‘Perplexing’ decision amid MRO controversy; finals race heats up as tough month looms - Talking Points

QClashes have always been spicy, but two incidents in last week’s encounter remarkably, didn’t draw suspensions from the match review.

Plus, the Roos enter rare air, Richmond’s coaching masterstroke leads to first win and which teams will feature in finals footy?

A wrap of the best news and opinions from Fox Footy’s new show The W Debrief in AFLWRound 8 Talking Points!

Watch every match of the 2025 NAB AFL Women’s Season LIVE ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE IN QCLASH CONTROVERSY

QClashes have always been spicy, whether it’s in the men’s or women’s competition’s and Saturday night’s clash in the AFLW was no exception.

The Lions took the chocolates again with a 34-point victory, but two separate incidents were the biggest talking points out of that match.

The first incident involved Brisbane Lions forward Dakota Davidson pulling the hair of Gold Coast Suns defender Meara Girvan.

“We were shocked when we saw this incident,” Fox Footy commentator Kelli Underwood began on the W Debrief.

“Clearly evident hair pull… I look at that and I’ll be shocked if Dakota isn’t given a week for that. I don’t think we can be seeing that in the game,” co-host Lauren Wood added.

Adelaide midfielder Ebony Marinoff revealed she had been watching the game with some teammates when they saw the bizarre incident.

“We were in absolute shock, I don’t think we’d seen it before. Unfortunately it was really intentional and even for Dakota Davidson to turn around and point, you just don’t want to see it in the game,” she said.

Earlier this year, Newcastle Knights NRLW player Evah McEwen received a one-match ban for a similar incident, but Davidson received a $200 fine for the incident classed as ‘Other Misconduct’.

The second incident happened late in the fourth quarter, when Suns youngster Annabel Kievit attempted to chase down tackle Lions speedster Ruby Svarc in the goal square.

The incident, which concussed Svarc, did not receive any penalty from the Match Review.

Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich called the incident “perplexing” and “confusing” in his post-match media conference, while the W Debrief panel were also in disbelief at the adjudication.

“Nasty scenes, we don’t want to see that in the game and you’d think that Kievit would be in strife for that,” Underwood said.

“Any time a player is concussed, you’d think that the tackle is going to be looked at. I look at that as a punter and think it’s a blatant push in the back in the goal square and surely she gets another shot at goal so I’d imagine that’s where Starce’s frustration is coming from,” Wood added.

“I think in that instance, Annabel you can clearly see that she probably doesn’t know that Ruby’s disposed of the ball… but that should be a free kick every day of the week,” Marinoff replied.

Since then, the the AFL has admitted a free kick should have been paid.

“The AFL umpiring department spoke to the Brisbane Lions on Tuesday to clarify an incident relating to a tackle on Ruby Svarc during the match against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on Wednesday.

“A correct free kick was paid to Brisbane for a push in the back on Svarc after she kicked the ball.

“Advantage was paid, as the controlling umpire was uncertain whether the ball had crossed the goal line before the infringement.

“Upon review, the ball had crossed the goal line, therefore, as per Law 16.4.1, a subsequent free kick should have been awarded to Brisbane where the incident occurred, giving them a second shot on goal, rather than advantage.”

ROOS CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE STREAK

North Melbourne are entering rare air, winning their 20th consecutive match against Sydney on the weekend.

Over 129 years of VFL/AFL football, Geelong’s record of 23 wins in a row back in 1952-53 is the most. The Roos are now equal in second place, alongside Essendon in 2000, Brisbane in 2001-02 and Collingwood in 1928-29.

“North Melbourne have a chance to be able to break that... they’re every chance,” Underwood said.

The Roos come up against Richmond this weekend who have won just one match in 2025, before a mouth-watering encounter with a wounded Adelaide the following week.

Marinoff said she cannot wait to have a crack at the most dominant team in the competition.

“We match up quite well, we’ve had so many amazing battles over the years so I’m really looking forward to that opportunity,” she said.

“From an AFLW fan perspective, it’s been awesome to see... you love to see a team just put the foot down, full throttle.

“They’re just so ruthless, it doesn’t matter who they’re playing.

“Jas Garner with the four goals and Ash Riddell with 45 disposals, they’re pretty unstoppable.”

Wood was also full of praise for the incredible Roos.

“To be doing it in this day and age when the competition continues to grow, to have built this thing from the ground up, developed a list that has so much depth to be having this sort of dominance over the rest of the competition, it’s incredible,” she said.

