The two best sides in the AFLW will meet in the final game of the 2018 AFLW season.
The Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions lock horns in this year's AFLW Grand Final. Both teams walk into Saturday's contest with game-styles completely different. Brisbane are a defensively-minded outfit, despite the fact that they possess one of the more lethal forward lines in the AFLW. They were the best side defensively last year, and that translated into an undefeated home and away season. Unfortunately, they fell to the Crows in the Grand Final last year. This year, nothing has changed, they are still defensively the best side in the competition, conceding an average of 28 points per game.
This year has been a completely different road to the Grand Final for Craig Starcevich and his charges. Leading into round seven, the Lions were sitting fifth on the ladder and on the back of two losses – a close one to Melbourne and a pumping from Collingwood. However, a 40-point thrashing of Greater Western Sydney gave them hope, but had to rely on both Melbourne and Adelaide to lose their games that weekend.
The Footy Gods were in favour of the Lions that weekend as both lose their games, sending the Lions into the Grand Final where they will take on the side that has arguably been the number one side for most, if not all, of the season.
This time last year, the Western Bulldogs AFLW were just fighting for the wooden spoon and narrowly avoided it with a win in the final round of the home and away season. Since that match, the Bulldogs have made all the right moves in terms of recruiting. Isabel Huntington looked every bit of a number one draft pick before going down with an ACL injury. Monique Conti has been a star in her first year, whilst Bonnie Toogood, Aisling Utri, Jenna Bruton and Naomi Ferres have all been stellar finds this year.
On top of that, coach Paul Groves adjusted the game plan on focussed on their skills by foot over the pre-season and by taking the game on. Seeing out-of-sight improvement from the likes of Brooke Lochland, Kirsty Lamb, Hayley Wildes and others around the ground. This new game plan has them ranked the top-scoring side in the AFLW, averaging 44 points per game, whilst being the second-ranked defence in the league, averaging 31 points per game.
As a result of the list changes and the change of game-style from Groves, the Dogs won five of their seven games this year, including a 73-point shellacking of Carlton and most recently, a two-point win over Melbourne, landing them top spot on the AFLW ladder and of course, a Grand Final berth. There is the controversy surrounding Katie Brennan that has happened during the week, but let's not hide away the fact that the Bulldogs have been outstanding virtually all season.
12:35pm, Saturday at Ikon Park is going to produce more AFLW history. The Western Bulldogs are striving to be the first Victorian side to be crowned the premiers of Women's Football. The Lions are hoping the experience of being at the penultimate game last year will guide them to their first AFLW premiership. It's promising to be a cracking game of footy.
The Teams Western Bulldogs IN: Kirsten McLeod OUT: Katie Brennan (Suspension)
B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Naomi Ferres HB: Hannah Scott, Tiarna Ernst, Nicole Callinan MID: Aasta O'Connor, Emma Kearney, Kirsty Lamb, Ellie Blackburn
HF: Jenna Bruton, Bonnie Toogood, Monique Conti F: Aisling Utri, Kirsten McLeod, Brooke Lochland INT: Angelica Gogos, Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes, Kim Rennie, Deanna Berry EMG: Emma Mackie, Laura Bailey The Western Bulldogs have made just the one forced change, as we all know by now. Katie Brennan will miss the next two games with suspension for a ludicrous rough conduct charge. The matter has been taken to the tribunal, to the AFL Appeals board, but nothing has been done to change the decision, which means that the Dogs will accept the ban. As egregious as that decision is, the Dogs must focus for the task ahead. They still have the firepower up forward for a winning score.
Brooke Lochland took home the league's goal kicking award with 12 goals for the year and is a very dangerous individual whenever the ball is around the forward 50. Bonnie Toogood has been a tremendous acquisition, the way she attacks the football is first class. Monique Conti has amazing hands for someone of her size and has kicked two goals in the past two games, whilst Brennan's replacement Kirsten McLeod has shown glimpses of what she is capable of, kicking two goals in the loss to GWS in round six. Brisbane Lions
No Changes B: Emma Pittman, Leah Kaslar, Breanna Koenan HB: Emma Zielke, Kate Lutkins, Kate McCarthy MID: Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Jamie Stanton, Ally Anderson, Nat Exon HF: Emily Bates, Tahlia Randall, Megan Hunt F: Jess Wuetschner, Brittany Gibson, Kaitlyn Ashmore
INT: Sharni Webb, Isabella Ayre, Shannon Campbell, Sophie Conway, Arianna Clarke EMG: Jordan Zanchetta, Nicole Hildebrand No changes to the side that demolished Greater Western Sydney last Friday and ultimately got them to this point of the AFLW season. Opting to leave out their first-round draft pick from last year Jordan Zanchetta and defender Nicole Hildebrand, who played every game for the Lions last year, including playing in last year's AFLW Grand Final. But nonetheless, the list has their fair share of winners on every line.
