VFLW Match Report: Too strong for the Cats

Our VFLW Hawks went two from two, securing a 96-point win over the Cats in Geelong on Saturday. 

The Hawks got off to a fast start at GMHBA Stadium with AFLW star Emily Bates slotting out first major inside the first 90 seconds. Play ensued back and forth between the arcs, with our Hawks defence not allowing any majors for the Cats, they managed just a behind for the quarter. To wrap up the first term Kristy Stratton booted a set shot on the siren to make it a 14-point lead at the first change.mn 

Quarter two saw the Hawks maintain a steady lead with a further two goals in rounding out the first half. We weren’t without our opportunities, putting through six behinds for the term. Bridie Hipwell got the first goal at the six-minute mark, before Jess Matin goaled with a long range set shot. The Hawks kept Geelong to the single behind for the half and took a 32-point lead into the main break. 

We turned it up a notch in the third term, securing three goals, as well as another three behinds to take the margin to 52 points by quarter’s end. Rosie Dillon was the first to produce the good in front of goal roughly 8 minutes in, follow by back to back majors from AFLW’s Eliza West to finish it off. 

The fourth term became a party of goals with five players getting involved and adding their name to the board either for their first of the day or a second time around. First up was Stratton to make it a double, Casey Sherriff then got on the board, followed by Captain Tamara Luke. To make things simple to recount the duo did it all again, Sherriff then Luke with their second goals. Another AFLW player in Aine McDonagh added her name to the stats sheet, before Matin joined the doubles club and sealed a Hawks win. 

The Hawks ran out winners by 96 points at GMHBA, making for a great start to season 2024. 

It was an even split of AFLW and VFLW players who made up our best players for the match. Casey Sherriff and Eliza West are already impressing after just two games in the brown and gold, with reigning Hawthorn Best and Fairest winner Emily Bates evidently continuing her form. Captain Luke is leading by example with young gun Caitlin Thorne and debutant Elenor Butler putting their talents on display. 

The Hawks will head home to Box Hill City Oval for our first home game of the season against Collingwood. 

Best: Sherriff, West, Bates, Luke, Thorne, Butler. 

Goals: Luke 2, Matin 2, Sherriff 2, Stratton 2, West 2, Bates, Dillon, Hipwell, McDonagh. 

Disposals: Bates 30, West 25, Thorne 19, Sherriff 18, Stratton 18, Smith 17.