Carlton and the Western Bulldogs are undefeated on top of the AFL Women’s ladder, but serious knee injuries to key Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s players made Round 2 bittersweet for both teams.
The ladder-leading Blues received a big blow in the final quarter of their 21-point defeat of GWS at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney on Friday night when captain Brianna Davey (St Kilda Sharks) tore her ACL. Davey – who was one of Carlton’s best players with 16 disposals before the injury – will undergo a traditional knee reconstruction that will keep her out of the 2018 VFL Women’s season.
Seaford twins Jess Hosking (14 disposals) and Sarah Hosking (round-high 16 tackles) were key contributors for the Blues, while GWS’ Alicia Eva (Melbourne Uni) was the game’s most prolific ball-winner with 17 disposals.
On Sunday, the Bulldogs’ no.1 AFL Women’s Draft pick from last year, Isabel Huntington (Melbourne Uni), suffered her second ACL injury in 18 months (on the opposite knee) in her team’s nine-point win against Brisbane in Brendale, Queensland. Huntington had just kicked two majors to spark the Bulldogs’ match-defining second-quarter surge before injury struck.
Kirsty Lamb (Diamond Creek) had 20 disposals to be the Bulldogs’ leading ball-winner, while teammate Jenna Bruton (St Kilda Sharks) impressed in her second AFL Women’s game with 15 disposals and a goal.
Meanwhile, Melbourne is the competition’s third undefeated team after accounting for reigning premier Adelaide by 32 points at Casey Fields on Saturday, with a host of VFL Women’s players finding plenty of the ball.
Karen Paxman (Darebin, 21 disposals), Kate Hore (St Kilda Sharks, 20), Lily Mithen (Geelong VFL Women’s, 19) and Elise O’Dea (Darebin, 19) starred for the Demons, with two goals to VU Western Spurs’ Aliesha Newman also important in the victory (see video below).
In Round 2’s other game, Collingwood fell to Fremantle by 13 points in front of 41,975 fans at the new Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday. Cranbourne youngster Holly Whitford made her debut off the rookie list for the Magpies, while teammates Melissa Kuys (Box Hill Hawks) recorded a game-high 21 disposals and Christina Bernardi (Diamond Creek) booted two majors.
79 of the 110 VFL Women’s players on AFL Women’s lists appeared across the weekend, after 83 took to the field in Round 1.
This might be one of the best goals you'll see this year! Aliesha Newman take a bow 🌟#AFLW #AFLWDeesCrows
Posted by AFL Women's on Friday, 9 February 2018
