Add Category
“We had 22 more inside 50s, four more scoring shots and we’ve lost another final. We are guttered.
“We need to let this feeling sink in. This needs to drive the group next year.”
Matilda Scholz of the Power celebrates kicking a goal in the last quarter.Credit: Getty Images
Power midfielder Abbey Dowrick struggled for possessions for much of the game but came alive in the last term kicking two goals and winning some key contests while forward Gemma Houghton made some key plays with strong marking and two goals.
Power ruck Matilda Scholz, 19, kicked a clutch goal in the final term, smiling as she stepped into the biggest kick of her career.
“It’s insane really,” Scholz told Seven
“We’ve come in as underdogs pretty much all season and it’s so awesome that we get to pull it out in the last quarter, it was great.”
“We weren’t playing our footy for the first three quarters, we just wanted to give it all we’ve got as it might have been our last quarter of the season.”
Fleming was integral in taking the Hawks to a 22-point lead going into the last term with her smart kicking and canny forward play but Scholz’s goal cut the margin to a point with six minutes to play.
“No, I didn’t know if I would kick it. Sometimes I’m a bit “how is it going” with my set shots, so it was nice to kick it,” Scholz told Seven.
“Each game could be our last and we are playing like it is.”
Amelie Borg of the Power and Aine McDonagh of the Hawks compete for a mark during the AFLW Semi Final.Credit: Getty Images
McDonagh was in tears after her injury needing painkillers while Hawks head of leadership and former Australian basketballer Jenni Screen was shown holding a towel to cover McDonagh’s face as the team doctor glued the cut together.
She wanted to return but reportedly struggled to control the ball with her injured hand so the Hawks coaches kept her on the bench.
In the final minutes, Hawks 50-gamer Louise Stephenson hit the post from an open goal to make it a two-point lead and moments later the Power found Dowrick free and she put the Power in front.
Loading
But the Hawks didn’t drop their heads as Fleming won the ball on half-back and Bodey sent it deep into an open forward line where Kaitlyn Ashmore kicked a running goal for a one-point lead with two minutes to go.
The Hawks rushed a behind under pressure from the Power to tie the scores with 100 seconds to play, Power’s Sachi Syme won a turnover from the kick-in but missed an open shot at goal, it was enough to snatch back the lead and they held on for a memorable win.
Powerhouse Crows trounce Dockers, storm into AFLW prelim
Adelaide 7.7 (49) d Fremantle 1.6 (12)
Adelaide have advanced to their fifth successive AFLW preliminary final after thrashing Fremantle by 37 points in the first semi-final.
A commanding 4.2 to 0.1 third quarter, while kicking into a stifling northerly, paved the way for the Crows to cruise past the Dockers 7.7 (49) to 1.6 (12) in sweltering 37-degree conditions at Norwood Oval on Saturday.
The Crows belt out their song after a commanding win over the visiting Dockers.Credit: AFL Photos
Adelaide will take on the Brisbane Lions next weekend for a place in the grand final.
Ebony Marinoff had 32 disposals, 11 tackles, eight clearances and a major for the Crows, who had seven individual, single goalscorers, while Anne Hatchard and Madison Newman amassed 24 touches apiece.
Gabrielle Newton was lion-hearted with 19 possessions and 12 tackles for Fremantle, who were thoroughly outclassed from quarter-time onwards.
With AAP
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.