3 minute read

After almost 700 days on the sidelines including having twins, Daisy Pearce has made a solid AFLW return by captaining Melbourne to victory.

THEY SAID IT: "The girls have afforded me a lot of firsts in my last couple of years; one of them being today, winning the game kicking one goal." GWS coach Alan McConnell on their narrow one-point win over AFLW newcomers Gold Coast.

STATS THAT MATTER: 17. The aggregate score for Gold Coast's rain-swept AFLW debut away to Greater Western Sydney. It's the lowest score in AFLW and AFL/VFL history, beating the previous mark (22 points) set in 1897 in a match between Essendon and Melbourne.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Melbourne's Kate Hore kicked two of her side's three goals then had a hand in the third to help the Demons to a two-point win over North Melbourne.

KEY MOMENT: In a game that only featured two goals, Giants forward Aimee Schmidt produced the winning play with her major in the third quarter.

TALKING POINT: After almost 700 days on the sidelines including having twins, Daisy Pearce made a solid return to AFLW football, playing off half back and captaining the Demons to victory.

KEY INJURIES: Daria Bannister (North Melbourne, AC joint), Courtney Cramey (Adelaide, groin), Sophie Li (Adelaide, concussion), Celine Moody (Western Bulldogs, ankle), Brianna Davey (Collingwood, leg), Ashton Hill (WC, knee), Celine Moody (WB, ankle), Isabel Huntington (WB, concussion), Nadia von Bertouch (St Kilda, knee), Stephanie Cain (Frem, knee)

WHAT'S NEXT: More than 30,000 fans are expected to turn up for the inaugural AFLW western derby between West Coast and Fremantle at Optus Stadium. The Bulldogs take on Melbourne on Friday night, while North Melbourne host GWS in Tasmania. Sunday's highlight will be the blockbuster between arch rivals Collingwood and Carlton at Ikon Park.