After a thrilling win on the road against the Adelaide Crows, the Western Bulldogs are set for battle in their first game at the Whitten Oval this season, as they host one of two competition newcomers in Geelong. It also promises to be a good night for Doggies supporters, as the club will unfurl their 2018 premiership flag
With the Cats getting their first win in the club's history last week against Collingwood thanks to a Nina Morrison point, both sides will be wanting to make the dream start to this season and go two from two. The problem for Geelong is that the Western Bulldogs have made the Whitten Oval a fortress in 2018, winning all three games there last year, including a clinic against Carlton and a stirring victory in the last round of the season against Melbourne.
From their performance last week, the Cats looked good and they looked good without forward Phoebe McWilliams, Richelle Cranston and captain Mel Hickey – all three experienced campaigners and very important to the side's structures. But with the younger talent such as Nina Morrison, Sophie Van de Heuval and Liv Purcell and others showing that they are more than capable players at this level, it will be a bit more difficult for the Dogs to take them down than some realise.
They started their premiership defence off with a win over Adelaide in Adelaide for their first-ever win against the Crows, but realistically, there's a bit of work to needs to be done. For the most part of the game, they were beaten to the ball, the Crows controlled the tempo of the game and if it wasn't for errant shots on goal from the Crows and a three-minute burst from Katie Brennan, the Dogs would've lost the game. I believe this is going to be a very interesting game come Saturday night, both sides come into this game boasting one-point wins in round one - who will continue the season unbeaten come Saturday night?
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Aisling McCarthy OUT: Belinda Smith (Omitted)
B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Bailey Hunt HB: Naomi Ferres, Tiarna Ernst, Hannah Scott MIDS: Kim Rennie, Monique Conti, Ellie Blackburn, Kirsty Lamb HF: Nicole Callinan, Katie Brennan, Bonnie Toogood F: Kirsten McLeod, Emma Mackie, Aisling Utri INT: Celine Moody, Eleanor Brown, Angelica Gogos, Deanna Berry, Aisling McCarthy EMG: Belinda Smith, Selena Karlson Only one change from the Bulldogs team that defeated Adelaide last weekend will see another Daughter of the West making her debut – this weekend it's Irish recruit Aisling McCarthy. She has been impressing since coming to the club as the 23rd pick in the AFLW Draft last year. It is expected that she will play as a forward and possesses some X-factor about her. She has pace, she has power and she has a ton of upside – I'm excited to say the least to see what she can bring to this Bulldogs team. Making way is Belinda Smith, with the former Docker relegated to the emergencies.
Geelong
IN: Phoebe McWilliams, Erin Hoare OUT: Georgie Rankin, Maighan Fogas (Both Omitted)
B: Anna Teague, Rebecca Goring, Cassie Blakeway HB: Denby Taylor, Meg McDonald, Rebecca Webster MIDS: Aasta O'Connor, Julia Crockett-Grills, Olivia Purcell, Renee Garing HF: Nina Morrison, Maddie Boyd, Sophie Van De Heuval F: Kate Darby, Phoebe McWilliams, Jordan Ivey INT: Erin Hoare, Mia-Rae Clifford, Madaleine McMahon, Danielle Orr, Madeline Keryk EMG: Maighan Fogas, Georgia Clarke
Geelong will be bolstered with two inclusions that will be pivotal to the side's chances on Saturday. Sadly, Cats' captain Mel Hickey has not been named, but they do welcome back spearhead Phoebe McWilliams after she was a late withdrawal last week with a sore hamstring. Her form in the pre-season was red-hot, kicking a bag of four goals against Carlton. Erin Hoare also is in for her first game in the hoops after a foot injury has forced her to spend some time on the sidelines, but as one of the tallest players in the league, she'll provide plenty as a ruck or tall forward. Georgie Rankin and Maighan Fogas have both been omitted from the team.
The Big Question
Western Bulldogs - Can They Find Other Avenues To Goal?
Last week, the Bulldogs only kicked two goals and both of them came from the boot of Katie Brennan. We know that their forward stocks have taken a decent hit with the pre-season injury of Brooke Lochland and the off-season injury to Izzy Huntington. They need the likes of Bonnie Toogood (Four touches last week) and Kirsten McLeod (two behinds from five touches) to step up this week. Emma Mackie looked prominent last week and will start this weekend up forward again and should be seen as another possible option.
Geelong – Will Nina Morrison Back-Up Her Strong Debut?
The thing with having such a memorable debut is that it will be a lot more difficult to back it up the following week – Particularly if you're someone as high-profile as Nina Morrison. Last year's number one draft pick should face some tough attention this week in the form of the reigning premiers. With no disrespect to Collingwood's AFLW team, but they aren't exactly expecting to make Finals or come close, but with a team like the Bulldogs, this will be something I'll be looking forward to seeing. It should see where she is at in terms of her footy.
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Lauren Spark
After a stunning performance in the back half, which saw her claim an AFLW record 11 marks, It'll be interesting to see who gets the job on Phoebe McWilliams here. I wouldn't mind seeing Lauren Spark get first go at her, although in doing so, it might potentially take away her ability to come in and take intercept marks with such ease as she did last weekend. I'm intrigued to see what Paul Groves does here, but it would be a match-up I'd like to see. Geelong – Meg McDonald
Whilst the majority of the focus will be on former premiership Bulldog Aasta O'Connor, I'm excited to see another Dog get a second chance in Meg McDonald. For those who don't know, McDonald was a part of the Bulldogs' side in the first AFLW season and showed good signs of a key position player capable of playing either as a forward or a defender. She was unfortunately cut after the first season and signed with Geelong last year after a season with Darebin in the VFLW. Her game last week was solid, picking up 15 touches and four marks as a defender.
Final Verdict
This will be the game where we see where Geelong are really at. I expect them to put up a good fight against the reigning premiers, but on their own home turf on a night where they celebrate their 2018 flag, it's almost impossible to tip against the Bulldogs here. I expect them to get the job done. Despite being out-played for the majority of the contest last weekend, I think the talent that's in the Bulldogs' line up should prove too good for some of Geelong's younger players.
Ellie Blackburn was in the thick of it last week and I am struggling to see anybody in Geelong's line up who will stop her from having a massive impact this weekend as well. Katie Brennan had a good five minutes last week, but I think she'll be a lot more influential this weekend. I would also like to see more from Monique Conti this week after she was kept really quiet in Adelaide. Western Bulldogs By 15 Points