Sport
24 August, 2024
Huge weekend for AFLW
A HUGE weekend is in store for the penultimate round of the AFLW season in Cairns. Every game has serious finals ramifications and permutations.
Race for the minor and major premierships
With Cairns City Lions having the bye, the Tigers can keep the pressure on for the race for the minor premiership with a win against the reigning premier Hawks.
By having a better percentage than the ladder leaders, two wins will be enough as long as Lions lose their final game of the season.
It will not be easy, as the reigning premier Hawks look to prime their title defence over the next two weeks.
The Hawks have the best preparation for finals in their final two games, playing second place Tigers this week before hosting the Lions next week.
While they are nestled into third place, and guaranteed a home elimination final, results in the next two weeks will be a great indicator for how all three teams are looking heading into finals.
Would two wins against the teams above them on the ladder make the Hawks the prohibitive favourites?
Race for fourth
South Cairns Cutters (fourth) and Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs (fifth) are separated by a measly 21 points on the for and against ladder.
They play the Saints and the Crocs, both away, as they look to secure big wins.
For the Dogs, it is simply a must win since they have the bye next weekend and will be hoping that Norths can win by a significant margin in the final Battle of the Compass.
For the Cutters, they will be looking to win both games, with their destiny in their own hands.
Disrupting the race for fourth
Both the Crocs and the Saints will have something to say about the finals race this weekend before facing off next weekend.
The Crocs, in their first year in the comp, will be looking for a major scalp to cap off a successful year for the team and the club. Winless Saints will be rank outsiders against the Cutters but have frustrated teams throughout season 2024 with their ferocious and desperate defence.
With Cutters needing to win big, could this added pressure be an opening for the Saints?
