Geelong star Georgie Prespakis faces a nervous wait after a heavy tackle left an opponent concussed during the Cats’ 50-point AFLW demolition of St Kilda.
Key points:
- Prespakis may face a suspension for her tackle on Erin McKinnon
- The Cats’ total was the largest in their AFLW history
- The Dockers triumphed over the Eagles 3.8 (26) to 3.5 (23)
The Cats booted the first seven goals of Thursday night’s match to set up the 11.5 (71) to 3.3 (21) win at Kardinia Park.
The total was the largest in Geelong’s AFLW history, bettering the previous mark of 10.7 (67) against Richmond in 2020.
But the biggest talking point to come out of the clash was the tackle from Prespakis on Erin McKinnon.
Prespakis pinned the arms of McKinnon before bringing the Saints ruck to the ground in the third quarter.
McKinnon’s head slammed into the turf, and she was motionless for about a minute before being helped up and taken off the ground.
Given the league’s crackdown on any tackles in which the player cannot protect themselves, Prespakis is facing a likely suspension.
The Cats’ dominant win improved their win-loss record to 3-2, but more importantly they unlocked their scoring potential.
The Cats managed just eight goals across the opening four rounds.
But by half-time against St Kilda, Geelong already had six goals to their name and a 40-1 lead.
The scoreline read 46-1 before Tarni White registered St Kilda’s first goal of the match at the 10-minute mark of the third term.
The Saints added another two goals for the match, but Geelong’s scoring power could not be stopped.
St Kilda was dealt three injury blows, losing McKinnon (concussion), Olivia Vesely (concussion), and Nicola Xenos (knee) during the match.
Cats veteran Shelley Scott, who had been playing in defence this season, thrived in her return to attack and finished with three goals.
Chloe Scheer also booted three, while Darcy Moloney kicked two.
Cats midfielder Amy McDonald had the ball on a string to finish with 34 disposals and nine tackles, while former Eagle Mikayla Bowen was creative.
Prespakis, who racked up a career-high 32 disposals against North Melbourne last week, was prominent yet again with 25 possessions and 11 tackles.
Georgia Patrikios (20 disposals) and Kate Shierlaw (15 disposals, one goal) battled hard for St Kilda in a losing cause.
Dockers claim Derby win
A Kiara Bowers tackling masterclass and a star display from Hayley Miller has helped Fremantle maintain its perfect AFLW Western Derby record with a three-point win over West Coast.
Bowers tallied 18 tackles to go with 17 disposals at Perth Stadium, while Miller was awarded the best-on-ground medal for her 26-disposal, eight-clearance display in the 3.8 (26) to 3.5 (23) victory.
A goal to rising Eagles star Isabella Lewis closed the margin to just one point with four minutes to go, but Fremantle held firm at the death to improve its Western Derby record to 5-0 and also notch its first victory of the season.
Lewis finished with a team-high 25 disposals for West Coast, while captain Emma Swanson collected 20 disposals and had five clearances.
Eagles ruck Sarah Lakay tallied 42 hit-outs, but Fremantle’s Mim Strom (17 hit-outs, 17 disposals) was able to do damage around the ground.
Fremantle won the tackle count 87-47, with Bowers now boasting a league-record 10 matches in which she has tallied 15 tackles or more.
West Coast dominated the territory battle in the opening half, spending 65 per cent of match time in its forward half to win the inside 50-metre count 20-11.
The Dockers’ efficiency when they did go forward ensured they stayed within striking distance.
A clever snap from Amy Franklin got the Dockers on the board in the first quarter and Aine Tighe shot Fremanle into the lead when she nailed a 40-metre goal on the run in the second.
Eagles debutant Abbygail Bushby ensured West Coast entered half-time with a three-point lead when she kicked truly following a 50-metre penalty.
Tighe scored the only goal of the third quarter after being awarded a juggling mark that she actually ended up dropping.
Nevertheless, her 40-metre set-shot gave the Dockers a five-point lead at the final change and Fremantle’s four behinds in the final term proved enough to clinch the win.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
