AFL/W exports ǀ Hawkins boots Cats into grand final, Sidebottom and Pies come agonisingly close

By James Kleeman

Sep 21, 2022

Putting on a show: Tom Hawkins and Geelong delivered a finals masterclass in the preliminary final dismantling of Brisbane Lions. Photo: AAP

As another year of AFL comes to a close the AFLW season is only just heating up and a handful of Goulburn Valley exports are featuring prominently.

Tom Hawkins has helped Geelong book its grand final place after a dominant showing against Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night.

The Cats forward talisman and All Australian skipper looked to have the yips in the early stages of the game and entered half-time with 1.3 to his name.

But the 2021 Coleman medallist quickly corrected in the second half and booted three goals to put Geelong well on its way to the last Saturday in September.

Meanwhile, it was curtains for Collingwood after a heartbreaking one-point loss to Sydney.

Congupna’s Steele Sidebottom battled all night for the Pies in an effort to keep their season alive, recording 19 disposals, laying four tackles and slotting a goal in the preliminary final defeat.

Euroa’s Jamie Elliott put in another eye-catching display up forward and kicked two goals, finishing his season with 21 majors to his name.

Mooroopna’s Clayton Oliver rounded out a stellar season with a joint fourth-placed finish in the Brownlow Medal count, receiving 25 votes to finish equal with Fremantle’s Andy Brayshaw.

Big year: Steele Sidebottom wound back the clock to be one of the key contributors to a remarkable Collingwood campaign. Photo: AAP

Oliver was a key contributor for the Dees in their crushing defeat to the Lions in the semi-finals a fortnight ago, but a remarkable tagging effort from Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry limited the star Demon’s influence in the second half.

A number of Fremantle’s Goulburn Valley exports were shining lights in the Dockers’ devastating 20-point semi-final loss to Collingwood.

Seymour’s David Mundy was a standout performer for the Dockers in the last game of his AFL career, collecting 18 disposals, taking four marks and using the ball at an exceptional 89 per cent efficiency.

Shepparton’s Will Brodie completed 2022 with 17 disposals and a whopping 11 tackles, while Moama’s Lachie Schultz kept the dream alive with two goals and 15 disposals up forward.

Benalla’s Keeley Skepper stole headlines this week in the AFLW with a Rising Star nomination in her third game for Carlton.

Skepper gathered 14 disposals, contributing to a team-high 384m gained, while also laying three tackles in a dominant round-four performance against Fremantle.

Shepparton’s Ange Foley helped her Port Adelaide side to a thumping 66-point win over Sydney with a cool 15 disposals and five marks.

Grace Egan continued her strong start to her return to Richmond, chalking up 12 disposals and two tackles in the Tigers’ thrilling two-point triumph over Essendon.

Mansfield’s Bonnie Toogood kicked a goal and notched 11 disposals and two tackles for the Bombers.