How Suns and Bombers made the leap to turn into AFLW top-four contenders

Gold Coast and Essendon will open the ultimate spherical of the 2023 AFLW common season in what’s shaping as a possible top-four conflict.

The winner is prone to leap into fourth spot, ought to Brisbane lose to Melbourne on Saturday night. It’s a lengthy climb from final season, when the Suns and Bombers completed ninth and tenth respectively.

Ought to Gold Coast make it via it could be its second finals collection, whereas Essendon would qualify in simply its second yr within the competitors.

Traditionally a extremely contested staff, Gold Coast has not misplaced that potential to compete this season, as an alternative simply discovering extra steadiness between that power and its transition to an out of doors operating sport.

From the engine room of Charlie Rowbottom, Claudia Whitfort, and Lucy Single, the Suns are working the ball extra thoughtfully out of the competition by hand to extra successfully discover that outdoors house.

Up to now they’ve been responsible of successful the footy and shortly slamming it on the boot to achieve floor, however this yr they’ve discovered a technique to that clearance work.

In consequence, Gold Coast’s handball numbers have skyrocketed this season, as have its disposal effectivity and common operating bounces.

That is proof of a clearer steadiness between inside and out of doors footy.

Off the again of extra thought-about ball motion via the center of the bottom, Gold Coast has had the composure to raised hit up targets in assault.

With the likes of Tara Bohanna, Jac Dupuy and the return of Jamie Stanton as focal factors inside 50, the aspect has discovered extra common marks inside 50, resulting in elevated purpose accuracy and practically two extra objectives per match in comparison with final season.

Vital enhancements within the output of midfielders Whitfort and Single has helped to drive this model of play.

Whitfort leads the Suns for inside 50s and metres gained this season, whereas sitting second on the membership for clearances and disposals, and third for rating involvements.

In the meantime, Single has turn into the premier run-with participant of the AFLW, limiting the output of star midfielders whereas taking part in genuinely attacking soccer herself.

However it’s also a pair of understated new faces who’ve had a major impression on Gold Coast’s fortunes this yr.

Gaelic soccer star Niamh McLaughlin hit the bottom operating – actually – taking part in each match of the season to this point, offering an important hyperlink between defence and assault.

Her 17 bounces usually are not simply probably the most at Gold Coast this yr, however probably the most throughout the AFLW.

And contributing considerably to the aspect’s intercept sport is Meara Girvan, added through this yr’s supplementary draft.

Girvan sits sixth within the competitors for intercepts this season, regardless of lacking a match via damage, as she repeatedly thwarts her opposition’s attacking forays.

Bombers discover management

Becoming a member of the AFLW only a yr in the past, Essendon was the clear choose of the ultimate 4 groups added final yr.

This season the Bombers have gone from power to power, creating a extra managed, attacking model of play that additionally works to remove the opposition’s strengths.

Successful extra of the footy immediately out of stoppages, the Bombers have discovered clear disposal on the skin with a kick-mark sport as they work the ball into assault.

That’s not to say the aspect has misplaced its willingness to defend. Essendon is forcing its opposition to make use of the ball poorly, conceding a season-low disposal effectivity of simply 59 per cent.

A lot of this has been led by co-captain Bonnie Toogood, who’s having a career-best season.

Sometimes beginning matches as a key ahead, her elevated health has allowed her to maneuver greater up the sphere to compete and turn into one other hyperlink to a deep attacking unit.

Toogood has additionally been a dependable presence inside 50, at the moment second within the competitors for contested marks, equal third for marks inside 50 and equal third for objectives.

What has been essential for the Bombers this yr has been the addition of some depth in defence, together with Brooke Walker, Brooke Brown, and underrated pick-up Georgia Clarke. This trio has helped to solidify the backline and generate attacking launches from their rebounds.

What this implies for Friday’s conflict

The fourth-best intercept staff within the competitors, Gold Coast, will face the ahead effectivity of Essendon.