The numbers that matter
The big winners of Round 3
Carlton picked up a third consecutive AFLW win over the Dockers to move to 3-0 with just 105 points conceded in three games, and this could be a season-defining win after it came in testing circumstances.
There was a stiff breeze at the Victor George Kailis Oval that saw all of the scoring in the first three quarters take place at one end of the ground before the Blues broke the trend with the first two goals of the final term to open up a three-goal lead that would eventually be unassailable.
The Dockers made sure Carlton's resolve was tested in the dying minutes after they kicked back-to-back goals to bring the margin back to six points with the wind behind them, but the Blues girls held on to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
"You want to be able to win in all kinds of ways, so for our group to go and execute and hang on and fight and be resilient (is outstanding)," Carlton head coach Mathew Buck said after the match.
"In a really tight game you need to have those (moments) and maybe we had a few more than Freo in the end.
"A lot of numbers went our way around the contest, which was really pleasing to see."
The big losers of Round 3
Brisbane Lions went to Casey Fields as 1.5 point outsiders against the Demons after holding their own against the Kangaroos last round and nobody - absolutely nobody - expected them to fly back home to Queensland with a record defeat and a lengthy casualty list.
The Lions shipped 12 consecutive goals after opening the scoring in the first term, losing the third quarter 6.0 to 0.4 as part of a hefty blowout after half-time to suffer a club record 56-point loss.
Nothing went right for the two-time Premiers as they saw both Neasa Dooley and Marlo Graham go down in the first quarter to sit out the rest of the match before an unintentional clash between both Ruby Svarc and Dawes saw Svarc become the second member of the team to suffer a concussion on Sunday afternoon.
There's no word at time of publication from the club about how many of their players are going to need to sit out round four, particularly as others such as Eleanor Hartill and Sophie Conway had their own physical issues during the game, whilst Dawes finished the game despite clear discomfort in her right shoulder after the collision with teammate Svarc.
They spent the majority of the match with a bench of just two, and whilst that had a part to play in the final margin, Melbourne looked to have their measure well before fatigue began to set in amongst the visitors.
Who was amongst the goals this weekend?
Richmond key forward Caitlin Greiser slotted three of Richmond's five goals in the Dreamtime win over Essendon, whilst Aine McDonagh maintained her lead at the top of the goalkicking standings with three of Hawthorn's eight.
Geelong's Chloe Scheer and Gold Coast's Havana Harris kicked three each for a very accurate 6.1 between them, not long after Ryleigh Wotherspoon booted three with her 16 kicks and four marks.
21-year-old Port flanker Piper Window booted her first AFLW goal and added two more in their thrilling win over the Giants.
Alice O'Loughlin, Blaithin Bogue and even 37-year-old veteran defender Kate Shierlaw booted multiple goals in North's huge win over Brisbane.
Crows flanker Grace Egan was the only multiple goalscorer in the Crows' win over West Coast.
Team of the Week
Player of the Week
Goal of the Week
Mark of the Week
Next weekend's fixtures
Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.
