Brisbane Lions star forward Taylor Smith has kicked the match-winning goal to defeat the Adelaide Crows by two points in an AFLW thriller.
Smith’s accurate set-shot from 25 metres with less than two minutes remaining delivered the Lions a stirring 5.5 (35) to 5.3 (33) triumph in Springfield on Sunday.
The Lions appeared down and out when Adelaide’s prime mover Ebony Marinoff rolled through a stunning 55-metre goal from inside the centre square to put the Crows nine points up.
But the Lions, playing 24 hours after their men’s team won the AFL premiership, rallied with two goals in 50 seconds.
Dakota Davidson took a strong pack mark in the goal square and converted with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.
And from the restart, the Lions bombed into attack and Smith took an overhead mark, outstretching Adelaide’s Zoe Prowse.
Smith, the AFLW’s leading goal-kicker this season, coolly slotted her 13th major to delight the parochial 6,102-strong crowd and make amends for some earlier misses.
The loss was the Crows’ first this season and they slip to third on the ladder with four wins and one loss.
The Lions (5-1 win-loss record) climb to second behind unbeaten North Melbourne.
But the Lions’ win came at a cost, with Orla O’Dwyer suffering a dislocated left shoulder.
O’Dwyer kicked the opening goal but was hurt soon after when crunched in a strong tackle by Crow Teah Charlton.
The Lions were up by seven points at quarter-time, eight at half-time and three at the last change.
Adelaide then made two rapid strikes.
Charlton took possession in the middle of the ground, kicked forward, then sprinted into space to mark a return pass from Hannah Munyard and converted from a tight angle.
And when Marinoff’s long bomb went through soon after, the Crows were nine points clear before the late drama.
Brisbane’s Ally Anderson collected a match-high 32 disposals and her teammates Natalie Grider and (20) and Ruby Svarc (19) were prominent.
Adelaide’s Marinoff (31 disposals) and Anne Hatchard (27 disposals, one goal) were stand-outs, and Caitlin Gould booted two goals.
Kangaroos’ win soured by injury
North Melbourne’s Bella Eddey is met by the Richmond defence during the Kangaroos’ two-goal win. (Getty Images: Simon Sturzaker)
Premiership favourite North Melbourne overcame atrocious conditions to extend its unbeaten start to the AFLW season with a 12-point win over plucky Richmond.
The Kangaroos’ lowest score of the year so far was enough to see them home in a 3.9 (27) to 2.3 (15) victory in Launceston on Sunday.
The result left Darren Crocker’s side undefeated on top of the ladder with five wins and a draw.
But it came at a cost when captain Emma Kearney sustained a hamstring injury early in the first quarter.
The Kangaroos will sweat on the results of scans on Kearney’s injured right hamstring heading into the second half of a short season.
Jasmine Garner (24 disposals, one goal), Mia King (22 disposals) and Ash Ridell (22) were all influential for the Kangaroos.
Their teammates Bella Eddey and Alice O’Loughlin kicked one goal each.
Monique Conti (32 disposals, seven clearances) was among the Tigers’ best with her cleanliness and precision with the ball in the wet weather.
Caitlin Greiser and Emelia Yassir provided the Tigers with their only goals for the afternoon.
The Tigers were without captain Katie Brennan and winger Maddie Shevlin, who are both sidelined with ankle injuries.
Perfect 10 as Eagles beat GWS
West Coast kicked a club-record score, beating GWS on the road by four goals to consolidate its spot in the top eight.
Ella Roberts registered a career-best three goals as the Eagles won 10.4 (64) to 6.4 (40) at Sydney’s Henson Park.
The Eagles’ previous highest score was 8.5 against Geelong, three years ago.
It was an important win for West Coast after last weekend’s hammering at home from an in-form Brisbane Lions.
West Coast kicked the first three goals of the third term to lead by 39 points and while the Giants rallied, their season is on the brink.
As the Eagles improved to 4-2 in seventh spot on the ladder, GWS has a draw and three losses from its last four matches and is in 13th place.
Tarni Evans kicked three for GWS, a career-best haul.
Power ease past Blues
An eye-catching cameo from Gemma Houghton helped propel Port Adelaide to a 35-point win against Carlton.
Houghton booted two goals in a 10-minute purple patch during the Power’s 8.10 (58) to 3.5 (23) victory at Alberton Oval.
The Power’s second victory of the season lifts them from 15th to 10th on the ladder, just one win behind eighth-placed St Kilda.
Julia Teakle celebrates a goal during the Power’s defeat of the Blues. (Getty Images/AFL Photos: Sarah Reed)
The Blues, also with two wins and four losses this season, slip one rung to 13th spot.
Port Adelaide’s Abbey Dowrick picked up 21 disposals and made seven tackles.
Jessica dal Pos, Breann Moody and Darcy Vescio each a goal for the Blues.
Mimi Hill posted a match-high 29 disposals for the visitors.
AAP