“They’re so fit, they’re so mature and they’re highly skilful... which team can match that?” Underwood replied.

MAGNET MOVERS

It’s that time of the year where coaches can look to try a few things before a finals campaign, or move the magnets around to try and unearth something ahead of the 2026 season.

Port Adelaide shifted Indy Tahau forward to great effect where she booted four goals against the Bulldogs, while Carlton’s Darcy Vescio also had great impact in the final term to secure a narrow win over Geelong.

Ryan Ferguson’s Tigers have struggled all season for a variety of form and injury related reasons, but put together a comprehensive victory over finals fancies Adelaide, thanks in part to an exceptional performance from midfielder Ellie McKenzie.

“We’ve got to give him some love Ferg... it was really great to see them have a throw at the stumps and really throw the magnets around,” Wood said.

Ellie McKenzie booted three goals from 24 disposals and six clearances, while midfield maestro Mon Conti had 34 touches and a goal to go with 10 tackles.

“Their ability to win the uncontested footy on the outside really hurt us today,” Marinoff added.

Marinoff said the Crows weren’t able to go with Richmond’s on-ball duo, which were complemented well by Grace Egan and Ally Dallaway.

“Our ability to put heat onto them wasn’t at the level. Our execution when we had ball in hand also wasn’t at the level.”

The Tigers now come up against the red-hot Roos next week and while a boilover seems unlikely, who knows what might happen if they kick a few early goals and get their tails up.

RUN HOME HEATS UP

The race to feature in finals footy is heating up in a major way with just four rounds to go.

For the sake of this exercise, we’ve locked in North Melbourne, Melbourne and Hawthorn to finals action. In fact, all three could mathematically lock themselves into finals if they win - and Sydney lose to Carlton - over the course of the weekend.

But which other teams will make it?

Carlton are well poised in fourth position, two wins and percentage ahead of the Swans in ninth right now. Three of their last four are against fellow finals aspirants, so destiny is well and truly in their hands.

It would take a bold punter to write Brisbane off. You’d imagine they bank wins against the Power, Bombers and Pies and the clash against Melbourne in the penultimate round might determine whether they secure a top four berth.

West Coast, like the Blues, have been one of the season’s biggest risers, the question is, can Daisy Pearce’s young guns maintain the rage? They’ve got four tough matches to finish their season.

Will the loss to the Tigers ultimately cost Adelaide? Maybe a top four spot, but you’d imagine they get into the finals with victories over West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle. They’re a chance to beat the Roos too, but their loss to the Tigers proved anything is possible.

St Kilda are aspiring to their maiden finals campaign. If they can bank wins against the Pies and Blues over the next fortnight, they’ll put themselves in a good position with clashes against the Kangaroos and Bulldogs on the run home.

Sydney won their first four matches of the season but have lost their last four, can they rediscover some form and turn their season back around? They’ll probably go in underdogs against Melbourne in round 10, but favourites against Essendon in round 12, so that means their clashes against the Blues and Eagles will be crucial.

Geelong are two wins and percentage out of the top eight and with a final match against Melbourne, they’re going to need to win their next three to be any chance you’d think.

Port Adelaide, Essendon and Fremantle are all also two wins and percentage out of the top eight as it stands, but with tough fixtures remaining, they seem long odds to feature in finals footy this year.

4th - Carlton: Sydney (away), St Kilda (home), GWS Giants (home), West Coast (away)

5th - Brisbane: Port Adelaide (home), Essendon (away), Melbourne (home), Collingwood (away)

6th - West Coast: Adelaide (away), Geelong (home), Sydney (away), Carlton (home)

7th - Adelaide: West Coast (home), North Melbourne (away), Port Adelaide (home), Fremantle (home)

8th - St Kilda: Collingwood (home), Carlton (away), North Melbourne (away), Western Bulldogs (home)

9th - Sydney: Carlton (home), Melbourne (away), West Coast (home), Essendon (home)

10th - Geelong: GWS Giants (home), West Coast (away), Western Bulldogs (away), Melbourne (home)

11th - Port Adelaide: Brisbane (away), Hawthorn (home), Adelaide (away), GWS Giants (away)

12th - Essendon: Western Bulldogs (away), Brisbane (home), Hawthorn (home), Sydney (away)

13th - Fremantle: Melbourne (home), GWS Giants (away), Richmond (home), Adelaide (away)

Click here to read article