FT: Injury chaos, as Swans triumph
Sydney have overrun the brave Saints to win by 19 points at Marvel Stadium during an afternoon of injury mayhem that saw a 42-minute final quarter.
Play was suspended during the last term after Sydney defender Will Edwards suffered a badly broken ankle in a marking contest. He required a green whistle for pain relief and was taken from the ground on a motorised cart.
Not long after, Jack Silvagni had to be helped from the field in pain with a dislocated shoulder.
Sydney also lost James Rowbottom with a broken hand in the first term, while St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera spent time off the ground with a hip ailment and teammate Tom De Koning needed treatment for a hamstring concern.
The Swans kicked the first two goals of the game, but then trailed by nine points at quarter time, 13 points at half-time and 12 points at the final break as St Kilda dominated possession and Wanganeen-Milera booted three goals.
But with the St Kilda midfielder clearly hampered in the final term, finishing the game out as a forward, Sydney’s midfielders went on a rampage and the Swans kicked seven last-quarter goals to St Kilda’s two. They won 16.11 (107) to St Kilda’s 13.10 (88).
“These guys are really physical,” Swans star Isaac Heeney told Fox Footy after the game. “I found out the hard way in the guts there, and a few of the boys came off not that great, unfortunately.
“So hopefully, Rowy’s OK. I think he has broken the middle bone, so hopefully it is a pretty quick turn around. And then, Will, poor fella, that was one of the grosser ones I have seen, so hopefully he can bounce back pretty quick. But he’s been outstanding for us.”
Play was stopped for 10 minutes while medical staff attended 23-year-old Edwards for what appeared to be a compound fracture.
He did not make his AFL debut until this year after a serious leg infection and then a broken leg threatened his career.
FT: Resounding win to Aussies
You’ve got to love Chloe Molloy. The Sydney star says the Australians will be sure to celebrate their 50-point win over the Irish tonight because coach Darren Crocker has promised to shout the drinks.
Playing her first game in 10 months following a back injury, Molloy booted two of Australia’s 11 goals in their comprehensive victory over Ireland – 13.13 (91) to 6.5 (41) – in the first AFLW clash between the two countries.
“Croc said he would put a tab on, so I’m going to hope to, I guess, spend some of that,” Molloy told Fox Footy with a grin.
The one-sided result did not befit the occasion. The skill level was elite before a sell-out crowd of 9017 at the picturesque North Sydney Oval, but the Aussies, understandably, had too much firepower in a game still relatively new to the Irish players.
Molloy brings up a double
It’s so good to see Chloe Molloy moving freely and booting goals.
The Sydney forward is a star of the competition, and looks to be in good form following 10-months out with a back injury.
She has booted two against the Irish as the Australians stretch their lead to 49 points in the final term.
Australia 13.12 (90) lead Ireland 6.5 (41)
Irish turn up the heat
Ouch! Ireland’s Erika O’Shea has just flattened Australia’s Nina Morrison with a crunching hip and shoulder as the Irish turn up the heat in this final term at North Sydney Oval.
Morrison was about to drive the ball into Australia’s attack when Morrison hit her like a cannonball from the side. The ball spilled free and the Irish were then able to send the ball forward for a spectacular Niamh McLaughlin goal.
It was a moment of Gaelic brilliance. She threw her boot at a loose ball and somehow threaded it between the Australian defenders and through the big sticks. But the gains made were quickly undone. Morrison recovered from her knock to boot a goal for Australia.
Australia 12.12 (84) lead Ireland 6.5 (41) final term.
3QT: Irish need a miracle
The Irish are in serious trouble at North Sydney Oval, trailing the Aussies by 41 points at three-quarter time.
They have not been able to kick a goal since half-time, which is a major concern, considering they need to kick seven to win the match.
The star tonight for the Aussies have been Tahlia Randall with four goals and midfielders Ash Riddell and Ebony Marinoff have been busy with 18 possessions each. The home team have been slick and skilful with the ball, putting on an exhibition for the vocal sell-out crowd.
The Irish have been willing, but have not been able to match the Aussies in the air.
Aussies are in cruise control now
Australia have broken out to 41-point lead, and it’s big trouble for the Irish now.
They trailed by 30 points at half-time, but have not booted a goal in this third term, while the Aussies have banged through two – one to Monique Conti and the other to Courtney Hodder.
Vikki Wall had a chance to open the account after half-time, but her shot hit the post.
Aussies 11.9 (75) lead Ireland 5.4 (34) in the third term.
The Irish will need some serious luck from here
We are underway in the second half at North Sydney Oval and Monique Conti has kicked the first goal of the third term for Australia. It’s not the start the Irish wanted because they slip six goals behind.
It could have been worse if Chloe Molloy did not hit the post with a set shot, but the Irish also missed a chance when Amy Gavin Mangan skewed the ball to the left as she took aim on the run.
Aussies 10.8 (68) lead Ireland 5.2 (32) in the third term.
Half-time: Aussies gain upper hand
Australia have asserted their authority late in the second term to take a commanding 30-point half-time lead against the Irish at the picturesque North Sydney Oval (picturesque is right, you have to love the massive Moreton Bay Fig tree behind the goals).
In a blow to Ireland, it looks like one of their stars, Aine McDonagh, will be ruled out of the game with a suspected broken arm. The Hawthorn star was helped from the ground as she clutched at her right elbow, and no one wants to see any form of injury in a representative game before the home-and-away season starts.
The Irish accuracy kept them in the game, and they closed within six points of Australia during the second term after majors to Blaithin Bogue (who has three) and Orla O’Dwyer.
But the Australians put their foot down and kicked four straight. Tahlia Randall added two goals (four for the match), and her teammates Jasmine Garner and Sophie Conway one each. Conway loves a celebration and played it up to the crowd.
At half-time: The Aussies 9.7 (61) lead the Irish 5.1 (31).
Full marks to the Irish guernseys
They might trail Australia by 24 points, but the Irish are ahead in the fashion stakes. Or, at least that’s the way I see it, even though I don’t hold any legitimate qualifications.
Ireland’s two-toned green strip is a superior outfit than the Australian gold and green.
Not that it is hindering the Aussies. They have now booted the past three goals of the game – two to Tahlia Randall, who now has a game-high four majors, and one to Jasmine Garner – after the Irish came within six points in this second term.
Australia 8.7 (55) lead Ireland 5.0 (30) second term.
The Irish are coming
Gee, the Irish can’t miss. They have booted five straight goals against the Aussies at North Sydney Oval and their accuracy has kept them in the match.
The latest goal came off the boot of Orla O’Dwyer, and they have closed the margin back to six points.
Australia 5.6 (36) lead the Irish 5.0 (30) second term.
Bogue cuts loose
That’s three goals now to Blaithin Bogue and she is causing headaches for the Australian defence.
Her third came from a strong overhead mark and a straight-forward 20m kick.
The Irish have kept themselves in the match to date with accuracy, while the Aussies seem to be overdoing the handballs.
Australia 5.6 (36) lead Ireland 4.0 (24) at North Sydney Oval in the second term.
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