ESPN4 Minute Read
In Round 3 of the 2023 AFLW season the Kangas have been too robust for the Cats once more, not even a snake may cease Izzy Huntington’s comeback, and the Swans have a future star prepared and raring now. Here’s whose shares are rising after the second spherical of Season 8.
Our footy specialists forged their eye over the weekend’s motion to seek out out whose shares are up within the AFLW.
The hoodoo continues
When Geelong kicked the opening three majors of their sport in opposition to North Melbourne on Friday night time, you may sense a monumental consequence beckoning at GMHBA Stadium, the Cats but to beat the Roos of their quick AFLW historical past.
But goalless at half time was no problem for the away facet who kicked the subsequent 4 unanswered to runaway with a nine-point victory and lengthen their unbeaten file in opposition to the Cats to 6-0.
And shock horror, Jas Garner stole the present for a 3rd straight sport. The celebrity Roo picked up 32 disposals (22 kicks), 12 tackles, a game-high 12 clearances and 9 inside 50s, 600 metres gained, and a aim.
Put merely, she simply cannot be stopped on the coalface and across the floor, and was in a position to burst away from stoppages and supply a pivotal outlet from defence to make sure her facet had ascendancy when it was wanted.
To the rescue!
Of all the explanations to delay a soccer sport, a snake being noticed is the very last thing you’ll consider. But that is precisely what occurred forward of the GWS-Richmond conflict at Blacktown, the match initially slated for 1:05 p.m however pushed again by half-hour.
The venomous red-bellied black snake was seen lurking in one of many ahead pockets earlier than a snake catcher was referred to as to retrieve it.
And to the reduction of everybody on the floor, he did simply that, the imaginative and prescient of the person calmly holding the harmful reptile immediately iconic.
The postponed conflict commenced to see the Tigers trump the Giants by 19 factors, handing the home facet their third straight defeat to begin Season 8.
Comeback queens
While the snake in Blacktown meant everybody was disadvantaged of footy for half-hour, the additional half an hour was added to 616 days away from the sector for GWS’ Izzy Huntington who lastly made her return to the sector. The former No.1 draft choose ruptured her ACL two seasons in the past whereas taking part in for the Bulldogs, including to a horror run of accidents for the ahead; this was her third ACL tear.
In the center of rehab, she made the transfer north to the Giants and after 20 lengthy months was lastly given the inexperienced mild to play footy once more.
It was a quiet day in powerful circumstances for Huntington with 5 disposals and two marks to her title nevertheless it was the primary of hopefully many uninterrupted video games. In comparable scenes at Huntington’s old membership, Aurora Smith returned for the Western Bulldogs after tearing her ACL in 2022 and lacking 580 days of footy.
While Melbourne ran rampant over the Dogs, Smith notched up 12 disposals and 4 tackles in her comeback match. Here’s hoping for much more comebacks, and much fewer ACL accidents.
An enormous future for star swan
After a winless season final 12 months, there are many constructive indicators for the Swans regardless of their loss to one of many flag favourites in Brisbane on Sunday.
Ally Morphett has proven she needs to be one of many favourites to win the AFLW’s Rising Star award; nominated in Round 1, Morphett was an enormous presence for the Swans in the midst of the bottom, gathering a staggering 38 hitouts, six clearances, and 17 disposals, whereas she additionally kicked one of many targets of the spherical whereas aiding ball magnets like Laura Gardiner (41 disposals, if you happen to do not thoughts!) discover the tablet.
A tall presence at 188cm, Morphett is simply 19, however is shortly coming to phrases along with her measurement and athleticism. She’ll be exhausting to cease over the subsequent 10 or extra years!
