Updated ,first published
Sydney have booked a place in the AFLW semi-finals, defeating the Western Bulldogs by 29 points in a high-pressure clash at a windswept soggy Henson Park.
This year’s leading goalkicker and star Swan Chloe Molly aided to her tally, banishing the Bulldogs – who fought their way into finals for first the first time since 2022 – back to the kennel by winning 7.4 (46) to 2.5 (17).
The Swans asserted their dominance from the opening bounce, kicking three consecutive goals in the first quarter and leaving the Bulldogs goalless. Ellie Blackburn lifted for the Dogs in the second with a goal, but a magnificent Tanya Kennedy laid a crucial tag on Isabelle Pritchard, shutting down the Dog’s scoring capacity.
When the siren blared, Swans placed raced to embrace each other, as loyal fans in red and white cheered on the boundary line, noticeably with inside-out umbrellas and soaked ponchos.
This year has been an undeniably tricky year for Sydney.
The women’s program has copped collateral damage from the Pullman hotel scandal and Tom Papley’s alleged drug offence, as some of the club’s men’s players continue to make headlines.
But the Swans’ AFLW program has remained focused, drawing in record-breaking breaking crowds at Henson Park and continuing their finals campaign to book their spot in a semi-final against Geelong.
The Cats feel agonisingly short in their qualifying final against Melbourne on Saturday, in a thrilling AFLW finals finish.
Swans coach Colin O’Riordan said the team was thrilled with the win, but said the team was hungry to keep improving.
“Scoreboard is important at the end of the game, but you don’t get there unless you stick to the process and you stick to what we are trying to do,” O’Riordan said.
“The level of pressure thy brought across all four quarters, that was outstanding.”
Hawthorn upset Gold Coast and notch breakthrough finals win
Hawthorn’s AFLW team has a complicated relationship with finals.
The Hawks have had strong home and away seasons but typically run out of steam for their finals campaign, falling in straight sets over the past few years.
But on Sunday they proved the naysayers wrong, defeating favourites Gold Coast by 18 points in Queensland to cement their first finals win.
Sunday’s clash was incredibly close for the first half with both sides bringing intense pressure. As the scoreboard seesawed, Hawthorn finally broke away in the third, kicking three unanswered goals and grab a 15-point lead into the final break.
But the Suns weren’t done yet.
Mikayla Nurse opened the quarter with a goal for the Suns and the home crowd roared their approval. But the Hawks held on, aided by majors from Mikaylah Antony and Mikayla Williamson to win 8.9 (57) to 6.3 (39).
It was a disappointing ending to Gold Coast’s campaign.
The team has had an extraordinary comeback this year after finishing last in 2025. The arrival of AFLW legend Erin Phillips as general manager of women’s football, plus the plethora of young academy talent means the Suns will likely be a deadly force next year.
However for now, the team will anxiously wait for updates on youngster Ava Ulsher who has helped from the ground by medical staff after a collision with her teammate.
Hawthorn will now prepare for a semi-final clash with Carlton – the team that knocked them out of the finals last year.
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Hannah Kennelly is an award-winning sports reporter and Formula 1 writer at The Age.Connect via email.
