Fortunes can change very quickly in the AFLW.<\/p>\n
After Geelong lost their opening two games, senior coach Dan Lowther said it was well publicised in the short 12-round season that early wins were important, but “who’s to say we can’t win the next 10?”.<\/p>\n
That was pretty quickly proven not possible when the Cats went down to Sydney the following week by less than a goal.<\/p>\n
But Lowther’s argument was strengthened this weekend when his side claimed its second consecutive win, a 30-point hammering over Richmond, rocketing it up the ladder to 10th spot, just outside the top eight and equal on points with reigning grand finalist Brisbane.<\/p>\n
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Georgie Prespakis has been a key part of the Cats’ consecutive wins.\u00a0 (Getty: Kelly Defina)<\/p>\n
The fixture structure \u2014 where ladder positions from the previous year dictate the difficulty of clubs’ run \u2014 can deceive how well teams are placed after just a few rounds.<\/p>\n
This was highlighted by commentator Abbey Holmes, who said Geelong “have a tough start”.<\/p>\n
“But it does seem like they are starting to find their groove,” Holmes said on Seven.<\/p>\n
One of the keys to those consecutive wins was the performance of midfield star Georgie Prespakis.<\/p>\n
“Just her ability to link up. Mikayla Bowen’s having an unbelievable year as well but just the one-two efforts, the third efforts, the fourth efforts, she never stops running, never stops competing,” Holmes said.<\/p>\n
“[She] had 31 disposals, 413 metres gained, six clearances \u2014 and it’s a very big reason as to why the Cats have got consecutive wins on the board now.”<\/p>\n
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North Melbourne are the only side left undefeated in the AFLW after round five. (Getty: Michael Willson\/AFL Photos)<\/p>\n
After the weekend of upsets, the only team left undefeated are, fairly unsurprisingly, reigning premiers North Melbourne.<\/p>\n
They became the first defending premiers to win a grand final rematch in the history of the competition. In toppling Brisbane, they extended their 17-match, 651-day winning streak.<\/p>\n
The result puts the Lions, the second-most-successful team in the history of the competition, behind Adelaide, outside the eight in ninth position.<\/p>\n
“This isn’t the Brisbane Lions that we know. Who’s hungry? Who wants the footy? Who wants to put their head over it and win a contested ball?” Holmes asked on Fox during the third quarter.<\/p>\n
“It’s something that has made them such a dominant side in this competition for a long period of time and it seems to be lacking.”<\/p>\n