Five things we learned from round four of AFLW
Related Story: Dogs' demolition of Blues highlights the seismic gap between AFLW's best and rest
There were records broken in the AFLW this week, we had the first draw of the season and a big upset in Alice Springs has given us two clear teams at the top.
But the continuing unpredictability means anyone who says they know how this season is going to go are definitely going the (too) early crow.
Look back on what we learned from round four of the AFLW.
Dogs, Lochland in devastating form
Perhaps appropriately on the final weekend of the Winter Olympics, it was a former speed skater who delivered the star performance of the round.
Brooke Lochland was one of the original code-hoppers for the 2017 season, but Friday night was her breakout game as the Western Bulldogs smashed Carlton by 73 points at Whitten Oval.
She had 17 disposals, four marks, four tackles and booted an AFLW record seven goals, including four in the second quarter alone.
Lochland could have had an eighth, but one kick from deep in the pocket was touched on the line, as the Bulldogs racked up a record total of 86 points for the game.
The Bulldogs onballers had a field day, with Ellie Blackburn having 18 disposals and a goal and Emma Kearney racking up 26 possessions, six marks and five tackles.
The Dogs had eight marks to one inside 50, giving their potent attack too many solid shots at goal as they shifted into favouritism for the flag.
Were the Dogs that good or were Carlton that bad? A bit of both, but you can't argue with the Bulldogs' ability to hit their targets and make use of their opportunities.
Carlton again showed they struggle to kick a winning score — their two wins have come with scores no bigger than 30 points — but it's not just a forward problem as the Blues were well beaten around the ground.
Pies regain Hope with upset win over Dees
On a hot night in Alice Springs, Collingwood raised the temperature with a big upset with a 34-point win over Melbourne.
It was a team performance from the Magpies, which would have encouraged under-pressure coach Wayne Siekman after a tough start to season two.
The Demons went in as solid favourites, but it was Collingwood who proved stronger.
There were no standout stats, just improved efforts from the likes of Moana Hope — who kicked two goals and set up another — and her partner up forward, Christina Bernardi (12 disposals, six marks, one goal).
The biggest surprise, perhaps, was that Collingwood's midfield got on top of the Demons, with Daisy Pearce held to nine touches while the Magpies' Jaimee Lambert and Stephanie Chiocci had 19 and 17 disposals respectively.
The loss could be extremely costly for the Demons, who slip a game back from the leaders — they now face a must-win game against the Lions at Casey Fields on Friday night.
Other results meant that the Pies remain bottom of the ladder after four rounds, but if they bring this kind of effort in the next three weeks, their standing will surely improve.
Teams using alternative targets in season two
Top scorers after round four
- Brooke Lochland – Western Bulldogs – 9 (7)
- Jess Wuetschner – Brisbane Lions – 7 (2)
- Phoebe McWilliams – GWS – 6 (0)
- Katie Brennan – Western Bulldogs – 5 (0)
- Tegan Cunningham – Melbourne – 5 (0)
- Richelle Cranston – Melbourne – 4 (0)
- Moana Hope – Collingwood – 4 (2)
The Dogs' Lochland is 158cm, proving you don't need tall timber to get scores on the board in AFLW.
Hope provided a big target for the Pies on Saturday, but she had plenty of help to spread the load.
For the Lions, Sabrina Frederick-Traub has been in strong form, although her kicking accuracy is lacking.
She has, however, been used more as a target to bring the ball to ground for Brisbane rather than as a sharpshooter.
Mobile forward Jess Wuetschner, however, has been a solid producer of goals for the Lions (seven for the year).
She has previously shown her ability to score from difficult angles, this week she demonstrated her awareness of conditions and goal-poaching ability — she will be extremely important if Brisbane is to make a run for the flag.
The Crows' Sarah Perkins has failed to crack the scoreboard in season two after booting 11 goals last year — although the conditions in her game this week made it difficult for any target forward (see below).
Carlton's Darcy Vescio has had a second-season slump, and while skipper Lauren Arnell stepped up with two goals, the Blues need to cultivate more ways to goal.
Wet weather a dampener on open play
If the AFL was looking for more open play, the last thing it needed was downpours at two of the matches in round four.
At a sodden South Pine Sports Complex on Saturday, the Lions and the Dockers ran themselves to a standstill, but struggled to convert in miserable conditions.
A day later at Blacktown, it was the Giants and Crows' turn to have to handle the rain.
A standout performer in the wet was Adelaide's Ebony Marinoff, who continued her strong season, racking up a record 21 tackles against GWS.
Neither contest produced what you would call champagne football, with a total of five goals scored in Brisbane and four majors kicked on Sunday afternoon.
But expecting free-flowing footy in a downpour is a bit much — the most you could say is that some players made poor choices trying to target teammates in the conditions.
An exception was right at the end of the Giants-Crows match, and the game tied. With GWS on the attack, a solid defensive mark close to goals and a couple of excellent disposals by foot helped run the clock down and ensure the Crows didn't concede a game-winning score to the Giants.
Where we are after round four
The Western Bulldogs arguably have one foot in the grand final after their big win puts them a game-plus-percentage ahead of the third, fourth and fifth sides in the comp.
Having said that, they will play a newly-confident Magpies side next week, and if they happen to slip up, they still face a potential crunch game in round seven against Melbourne at Whitten Oval.
The Lions will fancy their chances of going one better than last year's runner-up finish, but nothing is guaranteed, with Melbourne and Fremantle in particular just waiting for an opening to jump into the top two.
The draw between the Giants and Crows means it is highly unlikely — but not yet impossible — that last year's champions Adelaide will reach the grand final again.
But the first four rounds have shown that predictions are highly dangerous in this league, so watch this space!
AFLW ladder after round four
| Team | W | L | D | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Bulldogs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200 | 12 |
| Brisbane Lions | 3 | 1 | 0 | 137.7 | 12 |
| Melbourne Demons | 2 | 2 | 0 | 99.4 | 8 |
| Fremantle Dockers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 88.4 | 8 |
| Carlton Blues | 2 | 2 | 0 | 55.7 | 8 |
| GWS Giants | 1 | 2 | 1 | 89.2 | 6 |
| Adelaide Crows | 1 | 2 | 1 | 73.6 | 6 |
| Collingwood Magpies | 1 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 4 |
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