What a round of footy, round 3 has been. We learnt that the Fremantle Dockers are the genuine flag favourite after their dismantling of the Adelaide Crows.

After round 3, only four teams remain undefeated including Fremantle, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions. 

Image Source: @MelbourneAFLW

Fremantle Dockers signalled to the rest of the competition that they are the team to beat this AFLW season with the 30-point dismantling of the Crows at Norwood Oval on Sunday afternoon

The Dockers are now on a 10-game winning streak.

Image Source: @aflwomens

Heading into the match, both teams were undefeated at 2-0 and on paper looked like it will be a real clash of the titans contest from start to finish. But, it was anything but with the Dockers controlling the match from quarter time onwards. 

After this afternoon's performance, the Dockers are definitely the premiership favourites this season and are now the ladder leaders with a percentage of 225.5. 

Hard nut Docker Kiara Bowers was sensational finishing with 23 disposals, 15 kicks and 13 tackles (a game high).

Gemma Houghton continued her strong form of the season up forward with two goals from 12 disposals and Ashley Sharp in her first game of the season contributed two goals. 

Round 2 was full of excitement. Several game schedules got changed due to the quickly-changing landscape of Australia border laws. Let's take a quick look a how our international talent faired in the matchups.

(Image Source: Getty Images via AFL Images)

Western Bulldogs (6.6.42) v. Carlton Blues (5.6.36)
Friday, Feb 5th

Bulldog Danielle Marshall, #26, was omitted from the lineup this week. After spending a few games last year and round 1 stepping in for injured rucks, it has been a bit since she’s had the game-time to prove herself on the forward line. We hope to see her back kicking goals soon.

What a round, pride round turned out to be with fans encouraged to wear rainbow colours to celebrate a round that means so much to many.

All of the round 2 matches, apart from the Western Bulldogs and Carlton clash were blowouts.

After round 2, the Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Adelaide Crows, Melbourne and Collingwood all remain undefeated. 

Also, it was a round where records were broken in the QClash with the Brisbane Lions recording the highest ever score and the Gold Coast Suns, the lowest ever score in AFLW history. 

The Western Bulldogs held on to win by a goal after two final quarter goals from captain Ellie Blackburn over a resilient Carlton at the Victoria University Oval.

It was one of the most epic AFLW matches with plenty on the line for both teams. 

Image Source: AAP Darren England 

North Melbourne Kangaroos show St Kilda who is the boss in Victoria with a 26-point victory at Arden Street on Sunday afternoon. 

Heading into the match, both Victorian teams came off round 1 wins.

It was a tight contest up until half time when North started to get on top with their polished and cleaner ball movement all over the ground. 

Image Source: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Round 1 is truly done and dusted at this point, and while we are eagerly looking forward to round 2 of the AFLW 2021 season, let’s take a quick look at how the international stars fared in the opening round.

Carlton v. Collingwood  Thursday, Jan 28th

Aishling Sheridan, named one of Collingwood’s best on for the week, had a cracker of a game. She was efficient with her possessions, having 8 disposals for a disposal efficiency of 75%, two goals, and one behind. Two goals in round 1, one in the second quarter and one in the third, matches her total goals in all of the 2020 season.

The Round 1 NAB AFLW Rising Star nominees are St Kilda's Tarni White and the Brisbane Lion's Isabel Dawes.

White in her return match after suffering a season ending ACL injury in Round 4 last year, starred in the Saints defence with a record 20 disposals and seven marks in her side’s nine-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at RSEA Park last Friday night.

She was picked by St Kilda with No.30 in the 2019 AFLW Draft and became a consistent and promising defender. White was among her team's best players on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs. 

Image Source: AFL Photos

How bloody awesome is it to have the AFLW back and to have crowds back.

It was great to have AFLW matches ticketed for the first time ever. 

The opening round of the 2021 AFLW season, did not dissapoint from the first match to the last with all teams playing exciting brands of footy. 

A takeaway from round 1 is that it will take some effort to defeat the premiership favourite North Melbourne this season, they completely destroyed Geelong.

Other teams that will take it right up to North Melbourne will be the Brisbane Lions, Adelaide Crows, Fremantle and Melbourne after impressive round 1 victories.

The 2021 AFLW season looks to be the best season of AFLW yet, with so many of the teams improving and high scores already scored in the first round. 

Collingwood vs Carlton: 

Please find link to feature match report - http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20210128203349145

Image Source: @FoxFooty

St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs:

A young St Kilda side secured their first season opener victory by nine points over a valiant Western Bulldogs at RSEA Park. Saint rising star Georgia Patrikios starred with 23 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

It was a strong showing from the Saints in the opening half at their home at RSEA Park, kicking six goals straight to the Dogs 3.5.

The Saints played an excellent quarter of football against the breeze with their efficiency and also scored a couple of goals from stoppages. 

Patrikios showed her class in the first half with a goal, 11 disposals and three tackles. Fellow Saints young guns Tyanna Smith and Jayde Van Dyk also were impressive. Smith (15 disposals) contributed a goal and combined with Van Dyk (eight disposals) for 23 disposals.