AFLW News

The All-Australian needing to step up and a youngster in hot form: The AFLW players to watch for Round 4

These are the players to watch across this weekend’s action.

Published by

Amy Bonthorne

Round 4 of the 2024 AFLW season is here.

This week marks the beginning of mid-week games, running from Tuesday night through to Sunday. There will be one game each night from Tuesday to Friday, followed by three games on both Saturday and Sunday. Each team will play twice per round at some point so that every team will have completed 11 games by the end of the season.

A big match this weekend will be between in-form sides St Kilda and Hawthorn. Both teams have been playing a great brand of footy, with the Saints undefeated and the Hawks only losing to the Crows, who are the other undefeated team. On Saturday, this match is anticipated to be physical and showcase high-quality footy with a tightly contested match. Both teams have a young group and are playing exciting footy. This clash will be a great game to watch, which will produce a high-level encounter.

Another huge clash is Sunday afternoon, which sees a blockbuster clash between Sydney and GWS, a NSW derby, the battle of the bridge. Both teams have only won a game this year, so they will be hungry for another win. During pre-season the Swans won this battle, thumping the Giants by 65 points, but since then GWS have improved their brand of footy and look like a much better side. Every time these two play all form is put aside, and this rivalry continues to grow and become bigger each year. This game is expected to be physical and will likely go down to the wire. This is a must-watch match.

Below, we have focused on a player who is going into the weekend under the radar, one who's sure to gain plenty of attention, a player who needs to step up, and another who is in hot form going into Round 4.

Under the radar: Ella Roberts

Ella Roberts is flying under the radar this season and has had a great start to the year. The 19-year-old had a strong game last weekend with 23 disposals, six tackles and one goal.

Under new coach Daisy Pearce the young gun is starting to blossom. At 176cm, Roberts towers over her other opponents, with her strong overhead marking, ability to evade tackles and a thumping kick inside 50 becoming a real danger to her opposition.

On Tuesday night and Sunday afternoon, when the Eagles travel east to take on Collingwood before hosting Brisbane, Roberts could again fly under the radar, and if the Magpies and Lions are not ready for her in the middle, she will do some serious damage.

All eyes are on: Ash Riddell

All eyes are on Ash Riddell and what she is capable of this weekend.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 08: Ashleigh Riddell of the North Melbourne Kangaroos in action during the round one AFLW match between the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and the Geelong Cats at Arden Street Ground on January 08, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Her teammate Jasmine Garner has been the favourite for the Best and Fairest this year, but Riddell is not far behind and has arguably been performing better.

The 28-year-old has been averaging 31 disposals and six tackles and has kicked at least one goal in every match this year.

Riddell was a star in North Melbourne's 50-point win over Melbourne. She was everywhere, having a stellar performance with 32 disposals, two goals and 10 tackles.

All attention will be on Riddell this weekend and if she can produce another best-on-ground performance when the Kangaroos take on Port Adelaide.

Needs to step up: Madison Prespakis

Madison Prespakis must step up this weekend. The 2020 AFLW Best and Fairest has been far from her greatest this season and last week only managed 18 disposals in the Bombers' eight-point loss to St Kilda.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 27: Madison Prespakis of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the 2022 S7 AFLW Round 01 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The All-Australian is known for her gutsy efforts and physicality around the ball. The 23-year-old can also be damaging inside 50 with her impressive forward craft.

Sunday is going to be a challenging match for the Bombers up against an undefeated and in-form Adelaide Crows side. Prespakis must lift, using her physicality and experience in what is going to be a tough day in midfield.

Player in hot form: Charlie Rowbottom

Charlie Rowbottom is in hot form and now looks to be one of the best midfielders in the competition. The former No.1 draft pick is having her best season yet, managing well above her career averages across the board.

The 21-year-old is averaging 34 disposals, 9.7 tackles and 8.7 clearances per game. Last week in the Suns' draw with the Giants, Rowbottom recorded a career-high 42 disposals. Each game this season the midfielder has been going from strength to strength and would be up there in the best and fairest after the first three rounds.

Rowbottom has put the rest of the competition on watch, and her opponents should not give her too much space and time, otherwise she will cause serious damage. The explosive onballer also has the ability to go forward, being a threat in the inside 50 as well.

This weekend, Geelong have a huge task on their hands to shut down Rowbottom, otherwise she will cause all sorts of grief in the middle.

Published by

Amy Bonthorne

3 months ago