Toogood injured as Bombers secure AFLW finals berth

The Demons dominated from the start on Saturday at Ikon Park and mauled the last-placed Magpies 11.8 (74) to 4.3 (27).

That result left Melbourne sweating on the outcome of Saturday night’s match at the same venue between Carlton and Essendon.

Before that match kicked off, the Bombers were half a game behind the Demons after Essendon’s Dreamtime in Darwin draw a week ago with Richmond.

The Bombers proved far too good for the injury-ravaged Blues on Saturday night to clinch their finals berth and deprive the Demons of a place.

Melbourne had been in impressive form, having won five of their previous six games to storm into top-eight contention, only to be thwarted by the Bombers.

AFLW great Stacey Livingstone was chaired from the field after her last game. The Collingwood defender had a shot at goal in the final quarter of her 77th match, but kicked it like a back and only managed a behind.

At the other end, Melbourne captain Kate Hore kicked three goals as she returned from the quad problem that made her a late withdrawal last week.

The Demons were left to rue Hore’s absence from the previous week, given they lost to Hawthorn by only six points.

“I’m super proud of the girls’ effort today,” Hore told Fox Footy after the match.

“We just wanted to come out here and finish our season strong.”

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Geelong’s AFLW season over as Adelaide clinch double-chance

Adelaide have secured an AFLW finals double-chance and ended Geelong’s season with a gritty four-point win at GHMBA Stadium.

The Crows overcame some shoddy goalkicking and a 15-point second-quarter deficit on Friday night to hang on 4.8 (32) to 4.4 (28) and clinch fourth spot on the ladder.

The only negative for Adelaide came in the fourth quarter when exciting forward/midfielder Danielle Ponter had to be helped off the ground with a right foot injury.

Spearhead Caitlin Gould kicked three goals and defender Chelsea Bidell’s intercepting was a feature, while Ebony Marinoff confirmed her standing as the league’s No.1 player, with 24 disposals and 11 tackles.

The superstar midfielder enters the major round averaging 30.3 disposals, becoming the competition’s first player to average 30-plus across a home-and-away campaign.

“An absolute hot contest out there,” said Gould, who nabbed seven marks and had seven score involvements.

“That’s definitely what we expected from Geelong.

“It (goalkicking accuracy) is absolutely an area we need to keep working on.

“It’s that composure piece that we’re trying to get there, including myself.

“Hopefully through finals we get that together.”