AFLW Round 4 Tips and Match Previews

Round 4 of the AFLW gets underway on Friday February 29 and there are seven games in store across the weekend.

Round 4 of the AFLW season commences on Friday night when St Kilda take on Melbourne at the Whitten Oval and there are seven games in store for the weekend.

Here is our preview of the action.

ROUND 4

COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE
Friday 28 February, 7.10pm at Victoria Park

Collingwood went down in a thriller in Round 3 to Fremantle by three points in the west and will be out to bounce back, while Melbourne suffered a shock defeat to St Kilda, going down to the expansion club by eight points. They could only manage one goal in the blustery conditions. Karen Paxman and Daisy Pearce loom as key players for the Demons, while Jaimee Lambert and Brianna Davey head in with good form for Collingwood.

Prediction: Melbourne

RICHMOND v GEELONG CATS
Saturday 29 February, 3.10pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval

Richmond have battled in their inaugural AFLW season, losing all three games and they sit on the bottom of Conference A with a poor percentage of just 35.7. They went down to North Melbourne by a whopping 56 points last weekend. Katie Brennan, Sabrina Frederick and Monique Conti have been solid but an inexperienced list have found it hard to convert. Geelong are also winless but have been a bit more competitive in their games, pushing Adelaide to within 11 points last weekend. Shaun Higgins’ sister, Danielle, was a standout last weekend and the Cats are favoured to get on top here.

Prediction: Geelong

NORTH MELBOURNE v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday 29 February, 5.10pm at Arden Street

The Kangaroos are one of the flag favourites and will be looking to take one step further towards a finals berth after their demolition of Richmond last weekend. Gold Coast featured in the first draw of the season and just the fourth since the AFLW started. They came from behind to share the points with their local rivals, Brisbane. Kalinda Howarth snagged three of the four goals and the Kangaroos defenders will need to keep her in their sights if they are to take this out.

Prediction: North Melbourne

WEST COAST EAGLES v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday 29 February, 7.40pm at Leederville Oval

West Coast sit on the bottom of Conference B and have amassed just five goals in their three games to date. It is hard to see them troubling the Western Bulldogs, who need a win to stay in contention after missing out to Carlton last weekend by 21 points. With Ellie Blackburn and Isabel Huntington in good form, they should have the answers.

Prediction: Western Bulldogs.

ADELAIDE CROWS v CARLTON
Sunday 1 March, 1.10pm at Richmond Oval

Adelaide and Carlton lock horns for the first time since last year’s Grand Final and both sides have won two of their three matches to date this time around. Ebony Marinoff has picked up in the absence of Erin Phillips. At Carlton, Tayla Harris silenced her critics in the win over the Bulldogs, while Madison Prespakis and Sarah Hocking are others that will be out to continue their good form.

Prediction: Adelaide

ST KILDA v FREMANTLE
Sunday 1 March, 3.10pm at RSEA Park

St Kilda are fresh off their first ever win in the AFLW with Caitlyn Greiser playing a starring role but they will need to be at their best against a Dockers outfit that are the only unbeaten side in the competition. With a host of options up forward, as well as the likes of Kiara Bowers and Hayley Miller In the middle, the visitors can go on with the job.

Prediction: Fremantle

BRISBANE LIONS v GWS GIANTS
Sunday 1 March, 5.10pm at Hickey Park

Brisbane remain on top of Conference A after their draw against the Suns last weekend and should enjoy plenty of supply via the likes of Kate Ludkins, Alexandra Anderson and Emily Bates. The Lions will just need to make sure they play the full four quarters after registering just one behind in the second half. GWS are among three sides on two wins and sit half a game behind Brisbane after their 28 point win over West Coast in Round 3. This shapes as one of the better games of the weekend.

Prediction: Brisbane