Western Bulldogs 0.0 3.2 3.2 5.3.33
Melbourne 1.1 2.1 3.7 4.7.31
Goals
Western Bulldogs: Kearney, Brennan, Berry, Lochland, Conti
Melbourne: Cranston, Paxman, Smith, Hore
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Kearney, Bruton, Conti, Spark, Scott, Blackburn, Lochland
Melbourne: Paxman, Smith, O'Dea, L. Pearce, Downie, Hore, Cranston
Please excuse the supporter in me but....THE DOGGIES ARE IN THE GRAND FINAL!!!
The Western Bulldogs have become the first Victorian side to make the Grand Final in the short history in the AFLW, with a nail-biting two-point win over arch-rivals Melbourne in front of a capacity crowd at the Whitten Oval on Saturday night. With this result, not only does it ensure that the Bulldogs finish the 2018 AFLW season on top of the ladder, but it kills any chance of Melbourne making it to the big dance next week.
They will play either Brisbane, who completely monstered GWS on Friday night, or Adelaide, who are to play Collingwood today in a game that the Crows must win if they are to go through to the Grand Final.
It was a scrappy encounter at times, but the margin never exceeded 13 points, and for a match billed as a Preliminary Final, it sure had the atmosphere of one. Kicking with the wind into the opening quarter, Melbourne has plenty of inside 50 entries, 11-2 to be precise, but the Bulldogs' stifling defence kept them to just the one goal for the quarter in what some were saying was a three-four goal wind.
A clumsy tackle from Tiarna Ernst on Richelle Cranston got the Dees the first and only goal of the quarter, but otherwise, the Bulldogs weathered the first-quarter flurry from the visiting Demons very well, only keeping them to just the seven points in the term.
However, the Demons would find themselves down one woman early in the game, as Sarah Lampard – only just back from a bad hamstring injury, landed very badly in a marking contest and was helped off by the trainers, later to be seen with ice wrapped around the right knee and crutches, signalling the early end of her evening.
The Dogs were held scoreless in the first term, but that was through design than anything else. Coach Paul Groves' strategy to push the numbers up and flood Melbourne's forward line in the opening quarter proved to be the right move in the opening term, as the Bulldogs took advantage of the wind better in the second term. The inside 50 count in the second term was eerily similar – 11-3 in favour of the Dogs and they made the most of it.
Emma Kearney got the Dogs on the board early with a long bomb from just inside the 50-metre paint. The returning Katie Brennan was on the end of a generous free-kick from the umpire, and she coolly converted from a tight angle for her first goal in her first game back from injury, before former Demon Deanna Berry beautifully roved and ran home for her first goal against her old side, making it a 13-point margin before half-time.
But against the wind, the Demons got one back late in the quarter, as some sloppy defence allowed Karen Paxman an easy uncontested mark from close range and allowed a goal just before the end of the first half, keeping the margin just to single-digits as we headed into what was sure to be one of the most thrilling halves in women's football.
Melbourne went hammer and tong with the wind in the third quarter, but for all their hard work, they could only manage 1.6 for the quarter, when it could've been so much more, possibly even a Grand Final appearance. After a couple of behinds to start the quarter, Melbourne regained the lead early as an unchecked Katherine Smith kicked a goal in amongst the congestion in the goal-square.
It should've been two with Aliesha Newman missing one from the goal-square. After an incredible run from the wing to the goal-square, Newman couldn't fully out-run Hannah Scott and forced Newman's kick into the right goal post. In hindsight, this was a match-winning moment for the Dogs and in turn, one of a few moments that cost Melbourne a Grand Final berth.
After the Demons peppered their shots on goal, the Dogs had a few opportunities to add to their score, but were unable to do so, with a combination of the howling wind against them and some poor decision-making in between the cause of a second goal-less quarter of the match, but the Dogs were only down just five points by three-quarter time, and they were kicking with the wind in the final term.
