Western Bulldogs 0.2 2.3 2.4 2.6.18
Adelaide 1.1 1.7 1.10 1.11.17
Goals
Western Bulldogs: Brennan 2 Adelaide: Scheer
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Spark, Scott, Birch, Brennan, Lamb
Adelaide: Marinoff, Hatchard, Phillips, Varnhagen, Cramey, Scheer
The scoreboard might not read well to many, but this game promised to be a cracking game from the outset – and to me anyway – it delivered all throughout the game and it brought with it a thrilling finish. The Western Bulldogs' AFLW side are on the board in 2019 – vanquishing Adelaide by the barest of margins to get their premiership defence off to the best start possible.
If I was to sum up this win in one question, I would have to go with this one: 'How did they get away with that?' It was a fantastic win away and there would've been many – Myself included – that didn't give the Doggies a chance away against a Crows side that many expect to contend this year after a disappointing 2018. Especially on their own home deck that is the Norwood Oval.
The stats will point to the Crows controlling the game. They had over 30 more disposals, dominated the hitouts 29-13, controlled the inside 50 count for the first three quarters, led the tackles 54-47 and won the clearances comfortably (24-10). However, the one statistic that will rue the Adelaide players and fans is the scoring – 12 scoring shots to eight in Adelaide's favour, but were incredibly wasteful in front of goal.
Their only goal in the match came in the final minute of the opening term through Chloe Scheer, who converted a nice set shot from close range to give Adelaide a five-point advantage at quarter time. The Dogs would respond before the half-time break, but it would not come before some wasted opportunities from the Crows that would've really put the Bulldogs under pressure – registering six behinds in a row – only one of those were rushed.
Bulldogs co-captain Katie Brennan stamped her authority on the game with a small purple patch in the second quarter. Her first goal came from the brilliance and precision from her fellow co-captain Ellie Blackburn, who found her running back towards goal from half-forward. Her second goal came just minutes later when she was on the receiving end of a Dayna Cox turnover from a horrible kick-in and converted truly to give her side the lead before the main break.
Whilst there were no goals kicked in the second half, there were highlights all throughout that will say that these two sides laid it all on the line to get that much-needed first win of the season. The Crows controlled much of the third term, but the Dogs were able to thwart a number of their opportunities with intercept marks from numerous defenders.
Adelaide will rue one missed opportunity in the third term, which saw Eloise Jones mark uncontested deep inside 50 on a moderately tight angle and tried to center it to Scheer in the goal-square, but her kick went off the side of the boot and it resulted in a behind. She was well within distance and she would've been much better off having a set-shot.
In a change of pace, the Bulldogs absolutely dominated the Crows in the final term, out-tackling them 19-16 and recording 13 inside 50s to Adelaide's two in the last quarter. With the scores tied at 16 apiece at the final break, it was even tough goings for the Bulldogs to register a score. It wasn't until nine minutes into the last quarter the Bulldogs broke the deadlock, through a rushed behind.
After a shot from Kirsten McLeod was touched over the line to make it a two-point game, Adelaide made one last play up forward to get the win. In the final 30 seconds, Jenna McCormick baulked around Blackburn and her shot on goal just missed to the right. The Bulldogs just held on in the final seconds as the ball went back inside Adelaide's 50 following the miss.
It was a very tough game of football, but one would have to wonder what could've been if Adelaide converted a few of their opportunities in that second quarter.
Bulldogs co-captain Ellie Blackburn (18 disposals, six marks and six tackles) was outstanding in the middle and had a presence all over the ground, but it was the defensive presence of Lauren Spark (14 disposals and an AFLW record 11 marks) and Libby Birch (11 disposals and five marks) that helped the Bulldogs over the line. Hannah Scott (19 disposals and five marks) was also influential across both half-back and up the ground.
Kirsty Lamb was also solid, recording a team-high eight tackles along with 11 disposals and three marks. Katie Brennan's night was well-held by the Adelaide defence, but her two goals were crucial when it looked like the Crows had them on the ropes and I thought Emma Mackie's game (12 disposals, four marks and two tackles) was solid as well.
Adelaide had a few usual suspects up there as their best players. Ebony Marinoff (24 disposals and 11 tackles) was immense in the middle, and Erin Phillips (18 disposals and three tackles) was also solid, but could've had an even better night if she hadn't squandered two shots on goal. All-Australian defender Courtney Cramey (12 disposals, four tackles and three marks) was solid in defence and Deni Varnhagen (13 disposals and six marks) was very busy.
Anne Hatchard (19 disposals, five marks and five tackles) was very impressive playing in the midfield. Recruit Jess Foley controlled the hitouts (25 to the Bulldogs' 13) and showed plenty of people that she'll be able to hold down that first ruck role, whilst I thought another recruit in Chloe Scheer (one goal, six disposals and three marks) in her first game showed that she will be a menace up forward in years to come.
The Western Bulldogs will be back in town next Saturday as they unfurl their premiership flag at the Whitten Oval for their first home game of the season. It will be there that they take on newcomers Geelong for the first time, in what should be a very intriguing game of footy.
Given that the Cats also won their opening game of the season by a point, I think that there is going to be will a bit of interest in this game as Geelong have shown that they're not going to be pushovers by any stretch this season.