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Ruby Svarc has kicked a goal-of-the-season contender as the Brisbane Lions maintained top spot on the AFLW ladder with a tense seven-point victory over North Melbourne.
Key points:
- The Lions triumphed 5.3 (33) to 3.8 (26) over the Kangaroos
- The Crows defeated the Dockers 7.7 (49) to 5.1 (31)
- The Hawks and Suns also recorded wins
The Kangaroos only had themselves to blame for wayward goal-kicking at Arden Street as the Lions prevailed 5.3 (33) to 3.8 (26).
The Lions sit on top of the ladder via a superior percentage to the Adelaide Crows, who they meet next weekend in round eight.
The Kangaroos did not lack opportunities against the Lions, dominating the inside-50 count (43-23).
But their inaccuracy proved costly, with busy forward Tahlia Randall squandering a string of good chances as she finished with 0.3 from four shots.
Ally Anderson (22 disposals) continued her outstanding season for Brisbane and Natalie Grida (14) stood tall in defence.
Svarc's brilliant goal was the highlight of a gripping tussle and came towards the end of a tight first half.
The midfielder burst away from a pack at half-back and had two bounces before handpassing to teammate Greta Bodey, who side-stepped an opponent and kicked long to space deep in attack.
Kangaroos defender Sarah Wright gathered the loose ball but was caught holding-the-ball by Svarc, who had kept running.
Svarc completed the move with a calm set shot from a tight angle.
Further goals to Dakota Davidson and Bodey soon after half-time gave Brisbane a handy 15-point buffer as the visitors ramped up their pressure around the ball.
The Lions did not score in the final term but held onto their advantage, keeping their opponents goalless.
Ash Riddell (23 disposals), Jasmine Garner (20) and Emma Kearney (19) all won plenty of the ball for North Melbourne.
Crows get past Dockers
The Crows overcame a huge scare to notch an 18-point win over injury-hit Fremantle.
They were held scoreless in the opening term at Adelaide's Unley Oval and trailed by nine points at three-quarter time.
But they came home with a wet sail to post their sixth successive victory, winning 7.7 (49) to 5.1 (31).
Ebony Marinoff was on all-time record pace with 24 first-half disposals, before slowing somewhat to finish with 32.
Teammate Anne Hatchard chalked up 28 disposals, 12 clearances and eight tackles, while captain Chelsea Randall, Caitlin Gould and Ash Woodland slotted two goals each.
The Dockers largely had the better of the opening three terms, despite being two down on the bench after half-time.
Rover Gabby O'Driscoll appeared to dislocate her left shoulder just before the main break while attempting to tackle Chelsea Biddell, before defender Janelle Cuthbertson injured her left ankle when brought down by Montana McKinnon in the second quarter.
That was after winger Airlie Runnalls shook off a pre-match injury scare when she rolled an ankle during the warm-ups.
Adelaide's streak of zero goals conceded in its previous nine quarters came to an end inside the first four minutes when youngster Amy Franklin snapped superbly, giving Fremantle the edge at the first change.
The reigning premiers had the breeze in the second and moved ahead by two points, thanks chiefly to Marinoff's brilliance.
The Dockers regained the momentum after the long break, pinching the lead back on Mikayla Hyde's excellent spin around and snap and extending it when young ruck Mim Strom ran into an open goal.
The fourth quarter was all Adelaide, from the moment Randall kicked a goal 22 seconds into the term.
Woodland's second goal put the Crows in front before Gould's second made it three majors in five minutes.
Hawks post third straight win
Hawthorn's resurgence continued with a tense 13-point win over an inaccurate Port Adelaide.
The Hawks overcame a slow start to kick the final four goals of the match in their 4.5 (29) to 1.10 (16) victory in Frankston on Saturday night.
Captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd (19 disposals) was the leading ball-winner on the ground and sealed the result with a goal in the dying seconds, capping her 50th AFLW appearance in style.
Kaitlyn Ashmore (16 disposals), Aileen Gilroy (12) and Ainslie Kemp (10) were also influential, while the Hawks dominated the tackle count (71-40).
The Hawks lost the first four matches of their inaugural season but have now bounced back with three straight wins.
Two of those have been over fellow new expansion sides — Sydney and the Power.
Port Adelaide dominated early and registered the first five scores, generating a 10-point lead on the back of Olivia Levicki's opening goal.
But the Power could only muster six behinds after quarter-time as Hawthorn gradually took control on the scoreboard.
Ashmore was important as an extra player behind the ball for the Hawks during the third quarter as goals to Bridie Hipwell and Aine McDonagh gave them the ascendancy.
Port Adelaide captain Erin Phillips (15 disposals), Angela Foley and Kate Surman (both 13) all tried to lift their side.
Phillips is still searching for her first goal for the Power after booting 0.3 against the Hawks.
It took Phillips's tally to 0.5 with her family's club since her high-profile move from Adelaide.
Suns trump Swans
Gold Coast stayed in the finals race following a commanding 34-point victory over the winless Swans in wet conditions at Sydney's Henson Park.
The Suns set up their triumph as the rain started to fall early to lead by 22 points at half-time, then handled the slippery conditions better than their opponents to record a 7.7 (49) to 2.3 (15) win.
The result means the Suns continue their late-season charge towards a second finals appearance but the weather made it difficult to secure a significant percentage boost.
The Suns ended the match sitting outside the top eight on percentage.
Jac Dupuy looked more comfortable than most in the conditions and finished with two goals from 14 disposals, while Allison Drennan collected 19 touches and Claudia Whitford also had 19 and added an early major.
Much of the match was played in the Suns' half as they controlled the ball with 221-167 possessions and 43-26 inside 50s.
The last two number-one draft picks, the Suns' Charlie Rowbottom and the Swans' Montana Ham, enjoyed an enthralling midfield battle and were both among the best on ground.
Rowbottom continued her outstanding second season with a match-high 22 disposals, while Ham fought hard against the Suns' strong on-ball brigade to gather a team-high 15 touches.
The Swans looked determined to claim their first AFLW victory with ferocious attack on the ball and tough tackling in the first quarter.
They kicked the opening goal of the match when Rebecca Privitelli slotted a set-shot to make an early impact after returning to the side following an illness.
Privitelli shook off a heavy bump from Suns defender Ellie Hampson late in the first term to be the Swans' main focal point and kicked their only other major with a smart snap in the third term.
Lisa Steane and Sarah Skinner also embraced the trying conditions with 11 disposals each for the Swans to prevent the margin blowing out further.
AAP