The third-placed Magpies will take on the sixth-placed Kangaroos in a do-or-die Qualifying Final on Saturday afternoon at Victoria Park, with the winner to go on to face Brisbane in a Preliminary Final.
Coming off Round 9:
It was a disappointing close to the home-and-away season for the Magpies, who fell to a dominant Adelaide side at Norwood Oval last week.
Led by Anne Hatchard (22 disposals), Ebony Marinoff (17 disposals) and Erin Phillips (16 disposals), the Crows outclassed the Pies to claim the minor premiership and book a home Preliminary Final off the back of the 14-point win.
Jaimee Lambert (23 touches and 1 goal), Brianna Davey (23 disposals) and Brittany Bonnici (22 disposals) were gallant for the Magpies, but Collingwood will need to re-group ahead of this weekend’s crucial clash.
Season at a glance:
Looking back at the season as a whole, the Magpies dropped just two games – a Round 7 loss to the Lions by a narrow three points and last week’s defeat at the hands of the Crows.
Prior to this, the Pies went on a six-game winning streak to open the season including important wins against the Demons, Bulldogs and this week’s opposition, the Kangaroos.
Last time we met:
It was a commanding 20-point victory to the Pies on the deck of Marvel Stadium the last time Collingwood met the Kangaroos.
The Round 4 win came through a solid team performance, with Chloe Molloy booting two goals up forward, Brianna Davey leading the midfield with 31 disposals and the backline holding the Kangaroos goalless for the first time in AFLW history.
The match also poses a replay of last year’s semi-final – and while the 2020 season was eventually cut short, the Magpies will be eager to atone for a heartbreaking two-point loss.
An eye on the opposition:
The Kangaroos completed the home-and-away season with a one-point thriller, clinging to victory against the Dockers to claim the last finals spot.
North Melbourne claimed the lead midway through the final quarter and despite the best efforts of the Dockers to snatch it back, the Kangaroos managed to hang on.
Overall, the Kangaroos have had an up-and-down year but there's no questioning that at their best, they remain a force to be reckoned with. While finishing in sixth position, the Kangaroos still only dropped three games for the year.
Boasting a star-studded midfield including the likes of Emma Kearney, Jas Garner and Ash Riddell, it may well be a battle at the source that determines this weekend's winner.
Pies to look out for:
While the Kangaroos are known for one of the best midfields in the competition, if there's a side that's up for the task in the middle it's Collingwood.
Last time the two sides met, the combination of Brianna Davey (31 disposals), Jaimee Lambert (27 disposals) and Brittany Bonnici (21 disposals) ran rampant.
With the trio freshly announced in the 2021 AFLW All-Australian Squad, it's safe to say that their combination has played a vital role in Collingwood's rise this year. While sides may have had success in shutting down one, the spread across the board has provided headaches for Collingwood's opposition.
With an All-Australian Squad nomination of her own, Ruby Schleicher has been in career-best form throughout the 2021 AFLW season.
Schleicher ranks fourth in the competition for intercept marks and is averaging 15 disposals per game and 311 metres gained.
With an injury-ravaged Collingwood defence, Schleicher carrying her red-hot form into the finals series is more important than ever.
Ticketing:
Members: FREE
Adults: $10
Under 18: FREE (but must still register online)
*Tickets will not be available at the gate and must be purchased online prior to the match.
How to watch:
All 2021 NAB AFL Women’s Finals Series matches will be broadcast live on the Seven Network, FOX FOOTY, Kayo, and via the AFL Live Official App, thanks to Telstra. Matches will also be streamed live via womens.afl and the AFLW Live Official App.
2021 AFL WOMEN'S – QUALIFYING FINAL
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Saturday 3 March, 3.10pm (AEDT)
Victoria Park
