Western Bulldogs 2.2 3.2 4.3 4.4.28
GWS Giants 1.2 4.4 4.4 7.4.46
Goals
Western Bulldogs: McLeod 2, Conti, Bruton
GWS Giants: Hicks, Staunton, Dal Pos, Farrugia, Gum, Eva, Schmidt
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Kearney, Blackburn, Lamb, Lochland, Conti, Scott, Birch
GWS Giants: Gum, Eva, Dal Pos, Farrugia, McKinnon, Barr
For the Western Bulldogs, a chance to punch their ticket in the 2018 AFLW Grand Final will have to wait until next Saturday. For the GWS Giants however, they remain well and truly in the running, as the Giants denied the Dogs' to advance to the big dance on Saturday night by 18 points in what was a massive upset in the nation's capital.
With a game and significant percentage ahead of the second-placed Brisbane Lions ahead of round six, the Western Bulldogs could've locked in a spot for the Grand Final with a win on Saturday night, but they were met with an orange outfit that had different plans. The Giants' desire to win the contest was on full-display as they look to make the Grand Final themselves after starting the year 0-2.
With this loss. it means that the Dogs will have to win next week to ensure they will square off in the 2018 AFLW Grand Final, whilst the Giants will have to beat Brisbane if they are any chance to play off for the premiership, in what has been a season full of shock results and unpredictability.
The Dogs got off to a fast start through a soccer off the ground by Kirsten McLeod in the opening minute and had chances to get further ahead through both Brooke Lochland and Monique Conti, before the latter finally broke through for her first goal in the AFLW. A goal from Aimee Schmidt made it a one-goal lead to the visiting Bulldogs at quarter-time.
The Giants regrouped from there and dominated play from the second quarter onwards. After another goal in the opening minute of the quarter through McLeod, a switch was flicked in the GWS camp and led by recruits Alicia Eva and Courtney Gum, they stopped the Bulldogs from doing what they have been doing so well and that's deny them an possession and forcing pressure and turnovers when they did get their hands on the ball.
GWS destroyed the Dogs in the inside 50 count 13-2 in the second quarter and eventually it turned into goals for the home side. After Jodie Hicks converted early in the term, the Dogs conceded two costly goals in the final minutes of the first half through Jess Dal Pos and Irish recruit Cora Staunton, who I personally believed went about 20-25 metres without bouncing the ball before she goaled, but nonetheless it was impressive for someone her size to baulk around opponents with such ease and more importantly, the Giants were ahead at half-time.
When the Bulldogs came out of the rooms for the second half, they looked like they were ready to take back the control of this contest, they had 26 more disposals, kept their opponents score-less for the quarter and they were back on top of the contested possessions count. But for all their hard work in the third term, they could only muster up one goal through first-year player Jenna Bruton, who snapped a beauty from close range.
It could've – and should've – been two goals and a three-quarter time lead for the Bulldogs, but a ripper of a run down the line from Emma Kearney ended up with a bad miss from close range. However, the Dogs were still in the contest at three-quarter time, with just one point separating the two sides the final break.
Unfortunately for Bulldog fans, it wasn't to be this week as the Giants kicked the only three goals for the final quarter. The first one came with some ill-discipline from Emma Mackie, who gave away a 50-metre penalty, which ended up in Courtney Gum's first goal of the evening. Shortly afterwards, it was the ex-Pie Eva who snapped a beauty to make it a 13-point buffer, before the final blow came through a captain's goal through Amanda Farrugia in the 13th minute mark of the final term to send the Giants 19 points ahead and ensures a third win from their past four games.
Leading The Way
The midfield pair of Emma Kearney and Ellie Blackburn were again at their best, with Kearney's 22 disposals, eight tackles and four marks making her the best Bulldog on the ground on the night. Blackburn wasn't too far behind, with a stat-line of 18 disposals and four tackles. Kirsty Lamb also continued her fine year as a full-time midfielder with 16 disposals, five tackles and four marks in a very solid showing.
Brooke Lochland failed to kick a goal on Saturday night, registering just two behinds. But she was still very productive up forward, with 15 disposals, eight marks and three tackles, whilst Monique Conti also had another very good performance, despite another enthralling one-on-one match-up, this time against Nicola Barr. Conti (14 disposals, four marks and a goal) continues a strong season and has done her chances for the Rising Star award no harm.
Hannah Scott continued her good year as the drive from half-back with 15 disposals and three marks, whilst Libby Birch (nine disposals and nine tackles) worked hard and tried her best in a defence that was under pressure for most of the night as did Bailey Hunt (11 disposals and three marks) who came in as a late inclusion for Aisling Utri. Angelica Gogos (14 disposals and four tackles) and Jenna Bruton (12 disposals and a goal) also should get mentioned on here for solid showings.
The Opposition
It was a win the Giants needed and they played with such desperation that they ended up well-deserving of the four points. A win over Brisbane next week in Blacktown could almost guarantee them a spot in the Grand Final in a couple of weeks time. The only thing that would stop them, other than a loss, is if Adelaide – who are level on points with the Giants – beat Collingwood next week and beat them by a massive margin.
The one person that had the most influence on the game was Courtney Gum. What a story that's been in 2018. After a good year in the SANFL women's division in 2017, Gum was overlooked by the Crows in the AFLW Draft and became a real find for the Giants, taking her with the 25th pick in the draft. After a strong first-year in the AFLW, Saturday night proved what a find she was, recording 23 disposals, 10 clearances, four marks and a goal to be the clear-cut best on the ground.
Another recruit that starred and has done so allthroughout the year has been Alicia Eva. The former Pie had another superb game, which saw her pick up 19 disposals, seven tackles and a goal. The pair of recruits also had plenty of help from captain Amanda Farrugia (13 disposals, four tackles and a goal), last year's club best and fairest Jess Dal Pos (15 disposals and a goal) and emerging ruck Erin McKinnon (34 hitouts).
Next Week
It doesn't get any simpler for the Western Bulldogs, as they take on arch rivals Melbourne at the Whitten Oval. If they win, they're in the 2018 AFLW Grand Final. If they don't beat the Demons next week, then they have to sweat on a multitude of results to make sure they still get there.
It's still very difficult to get a proper reading on Melbourne as we approach the business end of the AFLW season. Their best has been very good – three of their wins have come from sides also contending for the premiership, having beaten Adelaide, Brisbane and GWS so far this season. But we've also seen them drop games to sides that they shouldn't have any issues on beating – see their games against Fremantle and Collingwood.
The home factor is on the Western Bulldogs side, having won both games at the Whitten Oval so far this season. However, this season has been anything but predictable. The Western Bulldogs must regroup for next week's massive battle, otherwise after what many had pencilled in for the Grand Final as far as a couple of weeks ago, could still potentially slip at the final hurdle.