sports

Sport in 5: How Adele might affect the first round of the AFL.

It’s been a big weekend of women’s sport, with the AFLW drawing closer and closer to the grand final, and the Super Netball heating up. To top it off, Adele is likely to have an impact on round one of the AFL, and footy fans aren’t happy.

Adele might affect the first round of the AFL.

While hundreds of thousands of fans are having once-in-a-lifetime experiences seeing Adele’s performances all over Australia, the AFL has a serious concern.

Next weekend, Adele performs at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday and Sunday night, in the middle of the stadium. But just days later, St Kilda and Melbourne play at the ground in one of the most talked-about round one clashes of the AFL. There’s some talk about whether the surface will be damaged as a result of the concerts.

On March 10, Fremantle and Carlton played in Perth’s Domain Stadium just over a week after Adele’s performances, and the grass was noticeably patchy. It was the single biggest concert Perth has ever seen.

Adele's performance in Perth. Image via Getty.
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Of course, the issue isn't just the appearance of the ground. Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne sustained a hamstring injury after stumbling on uneven turf on March 10 - a result of the concerts.

Nonetheless, stadium spokesperson Bill Lane said, "we are confident the surface will be up to standard in time."

The Brisbane Lions have booked a spot in AFL history.

Before the women's season started, the Brisbane Lions were expected to finish last. But after a convincing win on Saturday, they've secured a place in the grand final, having won every game of the season so far.

To take home their sixth win, the Lions beat the Western Bulldogs 2.11 (23) to 2.4 (16) in front of a crowd of 5,000, with a notable first goal from Jess Wuetschner, and a stellar performance from Sabrina Frederick-Traub, despite a quad injury.

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Caitlin Thwaites shoots a near-perfect game for Collingwood Magpies.

The Collingwood Magpies proved too strong for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Sunday's Super Netball, with a final score of 64-45.

Caitlin Thwaites, 30, had an outstanding game, scoring 46 goals from 47 attempts - only missing one shot in the third quarter. She was supported in the ring by Cody Lange, who went for long shots due to her knee injury, and later by Alice Teague-Neeld.

The win puts the Magpies in fifth place, with the GWS Giants perched on top of the ladder.

Listen: Jo Robin breaks down Round 6 of the AFLW on Mamamia Outloud.