Women’s Premier Division MOTW: Depleted Warriors still too strong for Inner West
Image courtesy of Narelle Spangher, AFL NSW/ACT
Written by Michael Shillito
Inner West Magpies vs. Macquarie University Warriors – Picken Oval on Saturday 22 June
This year’s Women’s Premier Division has seen three teams make a clear break at the top of the ladder. But it’s an extremely tight battle for those three teams and only two of them will make the double-chance in the finals. There’s no room for error between the top three and even when marquee players are away playing GWS Giants VFLW matches, the rest of the team have to step up and get the job done.
So it was for Macquarie Uni as they made their way to Picken Oval for Saturday afternoon’s match against Inner West Magpies. For the Magpies, this was an opportunity to put up a strong showing. The women had been given the headline time slot, with the Men’s Premier Division team giving the women a guard of honour as the locals ran on to the field.
It was clear early on that the Warriors were still the stronger side despite being below full strength. There was still plenty of quality in the Warriors’ line-up and they took over the contest from the start, picking up the bulk of possession and refusing to let the Magpies work their way into the contest. The Magpies would be held scoreless in the first quarter, while the Warriors picked up three goals to go to a 20-point lead at quarter time.
The Magpies did manage a goal in the second quarter, but it would be their only score for the game. It was a rare moment of respite in what was otherwise a dominant display by the Warriors, capitalising on a lopsided possession count and keeping the ball inside their 50 metre arc for long periods of time. Three more goals would come the Warriors’ way in the second term, taking them to a 33-point lead at the long break.
The Warriors were in complete control, and nothing would break their momentum in the premiership quarter as four more goals were added, extending the lead to 62 points at the last change. Four more goals in the last quarter would complete the job, with the final margin stretching out to 91 points after a comprehensive display by the Warriors.
Melissa Brydon was unstoppable on the forward line, helping herself to six goals as she stood tall up forward and created numerous opportunities. Meagan Kiely and Dom Carruthers also featured prominently for the Warriors, as they faced minimal resistance to build on the momentum they have generated in this 2019 season.
It was a tough afternoon for the Magpies. Melissa Freckelton, Kate Lawson and Jessica Shanahan toiled tirelessly all day. But the Magpies didn’t have the firepower to compete against a red-hot Macquarie Uni side and were unable to get enough of the footy to launch a major challenge.
Around the grounds, East Coast Eagles maintained second spot as they held Southern Power goal-less to race to an 82-point win at Waratah Oval. Sydney Uni kept pace with the ladder leaders with a 76-point win over Newtown at Mahoney Park. And UTS AFC made it two wins in a row when they upset UNSW Eastern Suburbs by 39 points at the Village Green.
Macquarie Uni, East Coast and Sydney Uni lead the ladder, each with nine wins. There’s a massive five-game break to fourth; with UNSW-ES leading Southern Power on percentage. Inner West are a game behind in sixth place, a game ahead of UTS AFC. Newtown sit in eighth place, their first win for the season is yet to come.
Match Results
Macquarie University – 3.2 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 14.13 (97)
Inner West Magpies – 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 (6)
Macquarie Uni Goals – M Brydon 6, L Steane 2, D Carruthers 2, G Ferreira, S Freeman, M Kiely, K Russell
Inner West Goals – M Freckelton
Macquarie Uni Best – M Kiely, D Carruthers, M Brydon, P Smyth, K Russell, L Steane
Inner West Best – M Freckelton, K Lawson, J Shanahan, A Causley-Todd, L Marshall, M Ekman
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