In what has got to be the match of the round, the Western Bulldogs will be travelling up to the South Pine Sports Complex in Queensland to tackle last year’s minor premiers in the Brisbane Lions on Sunday afternoon. Both sides occupy the top two spots on the ladder after impressive victories in round one. Brisbane took care of the Adelaide Crows in their rematch of last year’s Grand Final, whilst the Bulldogs proved to be too good for the Fremantle Dockers.
Their win over Fremantle last weekend has made the league take some notice due to the way they handled proceedings. How could it not take notice? They restricted a side to no score in the first half and smashed them in possessions and inside 50 counts against a side that – although injury stricken – still had many experts believing that they could contend. However, the next two weeks will decide whether or not the Western Bulldogs are a genuine premiership contender in season 2018.
A win away from home over the Lions – who haven’t lost a regular season game since the inauguration of the AFLW – will be one massive step in the right direction for Paul Groves and his troops. After this game, they travel to South Australia to face Adelaide in the last of a two game away trip. You don’t need me to tell you that the Crows and the Lions away from home will be a much tougher ask than taking on Fremantle at the Whitten Oval.
Without question, the Lions were one of the big success stories in season 2017. After many had written them off before a game was played, the Lions went through the home and away season unbeaten, before they stumbled in the Grand Final against the Crows. Even with the loss of young star Tayla Harris, the Lions looked as good as they have ever been in their win last weekend, reasserting themselves as a premiership favourite - they were arguably the best side all throughout the home and away season.
This might be a little too early in the season to call it, but this could be a potential Grand Final preview on Sunday as both teams possess a hell of a lot of talent and both are building very steady momentum. But on a day where the temperature is expected to reach 37 degrees celsius, this could be another scrappy affair between two elite sides. Some may not like the idea of a low-scoring game, but I for one can’t wait to see who comes out on top of this game.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Hayley Wildes, Bailey Hunt
OUT: Daria Bannister (Knee), Emma Mackie (Omitted)
B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Nicole Callinan
HB: Hannah Scott, Bonnie Toogood, Brooke Lochland
MID: Aasta O’Connor, Emma Kearney, Kirsty Lamb, Ellie Blackburn
HF: Jenna Bruton, Katie Brennan, Monique Conti
F: Deanna Berry, Isabel Huntington, Naomi Ferres
INT: Tiarna Ernst, Aisling Utri, Angelica Gogos, Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes
EMG: Emma Mackie, Kim Rennie
The Bulldogs have made two changes following their 26-point win over Fremantle at the Whitten Oval last Sunday. Unfortunately for first-year player Daria Bannister, who was stretchered off last week, had scans that revealed a ruptured ACL and will miss the rest of the season, which I find extremely disappointing, especially for a first-gamer that does have a lot of potential. Emma Mackie is omitted from the line-up after only registering six disposals in limited game time.
Coming into the line-up are two young ladies that had established spots in the back-line last season, but shockingly enough, couldn’t get a spot last week. Both Hayley Wildes and Bailey Hunt come into the side this weekend after both played all seven games for the Dogs last season. Hunt in particular was a very surprising omission, after all it was this time last year, that Hunt was receiving a Rising Star nomination for her efforts against the Dockers in their round one win last year.
It was mentioned by Paul Groves himself last weekend during their game against Fremantle, that players such as Hunt, Wildes, Laura Bailey, Kirsten McLeod and Ellyse Gamble – players that were in the side so much throughout 2017, are now fighting for their spot in the best 21. Which as any footy fanatic will tell you – is a sign of great depth in a playing list.
Brisbane Lions
IN: Nat Exon
OUT: Megan Hunt (Omitted)
B: Nicole Hildebrand, Shannon Campbell, Nat Exon
HB: Kaitlyn Ashmore, Leah Kaslar, Breanna Koenen
MID: Sharni Webb, Emily Bates, Jamie Stanton, Emma Zielke
HF: Kate Lutkins, Tahlia Randall, Kate McCarthy
F: Jess Wuetschner, Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Brittany Gibson
INT: Ally Anderson, Sophie Conway, Jordan Zanchetta, Gabby Collingwood, Arianna Clarke
EMG: Isabella Ayre, Megan Hunt
The Lions have only made the one change from the side that defeated the Adelaide Crows by 12 points last weekend at Norwood Oval, with Megan Hunt making way for ex-Blue Nat Exon, who will make her debut in Brisbane colours on Sunday. Exon was a rookie selection for Carlton in the 2017 season, but played all but two games for the Blues last year before being part of a package deal that brought Tayla Harris to the Blues. The other half of that package deal, Isabella Ayre, has been named as an emergency and will have to wait another week before she gets her chance to debut in Brisbane colours.
