North Melbourne and Melbourne flexed their muscles, and Fremantle is now the only unbeaten team in the NAB AFL Women's competition. Here's a look back at all the action from round five.

Highest scoring match

  • North Melbourne 9.9 (63) defeated Adelaide 3.3 (21). The Kangaroos are the highest scoring team in the competition, averaging 48.6 points per match this season.

Most disposals

  • Brianna Davey (Collingwood), 30
  • Emily Bates (Brisbane), 28
  • Emma Kearney (North Melbourne), 26
  • Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide), 26
  • Madison Prespakis (Carlton), 26

Leading goalkicker for the round

  • Sabreena Duffy (Fremantle), 4.4
  • Cora Staunton (GWS), 4.1
  • Kaitlyn Ashmore (North Melbourne), 4.0

Injuries

  • Najwa Allen (Adelaide), late withdrawal due to calf
  • Nicola Barr (GWS), hamstring
  • Roxy Roux (Fremantle), eye

FREMANTLE 7.8 (50) defeated BRISBANE 4.8 (32)

  • And then there was one. Fremantle remains the only undefeated side in the competition after a masterclass from Sabreena Duffy, who booted 4.4. The Dockers' playbook is simple but deadly: don't overuse the footy, get as many metres per kick as possible and if you don't have the ball, tackle as many players as you can to get it back.
  • The Lions weren't too far off the pace in their first loss for the year, shading the Dockers in disposals and winning the clearances, but were down 10 inside-50s. Emily Bates looks set to take out a second club best and fairest, while crash-and-bash forward Dakota Davidson's reputation as a character of the competition continued to develop, running around for five minutes without a boot.

GOLD COAST 2.6 (18) lost to GEELONG 5.8 (38)

  • The Suns led by six points at half-time after keeping the Cats to just two points in the second quarter. But the heat and humidity of Mackay got to the inexperienced side, with the Suns fading as the game progressed. Exciting forward Kalinda Howarth was her team's best.
  • It's now two from two for Geelong after a winless opening three games. The Cats' percentage (97.9) needs a little bit of work, but they're poised nicely in fourth position in Conference A. In worrying signs for future opponents, midfield tyros Nina Morrison and Liv Purcell are forming a formidable AFLW duo after dominating junior ranks together.

NORTH MELBOURNE 9.9 (63) defeated ADELAIDE 3.3 (21)

  • That's how you make a statement. North Melbourne confirmed its status as a flag favourite with a whopping win over the undermanned reigning premiers. As has been their wont this season, the Roos just added at least two goals a quarter to gradually pull away.
  • There's no denying it was an injury-hit Adelaide that took to the field, but there were still 13 premiership Crows who played on Saturday. Adelaide recorded nine fewer inside 50s than North Melbourne, but more pertinently, 10 fewer marks once inside 50.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.14 (56) defeated RICHMOND 1.5 (11)

  • The Giants needed to respond after a very poor performance against Brisbane, and they did so in style, racking up a whopping 21 scoring shots. Ten months since breaking both bones in her lower leg, Cora Staunton produced a career-best four goals.
  • Richmond's depth was going to be a big issue coming into this season, and the list was seriously exposed without their strongest senior players in Courtney Wakefield and Katie Brennan (concussions). Mon Conti once again played a lone hand in the midfield.

CARLTON 8.2 (50) defeated ST KILDA 4.5 (29)

  • Carlton just keeps on keeping on. A three-goal third term – while holding the Saints to two points – did most of the damage. Co-captain Kerryn Harrington and 19-year-old Charlotte Wilson are forming a strong intercepting wall in defence.
  • St Kilda was far from disgraced but was just a step behind its more experienced opponent. The Saints had a chance to close the gap at the start of the fourth but missed four shots at goal. Draftee Georgia Patrikios strengthened her claim for the Saints' best and fairest with another strong performance.

COLLINGWOOD 8.5 (53) defeated WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 (21)

  • The talented Chloe Molloy can play across every line, but starred up forward on Sunday, setting the tone early with two goals in the first quarter. It was an intriguing battle between the first and second Victorian picks from the 2017 draft, with Molloy getting the chocolates and Izzy Huntington moved to another opponent.
  • After a bright start against St Kilda, the Bulldogs have struggled this season, with midfield depth a particular issue. The Dogs didn't kick a goal until the second half and only had 15 inside 50s for the match. 

MELBOURNE 10.6 (66) defeated WEST COAST 1.1 (7)

  • With one of the consistently strongest lists in the competition, Melbourne has occasionally dropped a game it shouldn't over the past few years. That was not the case on Sunday, with the Dees piling on five goals in the third term. Comeback kid Sarah Perkins set up the opening major and kicked the last as her side recorded the fourth-largest AFLW win.
  • West Coast now holds the unwanted record of the equal-lowest AFLW score alongside Geelong's effort in the 2019 preliminary final. The Eagles were outclassed at every turn, recording 62 fewer disposals, 24 fewer inside 50s and were also unable to take a mark inside 50.