Season 2017 was widely considered a disappointing one for the Western Bulldogs’ womens team. With the talent at the disposal of coach Paul Groves, much was expected for the team, so much so, that some footy experts had this team in amongst the premiership discussions. However, they could only do as good as sixth with two wins to their name.
Captain Katie Brennan did miss most of the season with injury, and there a few other injuries in their as well, but there were moments all throughout the 2017 season that the Dogs were simply a second-rate side. Now after an off-season of shrewd recruiting, and a tough pre-season, there’s a certain buzz in the air about this AFLW side that was felt this time last year.
The key word that has been thrown around the Bulldogs’ camp this pre-season has been improvement. The team, as a whole, has been hell-bent on improving on their 2-5 win-loss record and that is what is genuinely getting me excited the most with this team. I believe this side can improve – will it improve enough to contend for a premiership? We’ll find out when the Western Bulldogs’ women’s team step onto the Whitten Oval turf next Sunday afternoon.
The Recruits
As mentioned earlier, the Western Bulldogs recruited very well. Although they farewelled a very talented individual in Jaimee Lambert, who now plies her craft at Collingwood, the Dogs managed to snare the number one and number four overall draft picks from this multi-team deal. With these picks, the Bulldogs picked up talented utility Isabel Huntington with the first pick of the draft. Despite not having played a game of AFL footy in over 18 months, Huntington has a tremendous work-rate and can play a variety of positions with great effect and the Bulldogs 120 percent believe that she can be a big piece of what takes this team to the promised land.
From there, the Dogs stockpiled on midfield talent to build around the star duo of Blackburn and Kearney. With the fourth pick of the AFLW Draft, the Dogs chose Monique Conti, who comes from a basketball background. She has got elite athleticism and pace and should slot right into the midfield and with her skill gradually building over time, she’ll potentially be another big name in the AFLW. Other draftees include Jenna Bruton, a midfielder who starred for St.Kilda in the VFLW, taking home the Sharks’ best and fairest award, Daria Bannister, a midfielder/forward from Tasmania who is remarkably skilled, Emma Mackie, a former professional cyclist who is a proven endurance athlete and Rachel Ashley, a defender from Western Australia with superb athleticism and strong marking hands. Look out for most, if not all, ladies to make an impact straight away.
The Dogs brought in one player in through the trade period, acquiring former Demon Deanna Berry in another multi-team deal. Berry is a very crafty half-forward/midfielder type who was drafted by the Demons with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 AFLW Draft, which speaks volumes about her talent. Having enjoyed a year that saw her average seven disposals a game and kick five goals and claim a nomination for the AFLW Rising Star award in 2017, and at just 19 years of age, she should take another big step in her development this year. They also signed on another ex-Demon in Jess Anderson via Free Agency – a key position player who can fill a void at either end if injuries occur like they did last year.
The Fixture
Round 1 – Sunday 4th February
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle – VU Whitten Oval (4:35pm)
Round 2 – Sunday 11th February
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs – South Pine Sports Complex (4:35pm)
Round 3 – Saturday 17th February
Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs - Norwood Oval (2:05pm)
Round 4 – Friday 23rd February
Western Bulldogs vs Carlton – VU Whitten Oval (7:05pm)
Round 5 – Sunday 4th March
Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs – Ted Summerton Recreational Reserve (2:35pm)
Round 6 – Saturday 10th March
GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs – Manuka Oval (7:10pm)
Round 7 – Saturday 17th March
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne – VU Whitten Oval (7:10pm)
The Bulldogs’ fixture for 2018 is very different to that of last year. As opposed to four straight home games to start the 2017 season, the Bulldogs will now have three home games scattered across the seven weeks in rounds one, four and seven. They will also be required to travel interstate three times across the season, with trips to Queensland and South Australia in rounds two and three to take on the Grand Finalists from last year. Should the Doggies be on a winning record by the end of round three, it could potentially hold them in good stead.
