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Ambulance officers attend to Britney Gutknecht.Credit:AFL Photos

Heave-ho Freo sent down below

Geelong held Fremantle to just one point - the lowest score in competition history - in a 26-point win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday. Fremantle finished fifth last season,missing out on a top-four spot to North Melbourne on percentage and bowing out to the Kangaroos in the first elimination final. The side has resided in the upper echelons of the ladder in recent seasons and it looked like 2020 may have been their year before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Their window to claim their club’s first flag may have closed,as evidenced by not being able to boot a single goal this week and losing to Brisbane last weekend by 49 points. The Dockers have been hit hard by injury (with goal-scorers and on-field leaders in Kara and Ebony Antonio both sidelined),and expansion,losing key forward Gemma Houghton to Port Adelaide. They can still turn it around off the back of Kiara Bowers,Hayley Miller and Aine Tighe,but they’ll need their younger players to step up. Starting 0-2 is well outside the usual swing of things for the Western Australian team,and they’ll to lift if they want to be competitive this season.

Melbourne’s Tyla Hanks closes in on the ball.Credit:AFL Photos

Melbourne maintain the “team to beat” tag

Melbourne are 2-0 and their wins have comeagainst last season’s reigning premiers and top-four finishers North Melbourne. On Friday evening,the Demons lit up the MCG before themen’s qualifying final between Melbourne and Sydney,holding back a scare from the Kangaroos and claiming a two-point win. In the forward line,they had both experience on show (captain Daisy Pearce booted two majors) and youth,with speedy forward Alyssa Bannan calm and collected under pressure,kicking the match winner. Down back,Libby Birch was a brick wall,denying the Kangaroos’ avenues to goal. Starting off with arguably the toughest draw and yet securing two convincing wins,the question now becomes:Just who can beat the Dees?
Their next game is a winnable one against St Kilda,but the week after may provide the answer. Playing at home at Casey Fields,Melbourne will host Brisbane,a team that beat Greater Western Sydney on Sunday by 47 points and Fremantle by 49 points the week prior. The Lions,last season’s third-place finishers,have been handed an easier opening two matches but have showcased classy,measured football and won by significant margins,boosting their percentage and elevating them near the top of the ladder.

Injury carnage at Box Hill City Oval

It was injury carnage in St Kilda’s win over Hawthorn at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday afternoon with a succession of knee injuries sidelining crucial players - all before half-time. In the first 10 seconds of the game,Hawthorn’s ruck Tamara Luke went down in the middle of the ground with a right knee injury. Lucy Wales then replaced Luke in the ruck. In the same quarter,important Hawks midfielder Louise Stephenson fell awkwardly,her left leg stuck under her body as she went down. She was helped off the ground by trainers,was unable to put any weight on her leg,and was soon in a moon boot and on crutches. But the devastation wasn’t over yet. A terrific smother by young Hawk Zoe Barbakos,who is emerging as one of Hawthorn’s best players alongside Jasmine Fleming,came at the cost of Jayde Van Dyk, who was left on the ground clutching her knee. Fans now will anxiously await news on the injury front,left with a sickening image on the TV with all three players on crutches in a huddle post game. On a brighter note,St Kilda can walk away satisfied with a comprehensive win over the expansion team,while Hawthorn are showing a lot of promise in what they’re building.

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