There are only two Ulster women out of nine who are in contention to play in the AFLW finals series at the halfway point of the league season.
Donegal footballer Amy Boyle-Carr played her second game for the Adelaide Crows in their 35-33 away defeat to the Brisbane Lions at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday.
Just hours after their male counterparts won the AFL Premiership, star forward Taylor Smith booted a last-minute winner for the Lions ladies in a thrilling round five fixture.
Tipperary’s two-time premiership winner Orla O’Dwyer booted a crucial goal for Brisbane before breaking down with a shoulder injury. Boyle-Carr came off the interchange bench to register 5 disposals (3 kicks & 2 handballs) and 1 mark.
Despite the agonising defeat the Crows in third are well placed to play finals but have no room for complacency with four sides below them level on 16 points.
Among the chasing pack, is Fremantle who won 24-25 away to Saint Kilda at RSEA Park in Melbourne on Grand Final Eve.
Forkhill woman Amy Mulholland collected 19 disposals (4 kicks & 6 handballs), 2 marks, and 2 tackles in the Dockers forward line. Fremantle remain in sixth on the season ladder but the loss of spearhead Aine Tighe for the rest of the season could be a body blow to their top four prospects.
The Sydney Swans finals ambitions were dented on Friday when they lost 39-32 away to the Western Bulldogs.
Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy finished with 14 disposals (5 kicks & 9 handballs) and 9 marks in the Swans defence.
Sydney have only won two of their five matches this season and are floundering in eleventh on the season ladder, but they are only one win outside of the top eight finals spots heading into the closing rounds of the league campaign.
In the early kick off on Friday morning, the winless Gold Coast Suns slumped to their fourth defeat in five matches after losing 27-24 to second bottom Collingwood at the Swinburne Centre.
Armagh’s Lauren McConville, who was named Ladies’ Footballer of the Year at Friday night’s 2024 Irish News All-Star Awards, was dropped.
Former Donegal skipper Niamh McLaughlin collected 13 disposals (9 kicks & 4 handballs) and 1 tackle in midfield.
Down defender Clara Fitzpatrick finished with 11 disposals (5 kicks & 6 handballs), 1 mark, and 5 tackles.
Tyrone forward Cara McCrossan tallied 4 disposals and 1 tackle.
Shane O’Neill’s and Armagh footballer Blaithin Mackin is currently out injured for third-bottom Melbourne Demons.
Fermanagh’s Blaithín Bogue is yet to make her AFLW debut for ladder leaders, the North Melbourne Kangaroos.