Gold Coast have rubber-stamped their AFLW top-four credentials with a historic 22-point victory over Melbourne.
The Suns posted their sixth straight win on Saturday night, faring better in sweltering heat at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena to down the Demons 9.7 (61) to 5.9 (39).
Gold Coast had not beaten Melbourne in their four previous clashes since the Suns entered the women’s competition in 2020.
“It’s been a long few years for us and we’ve been slowly building every year,” Suns co-captain Lucy Single told Fox Footy after the landmark triumph.
“So to kind of get that win under our belt has been so awesome and I think that’s really boosted our confidence.”
The Suns find themselves sitting pretty with three rounds left before finals, drawing level with Melbourne at 7-2.
Melbourne took a three-point lead into quarter-time, but Gold Coast kicked away in the second term and did not look back.
Midfielder Charlie Rowbottom had a game-high 33 possessions and six clearances as Ava Usher, Mikayla Nurse and Havana Harris (two goals apiece) all fired up forward.
Despite the mercury hovering in the mid-20s, Usher said the Suns were not fazed by the conditions.
“We knew it was going to be a really tough arm-wrestle and in the end we just got over the line in really hot conditions,” the first-year Sun said.
“We’re pretty used to it.”
Adelaide had too much firepower for Richmond in the earlier game, winning 9.8 (62) to 4.6 (30) at Melbourne’s Princes Park.
The 32-point victory put the Crows back in the finals hunt at 4-5, although they remain just outside the eight with three games of round nine to play.
Prolific ball-winner Ebony Marinoff collected 40 disposals, 13 tackles and a goal.
The 40-possession game was one shy of her career-best mark.
The Crows captain said it had been a tough week following a 14-point Showdown loss to Port Adelaide.
“I’d be lying [to say] we didn’t know what was on the line tonight,” Marinoff said.
“But really proud of the girls’ efforts just to really start well … because we hadn’t over the last fortnight.”
Earlier in the day, Geelong took top spot — at least for now — with a 63-point win over GWS at Kardinia Park, with Jacqueline Parry and Aishling Moloney each kicking four goals.
The Cats will fall back to second, however, if North Melbourne beats Fremantle on Sunday.
The other early game saw St Kilda win their first game for the season, with a two-point win over Collingwood at Moorabbin.
AAP/ABC
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