The Must-See Match
The Dogs will get one Friday night home game like they did last year. This time they will be hosting Carlton in a rematch of their exciting encounter last season at Ikon Park. The Bulldogs came from 25 points down in the last quarter in their last encounter to nearly pinch what was to be an unlikely victory, but the Blues held firm to win by a single goal. These two sides played off in a practice match just less than a week ago and after a hotly contested first three quarters, the Blues pulled away for a 16-point win, in a practice game that had over 3500 people spectating. Round four’s contest with Carlton looms as the must-see game of the season.
Western Bulldogs’ Best 21
B: Libby Birch, Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes
HB: Hannah Scott, Lauren Spark, Nicole Callinan
MIDS: Tiarna Ernst, Ellie Blackburn, Emma Kearney, Jenna Bruton
HF: Deanna Berry, Katie Brennan, Kirsty Lamb
F: Kirsten McLeod, Isabel Huntington, Aasta O’Connor
INT: Daria Bannister, Emma Mackie, Brooke Lochland, Angelica Gogos, Monique Conti
One of the new rules in the AFLW for this season is the reduction from six players on the interchange bench to five, which should enhance more of a go for players sitting on the pine. Overall it’s a very solid group of players, with most of the draftees making an appearance in my best 21. If both Katie Brennan and Isabel Huntington remain fit for the season, then the forward line has the potential to be something special. The recruiting of Bruton, Conti, Bannister and Mackie could also mean we could see more of Ellie Blackburn up forward. Blackburn led all Bulldogs in goals kicked last season with six goals for the year in the absence of Brennan.
Who To Keep Your Eye On
Aasta O’Connor battled through 2017 under an injury cloud after missing all of 2016 recovering from a knee reconstruction, but this summer she looks in very good shape. In the practice match against Carlton, she kicked two big goals in the second quarter when the Doggies needed someone to step up. She adds a different dimension to the forward line, she’s tall, yet tough and courageous and very talented. She can also pinch-hit in the ruck and become a fourth midfielder, such is her versatility, but if the Dogs want to rectify their horrid kicking at goal last year, then O’Connor might be a regular contributor inside 50.
Libby Birch only started taking up the game of Aussie Rules mid-2016 after a promising netball career as a junior. Just weeks after touching the footy for the very first time, she became a premiership player for Darebin and from there, she found her way onto the Bulldogs rookie list. She played all seven games last season but has since improved her game a fair bit and will be one to watch in the back line this year. Birch, who is still very young at 20 years of age, has got the capacity to run all day and has proven that she can shut down opposition forwards.
Lauren Spark is one player I feel may not get as much recognition as others do, but the former Beach Volleyball player can be a very handy commodity in any side. She’s got height, athleticism, very good hands to pluck contested marks and can play in a variety of positions around the ground, averaging eight disposals and three marks per game. It’s very easy to miss the fact that this lady finished just outside of the top three in the Dogs’ best and fairest count last year and was a member of the inaugural Victorian State of Origin team. Extraordinarily versatile, watch out for the number 11 this year.
Final Verdict
It’s not beyond the realms of playing off in a Grand Final this year, but it would have to take an extraordinary effort to beat the likes of Adelaide, Brisbane and the other Victorian teams and get through to the Grand Final. As of this moment, I can’t see them making the Grand Final this year, but I’m very excited to watch the younger brigade of players continue their development. But if this side can keep themselves relatively healthy as the season progresses, then anything is possible.
Watching players like Huntington, Conti, Berry, Bruton and even Blackburn – who is only 22 years of age – among others that are 23 years of age or younger grow with every game will make it all the worthwhile when they finally get to the big dance and win it all. There are still some relatively young players in this Western Bulldogs team, but make no mistake when I say that there is some genuine upside with this team and the talent that they possess.
The Full AFLW Season Preview Will Go Up on Wednesday