NOTHING gets a football crowd excited quite like the perfect goal.
Port Adelaide’s AFLW side produced 35 majors in its inaugural year, thanks to 16 different goal-scorers.
From that historic first goal in Round 1, to some fancy footwork, we’ve ranked five (okay, six!) of our top goals from last season.
6. Gemma Houghton – Round 1
AFLW Season 7 was full of firsts for Port Adelaide – first game, first home game, first win and of course, the club’s first goal in the competition. Fittingly, the first goal honour went to marquee forward Gemma Houghton in her former home of Perth, against West Coast in Round 1. Vice-captain Ange Foley fed the ball beautifully to Houghton, where she was able to slot the historic major from a set shot, 15 metres in front.
5. Lily Johnson – Round 8
We mentioned Lily Johnson’s AFLW debut in Top five: Port Adelaide AFLW debuts as a direct result of this goal, so we couldn’t leave it off this list. Johnson kicked a beauty from 45 metres out in a high-pressure game, bringing her team to within three points of North Melbourne just before half time. The combination of the kick and the game scenario is what made this moment one of our favourites.
4. Britt Perry – Round 5
Former Gold Coast forward Britt Perry showed she knew a thing or two about taking on her old side, returning from pre-season syndesmosis surgery the week before this special goal. Perry slotted two in a late scoring flurry from the Power, but it was her sneaky snap that really drew our attention. Hannah Ewings kicked to the pack inside the 50-metre arc, when Perry scooped up the footy and snapped it around her body. The exciting goal brought Port within a sniff of Gold Coast after a slow scoring first half.
3. Jade De Melo – Round 9
Jade De Melo contributed with four goals in her second AFLW season, with the former Fremantle player handed a second chance by Port Adelaide in 2022. The Power took on St Kilda in Round 9, which featured plenty of highlights, despite resulting in a heartbreaking two-point loss. On the run, De Melo received a handball from Kate Surman before throwing the footy on her boot to score a thrilling checkside goal.
2. Kate Surman – Round 9
Kate Surman loves a quick, cheeky goal and this one was definitely a standout. The crafty mid-forward created a memorable moment in Round 9 with an impressive snap in the dying minutes of the second quarter at RSEA Park. Fed the ball from the boundary by Erin Phillips (just one of the skipper’s many goal assists throughout the season), Surman went zooming through the pack, expertly cleared the footy and kicked it through for a goal.
1. Hannah Ewings – Round 4
Best and Fairest Hannah Ewings booted four goals in Season 7, three of which were in Port Adelaide’s thumping win over Sydney. Her remarkable shot from outside 50 in Round 4 is deserving of the number 1 position. Midfielder Jacqui Yorston scooped up the loose footy and handballed it to Ewings, before Ewings took three steps around her opponent and dropped it onto her boot. Her huge kick bounced once in the goal square and went through for a spectacular goal.
Special mentions:
Maria Moloney slotted a classy goal on the run in Round 1, while Justine Mules also snapped a special goal in the same match. In Round 5, Indy Tahau slid through the pack like a baseballer, nudging the footy through for a major, and Round 8 saw Ange Foley kick one from outside 50. Abbey Dowrick’s Round 4 long-bomb trickled between the posts, just seconds after Ewings (who took out our number 1 spot) had done the same.