They didn't have to wait long before the regained the lead, as Monique Conti was awarded another free kick that many perceived it to be as soft, but it resulted in another six points to the Daughters of the West. Conti did her best to miss from close range, but it just snuck through the big sticks. However, Melbourne's use of the ball with the wind, along with the Bulldogs allowing Melbourne players open space, led to a Kate Hore goal mid-way through the term, giving them back the lead.
The Bulldogs worked as hard as ever to get the lead back, but with every entry, it looked hopeless. But with 90 seconds left on the clock, they got a breakthrough.
Enter Brooke Lochland
Currently leading the league in goals kicked, Lochland was staring in the face of a second-straight week that she has been held goal-less, she found herself with a couple of inches of space and with a handball from Jenna Bruton, Lochland snapped truly on the left boot to put the Bulldogs in front and perhaps, give her the league's goal-kicking title.
A lot can still happen with 90 seconds to go, and the Demons rolled the dice and tried their best to press forward and get one last-gasp goal, but it wasn't to be. A game-saving mark from Hannah Scott ensured the Bulldogs were heading to the big dance, leaving Melbourne players and fans alike heartbroken and shattered.
Leading The Way
Another sensation performance in the midfield from Emma Kearney. She started the night strong, with 15 disposals in the first half alone, and although a bit quieter in the second-half, she still finished with 20 disposals, four tackles and a goal to be the Bulldogs' best player, and unquestionably a red-hot favourite to become the league's best and fairest.
Her partner-in-crime Ellie Blackburn was a little quieter (11 disposals and four tackles), but she was still somewhat of a presence in the middle, but this game saw Jenna Bruton's best game as a Bulldog, recording 18 disposals, 10 tackles and three marks, whilst Monique Conti was again very busy with 13 disposals, two marks and a goal and Brooke Lochland stood up in the forward line, just when the Doggies needed someone too.
Overall, the back-line was incredible, particularly in the moments when they were battling against the wind and in the closing minutes. Lauren Spark (11 disposals and two marks) played herself a monster game in defence, playing a huge part in keeping the dangerous Tegan Cunningham – who was running second to Lochland in the goal-kicking title – not just score-less, but without a single disposal. Hannah Scott (nine disposals, five tackles and three marks) was again remarkable in defence as was the rising Libby Birch (11 disposals and four tackles) and Hayley Wildes (10 disposals and three tackles) was also impressive.
The Opposition
For the second year in a row, Melbourne have just missed out on making the Grand Final. They were very good for most of the night, but it was that wayward third quarter that ended up costing them a shot at the glory.
Karen Paxman was absolutely brilliant, recording 22 disposals, three marks and a goal to be the Demons' best player on the ground. Elise O'Dea (15 disposals and four marks) also was very serviceable in the midfield, and whilst Daisy Pearce got enough of the footy (17 disposals) she struggled to make her usual impact on the contest. Katherine Smith (11 disposals, six tackles and a goal) was prolific for the Demons, whilst Lauren Pearce was very good at the ruck spot (11 disposals, 21 hitouts and five tackles)
Other Demons that were impressive on the night included Meg Downie (12 disposals), who was very composed in defence, Richelle Cranston (one goal from nine disposals and six tackles), Kate Hore (one goal from nine disposals, four marks and three tackles) and Harriet Cordner (11 disposals, three marks and two tackles)
On To The Grand Final.
Finishing on top of the ladder, the Western Bulldogs will host either Brisbane or Adelaide next week at Ikon Park in Carlton. One game left before the achieving what these ladies have dreamed of when they were playing junior footy – the premiership. It's been a remarkable 12 months, watching this team play, grow and emerge as a genuine premiership chance.
Whether or not it is Adelaide or Brisbane, you can be sure as hell that the Western Bulldogs will turn up to Ikon Park next Saturday afternoon, ready for any challenge that is to come their way. Well Done Ladies!