Arabic version: صنز يفشل بفارق ضئيل في بلوغ المراكز الأربعة الأولى بدوري AFLW

According to ABC News, Gold Coast finished 0.2 percentage points behind Carlton after beating GWS 9.8 (62) to 7.11 (53) at Henson Park in the final home-and-away game of the AFLW season. The Suns needed a strong victory to overtake the Blues for fourth place and secure the finals double chance, but their ninth win was not enough.

Gold Coast controlled the first half around stoppages and in midfield, leading clearances 16-10 as Charlie Rowbottom and Lucy Single recorded five each. GWS responded strongly in the third quarter, leading disposals 68-46, converting eight of 10 inside-50 entries, holding the Suns scoreless and taking an 11-point lead into the final term.

Rowbottom helped Gold Coast reclaim the lead with a late goal and finished with 33 disposals, two goals and 12 clearances. “Obviously we’re happy to get away with the four points, but I wanted to finish fourth,” she said after the match. “We’ll take the long way home.”

The Giants fought hard in the final appearances of retiring Alicia Eva and Isabel Huntington. Eva was an inaugural AFLW player with Collingwood 10 years ago and served as GWS captain for five years. Huntington, a number one draft pick and All-Australian, had her six-year career affected by three ACL injuries.

Elsewhere, Essendon defeated Collingwood 4.14 (38) to 4.7 (31), giving outgoing Bombers coach Natalie Wood one final win. Melbourne beat Adelaide 6.11 (47) to 3.11 (29) to confirm third place and a qualifying final against Geelong, while Sydney held off Fremantle 5.7 (37) to 5.6 (36). Chloe Molloy kicked four of Sydney’s five goals and won the league goalkicking award.