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Gold Coast claimed its first AFLW victory over Brisbane with a dominant final quarter, while Port Adelaide defeated Adelaide to maintain its finals hopes. Additionally, Essendon secured its first win of the season with a strong second-half comeback, and Western Bulldogs expanded St Kilda's winless streak.
Gold Coast has broken new ground with its first AFLW QClash victory, while Port Adelaide kept its finals hopes alive with a Showdown triumph over Adelaide to cap off a dramatic Saturday of football.
Elsewhere, Essendon produced a stunning second-half fightback to finally break through for its first win of the season, and the Western Bulldogs piled further misery on the still-winless St Kilda. WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Gold Coast has beaten Brisbane for the first time in an AFLW QClash, further damaging the Lions’ fading hopes of playing finals football this season. The Suns finished with a flourish at Brighton Homes Arena, winning the final quarter 22-0 to clinch a 5.10 to 3.2 victory — their first over Brisbane in eight meetings between the Queensland rivals. It was also Gold Coast’s fifth consecutive win in what is quickly developing into a sparkling 2026 campaign.
“It’s so good to play with these girls and get the win. With such a young group it’s just so exciting … and I’m just keen to see how far we can go. ” While the Suns celebrated another significant step forward, perennial contenders Brisbane were left to contemplate a fourth successive defeat, with their season record slumping to 2-6.
The Lions also face a nervous wait over midfielder Charlotte Williams, who could come under scrutiny for a late and heavy hit on Gold Coast counterpart Niamh McLaughlin during the second quarter. With 40 seconds to play, St Kilda was on track to become the first team to finish an AFLW game scoreless. A last-ditch behind to Ash Richards prevented that unwanted history, but the score of 0.1 is the Saints’ lowest to date.
The Western Bulldogs demolished St Kilda from the outset, the 30-point victors finishing +80 in disposals, +44 in contested possessions and +19 for inside 50s. Their intent to hunt was clear from the outset, and despite recording 13 more disposals in the first term, they laid 16 more tackles than St Kilda, including 12 tackles inside 50 to zero — their best differential in a quarter since Round 4, 2023.
Trapping the ball inside their forward half, it became difficult for St Kilda to create opportunities. After five goals last week, Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw had two chances — albeit from long range — but failed to convert either. With just 30 per cent time in forward half for the match, it was never going to be easy for the star forward, or any St Kilda forward for that matter.
The Saints have now recorded eight scoreless quarters this year, with three of those coming on Saturday. The uncontracted Nick Dal Santo now has an 0-8 record this season and, even with a lengthy injury list that has seen the activation of top-up players, the pressure is well and truly mounting.
Next week’s clash with Collingwood couldn’t be more of a must-win. For the Bulldogs, their surge mentality won them the game, particularly a second-quarter flurry which gave them two goals in two minutes. Isabelle Pritchard recorded a career-high 35 disposals to accompany five tackles and six clearances, while Alice Edmonds won critical contests and showed her class in the conditions.
As Lauren Young’s first Showdown goal registered on the scoreboard at Alberton Oval, Port Adelaide would’ve felt like it was home. The margin then sat at 28 points on the eve of three-quarter time, and Adelaide was goalless. This was despite the Crows controlling many of the metrics, finishing +52 in disposals and +12 for inside 50s. They just couldn’t create many true chances, let alone convert them.
Adelaide finished with more scoring shots than the Power, but went on to suffer a 14-point defeat. It was incredibly uncharacteristic for a side that sits above the AFLW average for scores per inside 50, whereas Port Adelaide is the second-worst side in the metric. Port Adelaide was also buoyed by a brawl at the end of the first quarter, kickstarted by an Ellie Hampson tackle.
“Ellie Hampson laid a great tackle and it just happened from there. ” Finishing -47 for uncontested possessions, the Crows at times over-possessed the footy, whereas Port Adelaide was direct, efficient and relentless. There was a minor late charge, with the Crows able to score two goals in the final six minutes after 30 fruitless inside-50 entries prior.
Like last year’s Showdown, it wasn’t enough, with the 5.6 to 2.10 victory putting Port Adelaide back on the winners list after a four-week dry spell and keeping it in contention to play finals. At half-time in Sydney, Essendon was staring at an eighth straight loss of the season without a win, and its coach her 16th defeat in the past 17 games at the helm.
The Giants led by 24 points at half-time and the outlook was bleak at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon, until Maddy Prespakis produced a third quarter that turned the match and ultimately delivered an eight-point win which may have eased some of the pressure on Natalie Wood. Prespakis, 25, put “her team on her back”, as Fox Footy commentator Ben Waterworth remarked, with 13 disposals, one goal, three clearances and two tackles in the third term.
Her side hit the lead early in the fourth courtesy of Daria Bannister and never relented, with its defensive pressure allowing just one point from the Giants in the second half to Essendon’s five goals and three behinds. Wood made a specific move to keep media out of the rooms at half-time, keeping it private as captain Bonnie Toogood helped lead the rev-up that inspired the Bombers’ first win of the season and handed the Giants their seventh straight loss.
“Coming in at halftime, this hasn’t gone how we to. “Consulting with the other coaches, we had a plan that if the Giants were getting a bit more run on than us, . ” The Bombers won that final quarter against the Eagles 19-1 and the last term against the Giants 12-0.
“The club’s obviously going through some significant change holistically … but the support that we’ve got, executives are here, we have board members at every game. The connection, the check-ins personally have been excellent as well. ”
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