Last Time They Met – Round 2, 2018 Brisbane 3.6.24 def by Western Bulldogs 5.3.33
It was a bittersweet victory for the Western Bulldogs when they last played the Brisbane Lions. Travelling up to the South Pine Sports Complex up in Queensland, they busted the game open in the second quarter after a goal-less opening stanza from both teams. Led by number one draft pick Isabel Huntington before she went down with injury, the Dogs kicked four goals to nothing to lead by 23 points at half-time. The Lions formed a mighty challenge after half-time, but the Dogs' steely resolve in defence held off the resistance for a nine-point win. Huntington's two goals in the second quarter proved to be the firestarter to the Dogs' second quarter onslaught, and how many she could've kicked if not for her injury could've been anyone's guess. She dominated the Brisbane defence in that quarter alone. Emma Kearney (18 disposals, nine tackles and five marks), Kirsty Lamb (20 disposals and four marks) and Jenna Bruton (15 disposals, five marks and a goal) led the way for the Doggies, whilst Brisbane's best players included Jess Wuetschner (two goals), Emily Bates (21 disposals and five marks) and Ally Anderson (16 disposals and six tackles).
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Lauren Spark
After a mammoth performance in defence against an in-form key forward in Tegan Cunningham last week (Keeping her disposal-less), Lauren Spark goes face-to-face with another key forward that hit some form in Sabrina Frederick-Traub. SFT kicked four goals – three of those in the opening term last week, but Spark was the one who kept her out of the game fully last time these two sides met. This is the match-up to watch tomorrow.
Emma Kearney The favourite to take home the league's best and fairest this year, Emma Kearney has been consistently brilliant this year. She loves running with the footy and can win her fair share of contested ball as well. Leads the league in disposals this year, averaging 19.6 disposals this season. If her and Ellie Blackburn can produce another stunning performance in the midfield, it could very well be a huge key to victory.
Brooke Lochland
With Brennan suspended, the stage is set for the league's goal-kicking champion to stand up and deliver another match-winning performance on Saturday. 12 goals for the year and averaging 12 disposals, five marks and three tackles per game. Her work-rate has been incredible at times this year and she is going to need to work incredibly hard against a highly-rated Brisbane defence on Saturday. Brisbane Lions Jess Wuetschner Sitting directly behind Brooke Lochland in goals kicked this year is Jess Wuetschner, who is enjoying a great year in her own right. 11 goals from seven games and has been constantly a threat whenever the Lions go forward. I would love to see Libby Birch – who has been fantastic in defence all year long - get the job on her to start with. Looms as the most dangerous Brisbane player on Saturday.
Ally Anderson Ally Anderson has had a very impressive season as a midfielder. As it stands right now, she sits behind Emma Kearney in disposals, averaging 18.3 disposals per game along with five tackles and three marks per game. Forms part of a very dangerous midfield group, along with Emily Bates, Emma Zielke and Nat Exon and a very exciting battle of the midfields await us on Saturday.
Kate Lutkins Kate Lutkins has been amazing in defence this year and would have to be considered as a favourite to the club's best and fairest. Whether it be as a lock-down defender, rebounding from half-back or both, Lutkins has been fantastic in 2018. Averaging 16 disposals, three marks and three rebound 50s per game this season and with neither Katie Brennan or Isabel Huntington not playing on Saturday, could wreak havoc off the half-back line.
Final Verdict
I'm absolutely torn to pick a winner between the two sides. Both sides have an incredible amount of talent. It's remarkably tough.
If you look at the form, the Bulldogs have been the better side of the two for most of the year, beat Brisbane in their only match-up this year, but that was early February. The Lions are looking prime to take the flag from the Dogs, although the fact that they had to do it from fifth and rely on other results may concern a few Lions' fans.
I think the Western Bulldogs will get up in what is going to be one of the best AFLW Grand Finals we will be talking about for many years to come.
Lauren Spark vs Sabrina Frederick-Traub is going to be a beauty of a contest as will be the battle of the on-ball brigade and if Jess Wuetschner can be contained, then I think the Bulldogs can win well. Even with Brennan out of the side, they still have the players up forward to kick a winning score. If Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney get up and about, then it's going to be a tough assignment for the Lions to contain them. Western Bulldogs by Three Points Best On Ground Prediction: Monique Conti