Emma Humphries mixed the brilliant with the dramatic in a return to her home state for North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos.
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Again given a role on the wing, the 24-year-old from Wynyard put in her best performance in the blue and white, as well as one of the finest of her 13 games at the AFLW level, as the Roos got the job done on Friday over reigning premiers Western Bulldogs at UTAS Stadium.
Humphries collected 10 touches (three above her season average) at 90 per cent disposal efficiency, with four marks, one clearance, one rebound 50 and three inside 50s, playing on Monique Conti first, Katie Brennan and Nicole Callinan among others.
Humphries left the field following a head clash with teammate Elisha King.
The dramatic part of her night came after some friendly fire when King attempted to spoil a Brennan kick out of defence, forcing her to the turf for about a minute, with the fear she had been knocked out.
But she escaped serious injury and left the ground unaided by trainers.
Humphries’ attention will soon turn to Sunday’s clash with former side Melbourne.
She played 10 matches over the first two seasons with the Demons after being drafted with the 57th pick in the 2016 national draft.
Her fellow Wynyard-based teammate Haines was also in the wars on Friday night, getting a late hit which left her winded moments before Humphries hit the turf, but she returned to the field moments later.
Haines, who was making her AFLW debut, spent time in the middle and also up forward, and finished with two touches and one tackle.
Down the other end of the ground, Nicole Bresnehan showed her physicality by laying a couple of great tackles on Dogs’ co-captain Brennan, on the way to a career-best eight touches at 87.5 per cent disposal efficiency, three marks, two rebound 50s and four tackles.
Vice-captain Brittany Gibson was again the general of North’s backline.
With Bonnie Toogood among the forwards she spent time on, she collected 13 touches at 53.8 per cent disposal efficiency, three marks, four tackles, one inside 50 and four rebound 50s.
As is a weekly case the 26-year-old produced another goal-saving moment, running down Belinda Smith close to goal in the third term.
Wynyard’s Ellyse Gamble remained on the emergency list for the Western Bulldogs, spoiling the chance of a 2016 Burnie premiership reunion with Humphries and Gibson.
In Brisbane, Jess Wuetschner spent time further away from goal in the Lions’ loss to Melbourne, which resulted in a rare goalless game. She had 13 touches, two marks, two rebound 50s, five tackles and one inside 50.
With 5.1 for the season, she now shares league leading goal-kicking status with Adelaide’s Stevie-Lee Thompson.
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