Carlton and Melbourne have locked in AFLW preliminary finals appearances against the 2024 grand finalists.

The Blues will travel to Brisbane next Saturday night in the Second Preliminary Final after a 46-point demolition of Hawthorn, who bowed out of the post-season in straight sets for a second consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Melbourne will face its favorite, North Melbourne, earlier on Saturday at Ikon Park in the First Preliminary Final after Kate Hore led the Demons past Adelaide.

The 2025 AFLW preliminary finals are scheduled for Saturday, November 22.

Carlton Crushes Hawthorn

Carlton secured its second Preliminary Finals berth with an emphatic 11.13 (79) to 4.9 (33) victory over Hawthorn.

Coach Mathew Buck said this week that you could ‘see what the Blues were going to become,’ when these two sides last met, but Saturday night capped off their coming-of-age.

It was a true tale of two teams, as Carlton rode into Ikon Park on a wave of confidence as Hawthorn stared down the barrel of consecutive straight sets exits.

Blue Mia Austin claimed the opening goal after a strong lead-up mark and pinpoint set shot.

But Carlton didn’t stop there, piling on 31 first-quarter points off the back of an 18-3 inside-50 differential.

Buck’s side capitalized on Hawthorn’s lack of height – with key talls Lucy Wales, Elli Symonds and Emily Everist sidelined – taking 20 marks to Hawthorn’s six in the first term.

Carlton has nearly doubled its scoring output from last year, with an increased focus on fundamentals paying dividends.

Its ability to find and execute short kicks has taken its game to new heights.

Daisy Flockart ensured the Hawks didn’t go goalless, scoring her first AFLW goal in the second term.

And though Aine McDonagh and Mikayla Williamson will rue gettable chances, the Hawks never clicked into gear for long enough.

The blows continued as Eliza West exited play in the third term and didn’t return after failing a head injury assessment, typifying her side’s 2025 injury woes.

She remained one of Hawthorn’s best, alongside Tilly Lucas-Rodd who led the way with 24 disposals and six tackles.

Mimi Hill (27 disposals, one goal) was electric for Carlton, who had the top six-ranked players afield, as Maddy Guerin laid eleven tackles.

First-year stars Poppy Scholz (16 disposals) and Sophie McKay (three goals) lifted once more in scary signs for the years to come.

Both players have been instrumental in Carlton’s rise from 14th in 2024 to a Preliminary Final.

McKay told Channel 7 post-match her message for the Lions: “We’re coming for you”.

The Blues will face Brisbane next week – a team they defeated by 14 points in round three.

Carlton captain Abbie McKay put the icing on the cake with a clinical goal from stoppage, extending her side’s lead to 33 points in the third term on her birthday.

Hore Leads Melbourne to Third Grand Final Qualifier

A vintage performance from Melbourne captain Kate Hore catapulted the Demons into their third AFLW preliminary final in six seasons after they outlasted fellow competition heavyweights Adelaide by 11 points in a pulsating second semi-final at Princes Park.

In what was a high-stakes clash between two members of the league’s ‘Big Four’, Melbourne jumped out of the gates to lead by 14 points in the opening term.

Adelaide hit back with five of the next six goals to lead by 13 in the second quarter.

But the seesawing clash took another decisive turn in the second half, as Melbourne responded with six of the next seven majors to storm home to a memorable 9.6 (60) to 7.7 (49) victory.

Hore finished with 26 touches, seven marks and three goals and was at the forefront in the crucial moments.

She kicked the goal of the day midway through the third quarter after keeping her feet in the marking contest against Chelsea Biddell, gathering the loose ball and, under chase from Maddi Newman, kicking a sensational dribbler from the pocket.

She gave her team back the lead again early in the final term when she broke the Keeley Kustermann tackle and, after being taken high, took advantage and banged it home from 25 meters out in front.

The result snapped the Crows’ run of five consecutive preliminary finals and ended their legendary dual premiership coach Matthew Clarke’s reign on a sour note.

The Demons finished with comfortable buffers in disposals (282-254) and handball-receives (80-59) as their running game on the outside killed the Crows.

Adelaide ended up with a massive advantage in inside 50s (46-31), but their forward efficiency was poor.

After scores were level at three-quarter time, Adelaide had seven of the first 10 forward entries of the final term, but failed to split the big sticks as the Demons kicked three goals from their first three entries.

Eliza McNamara was pivotal for the winners with 25 touches (13 contested) and five marks, as Shelley Heath was influential with 24 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and five grabs.

Ebony Marinoff was once again Adelaide’s best with 27 possessions, nine tackles and a major.

Tahlia Gillard was crucial defensively for Melbourne with 16 disposals and two clutch tackles in critical moments.

The celebrations for Melbourne will be tempered by the fact that they must now face all-conquering North Melbourne in a grand final qualifier next weekend.

The Kangaroos are riding a record 25-game winning streak, and are unbeaten in their past 27 matches.

The last time Darren Crocker’s side tasted defeat was 714 days ago in the 2023 grand final.

Melbourne faces a monumental challenge to reach the 2025 grand final.

The preliminary finals are scheduled for Saturday, November 22.

North Melbourne hosts Melbourne at 3:05 p.m. AEDT at Ikon Park in the First Preliminary Final.

Brisbane hosts Carlton at 7:35 p.m. AEDT at Brighton Homes Arena in the Second Preliminary Final.

The winners will meet in the 2025 AFLW Grand Final.