Last Time They Met - Round 6, 2017
Brisbane 2.11.23
Defeated
Western Bulldogs 2.4.16
On a rare Saturday morning game at the South Pine Sports Complex, it would be the Lions that triumphed over the Dogs in what was sunny morning at the Queensland ground. After a goal-less opening quarter from both sides, it would be the Lions that would have the upper hand by half-time kicking two goals to the Bulldogs’ solitary behind. The Dogs would make it a real contest by three-quarter time, kicking two goals of their own to trim the margin back to less than a goal. However, the Lions held firm, keeping the Dogs goal-less to win by seven points.
Emily Bates (17 disposals) and Emma Zielke (14 disposals) were Brisbane’s best midfielders, whilst the trio of Samantha Virgo and Leah Kaslar were standouts in defence for the winners. As for the Bulldogs, Emma Kearney amassed a career-best 30 disposals and was perhaps the Dogs’ best player by a fair distance, whilst Jaimee Lambert (Who is no longer at the club), kicked both of the Bulldogs goals and had 12 disposals as well.
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Emma Kearney
As mentioned just before, Kearney was amazing the last time these two sides played. As if she had brought her own footy to the ground, she recorded a ridiculous 30 disposals and was by far, the Bulldogs’ best player on that day. Last week in their win against Fremantle, she started slow, but still amassed 18 disposals when it was all said and done. For the Dogs to pull off an unlikely victory on Sunday, they’ll need Kearney to produce a full four-quarter performance.
Aisling Utri
Not much was known about rookie selection Aisling Utri, other than the fact that she had previously had played field hockey before she ultimately pursued a career in the AFLW. Last week in her debut match against Fremantle, she looked very much at home in defence, recording 10 disposals and four marks. This week doesn’t get much tougher for her or the Bulldogs’ defence as they come against a Brisbane forward line capable of much destruction.
Brisbane Lions
Sabrina Frederick-Traub
This woman is without doubt the one that the Bulldogs must try to contain the most this weekend, as her performance against the Crows was extremely dominant. She took 10 marks – seven of those being contested – and whilst she didn’t have a goal to her name by the end of the match, she still played a huge reason why the Lions did. If you watched her play last week, you could see it from the way she played that she is relishing being the main focal point up forward now.
Emma Zielke
The Brisbane captain had a fine first-round performance against the Crows last Saturday, registering 18 disposals, four marks, four tackles and four inside 50s, and in a Lions midfield that doesn’t have a standout superstar like the Bulldogs have in Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney, Brisbane fans would want more of the same from their captain on Sunday. She’s tough at the contest and is always 110 percent committed to the cause.
Final Verdict
This is a very, very tough match to predict. Both teams are very good talent-wise and they both proved it last weekend with very good wins. The one thing I’m looking forward to the most here is to see which forward comes out on top – will it be Dogs’ captain Katie Brennan, who did kick three first-half goals last week, or will it be Sabrina Frederick-Traub? Personally I think the winner of this match will come down to whichever one of these two can perform the best.
Having said that, I’m going to pick the Lions at home. They absolutely dominated the reigning premiers last week - albeit they were without Erin Phillips – and the 12 point margin I think flattered the Crows a fair bit. The Bulldogs, as impressive as they were last Sunday, I still think they have got more room for improvement and regardless of the outcome of this match, I think they’ll be better off with it for years to come.
It’s easy to forget that this Western Bulldogs team is still relatively young and they’re building on a game plan that is vastly different to that of last year’s. I think the Lions will beat them, but I think it will be just as close as their contest from last year – if that eventuates then the Bulldogs will walk away knowing they can absolutely match it with the best in the league
Brisbane Lions By Five Points