Trained nurse Alexia Hamilton hailed for helping Geelong’s Piper Dunlop during AFLW final

Sydney star Lexi Hamilton has been hailed for her instincts during a scary head clash that resulted in the concussion of Geelong ruck Piper Dunlop.

In the amazing semi-final between the Cats and the Swans at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, Dunlop was stretchered off the ground in the third quarter after a sickening head clash in the middle of the ground with Sydney’s Tanya Kennedy.

Dunlop tried to play on but stumbled and appeared to lose consciousness when Hamilton, a qualified nurse, stepped in.

Watching the situation unfold, Hamilton’s paramedicine instincts kicked in. She rushed to Dunlop before she collapsed and then cushioned her fall to the ground.

“Sydney’s Alexia Hamilton has made one of the best duty-of-care plays ... she saw Dunlop was struggling, caught her before she fell and eased her to ground while supporting her head. Could have been much worse had Hamilton not acted. Hope Piper is OK,” journalist Roy Ward said.

Concerned medical staff helped Dunlop onto the stretcher who received applause from the 5656-strong crowd as she was removed from the ground.

Swans coach Colin O’Riordan marvelled at Hamilton rolling Dunlop into the recovery position before help arrived.

“Instinct kicked in for Lex, even though she was in the heat of the battle,” O’Riordan said.

After the game — which Sydney won by a thrilling three points — first-year Cats coach Mick Stinear confirmed Dunlop was awake when she was taken to hospital.

“Piper’s in hospital now just getting some further imaging done,” he said.

“I think she’s doing OK but we won’t know more until we get the imaging results. She’s in good hands.”

Young Sydney ruck Maddie Quinn (22 disposals, 18 hit-outs and one goal) and superstar Chloe Molloy (three goals and 15 disposals) were instrumental in the Swans’ narrow win that has set up an AFLW preliminary final showdown with back-to-back reigning premiers North Melbourne.

O’Riordan also hailed 19-year-old Quinn for playing beyond her years on the biggest stage after she was moved to the ruck following Ally Morphett’s ACL injury earlier this season.

“Maddie has stepped up to the plate and she had to play a hugely important role for us,” he said.

“We knew Maddie had that in her, it was just a matter of time when it would come.”

It marks the Swans’ first preliminary final berth after entering the women’s competition in 2022.

O’Riordan is realistic about Sydney’s chances of an upset against the mighty North Melbourne next week but suggested another boilover wasn’t out of the question.

“It’s a preliminary final - I can tell you who is going to be favourites and it’s not going to be us,” he joked.

“That’s again another opportunity for us to play to our standard and see where we’re at in the competition, and I have nothing but belief in this group.”

Geelong bow out of the finals in straight sets after finishing second on the ladder with one loss in the regular season and a heartbreaking four-point loss to Melbourne in the qualifying final after leading by 28 points.

Three-time Cats best and fairest winner Amy McDonald (hamstring) was also ruled out of the contest, while Irishwoman Rachel Kearns was limited by a hip injury and star Georgie Prespakis passed a concussion test after a heavy hit.

Stinear wasn’t keen to use the Cats injury troubles as an excuse, with Chloe Scheer spurning a chance to regain the lead in the last quarter after her set shot from 15m hit out on a slight angle hit the post.

“We are bitterly disappointed ... we really should have been competing in a prelim with the kind of footy we’ve put together,” he said.

“Ultimately, we weren’t good enough so that’s on us.

“So it does feel like a little bit of a failed season not finishing our work in the post-season but we’re right there.”

- With AAP