Pippa Smyth gather plenty of the football in her past four matches for Macquarie, with her dash and strength often on show. The 22-year-old managed to impact the scoreboard on Saturday with Smyth kicking a crucial goal during their seven point win over the Auburn-Penrith GIANTS.
During an intense game that featured impressive performances by GIANTS teammates Renee Tomkins and Haneen Zreika for Auburn-Penrith, the Warriors trailed by a point with just minutes to play.
Auburn-Penrith gave away a free kick to Smyth on the wing before an Auburn-Penrith player dropped the ball in front of Smyth resulting in a 50 metre penalty. Some stern words were directed at the umpire by an Auburn-Penrith player resulting in another 50m penalty, which saw Smyth take her kick from the top of the goal square.
Macquarie’s form has been sensational without injured captain Amanda Farrugia and their win on Saturday saw them without leading goalkicker and GIANTS AFLW and Netball strength and conditioning coach Simone Freeman.
Tomkins and Zreika, meanwhile, have been in impressive form, with Tomkins’ long kicking from half-back being a highlight of Auburn-Penrith games so far this year.
The defender, who also spent some time in the ruck for the GIANTS during the 2018 AFLW season, has been named in Auburn-Penrith’s best on ground three times in the past month, while Zrieka has been named in their best twice.
Rebecca Privitelli has been in outstanding form for UNSW-ES Bulldogs, kicking 11 goals in her past three games to see her take the mantle as the competition's leading goalkicker.
The 23-year-old had signed for VFLW club Hawthorn in March, but opted to stay in Sydney and has since joined up with GIANTS AFLW assistant coach Tracey Kick at UNSW-ES.
Privitelli has been named amongst the Bulldogs’ best in their last three games, while fellow GIANT Phoebe Monahan has notched up two games in past month.
Livewire forward Jacinda Barclay has featured only once for UNSW-ES this year, playing in Division One as a defender. With a new points system introduced to the women’s completion this year, the Bulldogs are unable to field a team featuring all three GIANTS in their Premier Division squad of 21.
Meanwhile, Louise Stephenson and Erin McKinnon have returned to playing, with the duo lining up for Sydney University for the first time on Saturday.
Their influence was clearly felt, with Stephenson named amongst their best players as they beat Newtown by 21 points at Mahoney Park – just the Students’ second win of the season.
Sydney Uni’s round four loss to Macquarie University saw the departure of former GIANT Stephanie Walker, who is moving to Adelaide. Walker had been amongst their best players twice this season.
Saturday’s clash between Sydney University and Newtown saw former GIANT Codie Briggs again named as the Breakaways’ best on ground.
The zippy midfielder has been in fine form in 2018, being named in her side’s best in every game and as best on ground three times in Newtown’s last four games.
Western Wolves’ Melissa Freckleton started the season with a win but her side has since notched up four successive losses. Freckleton missed the Wolves’ 110 point loss to UNSW-ES, but returned on Saturday to feature in their best players during a 23 point loss to Southern Power.
VFLW
Emma Swanson has hit the ground running in the first round of the VFLW competition, which began in Melbourne on Saturday.
Playing for new club the Northern Territory Thunder, Swanson ran riot in their 54 point win over defending premiers Darebin, collecting 31 disposals and kicking two goals.
On Sunday three GIANTS were in action in the Essendon/Hawthorn clash at Windy Hill.
Defender Pepa Randall collected 10 disposals and GIANTS leading goalkicker Phoebe McWilliams could only manage a behind and four marks on a quiet day as the Hawks won by 39 points.
Tait MacKrill spent time in the midfield as well as forward for Essendon and collected 12 possessions.
South Australian Women’s Football League
Reigning AFLW Player’s MVP Courtney Gum has yet to line up in the SAWFL after winning the StateWide Super Women’s League Grand Final with South Adelaide.
Gum was amongst South Adelaide’s best on ground in the Grand Final, kicking the winning goal, while collecting 20 touches in the win.
It was a fitting end to the season for Gum, with the 36-year-old celebrating the win with her coach and partner Krissie Steen.
The win brought joy to Panthers fans, who have not seen their club win a men’s or women’s top-flight premiership since 1964.
