The Brisbane Lions’ undefeated AFLW record over North Melbourne remains intact after they stormed home for an enthralling two-point victory.
Down by 18 points at halftime, the Lions kicked four goals to one after the main break to pinch a 5.5 (35) to 5.3 (33) victory at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.
Emma Kearney was paid a free kick in the dying seconds but North’s captain was 60m out from the Kangaroos’ goal and her shot dropped well short.
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The Lions’ theme song had already started playing as Kearney attempted what would have been the greatest goal in AFLW history.
It was a heartbreaking loss for North, who seemed destined to move to 4-0 this season and remain undefeated in Tasmania.
The Lions had won all previous matches against North dating back to 2021.
Shannon Campbell, best-on-ground as a defender in the Lions’ grand final defeat to Melbourne last year, kicked the matchwinning goal on her 27th birthday.
He snap in the dying stages put the Lions in front for the first time since early in the match, coming only minutes after she dropped a regulation mark in the goal-square.
The Lions turned the match around after being belted in the midfield in the first half as North’s stars Ash Riddell and Jasmine Garner led the way.
League best-and-fairest Ally Anderson was everywhere for the Lions after halftime, while Lily Postlethwaite and captain Bre Koenen slotted important goals in the third quarter.
North’s Nicole Bresnehan missed the entire second half with a suspected ankle injury.
The result leaves North and the Lions at 3-1, with reigning premiers Melbourne and perennial powerhouse Adelaide the only undefeated teams this season.
Swans hold off Eagles
Sydney have fought off a scrappy West Coast to hand the Eagles a fourth consecutive AFLW loss in a 13-point win at Henson Park.
Rising star Ally Morphett’s brilliance steered the Swans to a 5.4 (34) to 2.9 (21) victory in their first-ever AFLW meeting with the Eagles on Sunday.
The 19-year-old led her team hitouts with 33 to the Eagles’ combined 17, racked 20 disposals and 10 clearances, along with ball magnet Laura Gardiner (18 disposals, three clearances, 11 tackles).
Swans co-captain Chloe Molloy lit up the 4595-strong crowd with a 40m goal to open the game as well as snapping a major from the left pocket to start the second term.
Cynthia Hamilton (one goal) and Bella Smith (two) were also among the Swans’ contributors to the scoreboard.
The Eagles went goalless in the first stanza before Kellie Gibson finally broke through to give her side their first major just thirty seconds before halftime, reducing the margin to 14 points.
Shaking off a right ankle injury, Eagles captain Emma Swanson breathed new life into her side with a snap goal from the boundary line to open the third quarter.
Swanson was typically crucial for her side, collecting 22 disposals but couldn’t haul her team over the line.
A scare went through the Swans camp when Molloy left the ground with a potential elbow injury.
She returned to the fray soon after but the Eagles continued to claw back into the contest.
An electric effort from Smith, who kicked her second major of the game just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter, extended the Swans’ lead to two goals.
In a setback for the Eagles, defender Evangeline Gooch was taken off the ground with an arm injury.
Dana Hooker’s inaccuracy in front of goal costly for the Eagles, with Henson Park erupting into a roar for Sydney as they closed in on their second-ever AFLW victory.
Sydney (2-2) travel to Victoria to take on ninth-placed Carlton next round, while West Coast (0-4) host 13-placed Port Adelaide.
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