In a see-sawing match of Australian Rules Football, Port Adelaide beat Melbourne by only two points at Alberton. Carlton proved their depth with an impressive 46-point win against Gold Coast in the AFLW. That happened this weekend, when both Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney celebrated important anniversaries. They stood up to mighty challengers in amazing battles.
Port Adelaide’s latest match against Melbourne was a real nail biter that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Both sides came into the contest with 1-4 records, but Port was able to pick up a victory they desperately needed, restoring a faint hope of reaching the postseason. Indy Tahau was a standout for Port with a hat trick. This outstanding performance is a sign that he’s coming back into the fold after an extended recovery from a knee reconstruction. Kate Hore steps it up in a loss. Kate Hore was on fire in the loss to Adelaide. She kicked three goals and was named best on ground.
In an unrelated game, the Carlton Blues bathed in the glow of their AFLW season’s stellar beginning. They came up against Gold Coast a week later, where Tara Bohanna continued the dominant narrative by booting two goals against her old club to be among the headlines. The match began as a close affair, with Carlton ahead by just one point at the half-time interval. The Blues erupted in the second half, putting up seven straight goals to take a commanding lead. Dayna Finn and Lily Goss were pivotal in Carlton’s victory with 26 disposals apiece. On the other end, Sophie McKay added to the high score with three beautiful goals.
They defeated Sydney, handing the Swans their first loss of the season. The Magpies were in a grim fight, having gone 378 days without a win. In those years, they experienced 13 defeats and only one draw. Their defensive strategy was clearly a smart gamble. They had Sydney goalless for three-fifths of the match, marking a barnstorming return to form in their premiership defence campaign. This win improved Collingwood’s record to 2-3, moving them up to 10th place on the ladder.
Greater Western Sydney’s historic win over the Adelaide Crows at Manuka Oval Georgia Garnett spearheaded that effort with a stunning three-goal display, helping them on their way to a thumping 8.2 to 3.11 victory. For the Giants, this particular win represented a growing tide that was pushing the franchise into a new and more competitive echelon.
After an incredible weekend’s results, the stage is set for an exciting continuation of both the AFL and AFLW seasons. The close races and exceptional efforts on an individual level further illustrate how much drive, talent, and grit exists in the league this season.
