It's the 2018 AFLW Grand Final rematch this weekend as the reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs are back at the Whitten Oval to host a Brisbane Lions team that will be out with something to prove.
After a stirring win over GWS to kick off the 2019 season, Brisbane have been on a rapid decline since then. Having lost to surprise packets Fremantle the following week, but there game against Melbourne last Sunday was perhaps the worst performance that this Lions outfit has produced under Craig Starcevich, who has shown over the past two years that he is a damn good coach.
Whether or not the club is now feeling the effects of losing several players this past off-season remains to be seen, but they'll want to put in a better performance on Saturday. And wouldn't you know it, there isn't a better time to do that than against the defending premiers, who will also be looking to bounce back after a horrid second quarter against North Melbourne handed them their first loss of 2019.
Thanks to the AFL's ridiculous conference system, the Bulldogs currently sit last in conference A with percentage behind both Melbourne and Adelaide. Brisbane are one of only three sides that have a win to their names in the opposing conference and sit third behind Geelong on percentage. Nonetheless, these two sides played two thrilling games of football last year, and I'll be one of many hoping for another thrilling chapter in what may be a emerging rivalry.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Selena Karlson, Ellyse Gamble, Kirsten McLeod
OUT: Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes, Belinda Smith (All Omitted)
B: Naomi Ferres, Lauren Spark, Selena Karlson HB: Libby Birch, Tiarna Ernst, Hannah Scott MIDS: Kim Rennie, Kirsty Lamb, Ellie Blackburn, Monique Conti HF: Aisling Utri, Ellyse Gamble, Bonnie Toogood F: Aisling McCarthy, Katie Brennan, Emma Mackie
INT: Celine Moody, Nicole Callinan, Angelica Gogos, Deanna Berry, Kirsten McLeod EMG: Eleanor Brown, Belinda Smith
The Bulldogs have made three changes to their team following their 31-point loss to North Melbourne, including one to make her debut. Selena Karlson, who had an impressive year in defence for the Southern Saints in the VFLW in 2018, will make her debut on Saturday night. Also in for her first game in 2019 is Ellyse Gamble, who missed all of last year with a lower leg injury and should give the team a tall target up forward. Kirsten McLeod comes back into the side after being dropped last week. The trio of Bailey Hunt, Hayley Wildes and Belinda Smith have all made way.
Brisbane Lions
IN: Megan Hunt, Arianna Clarke, Jessy Keeffe, Jacqui Yorston
OUT: Tori Groves-Little (Calf), Lauren Bella, Paige Parker, Emma Pittman (All Omitted)
B: McKenzie Dowrick, Leah Kaslar, Shannon Campbell
HB: Sam Virgo, Kate Lutkins, Emily Bates MIDS: Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Breanna Koenen, Ally Anderson, Jordan Zanchetta
HF: Lauren Arnell, Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw, Emma Zielke
F: Jess Wuetschner, Jessy Keeffe, Nat Exon
INT: Arianna Clarke, Gabby Collingwood, Jacqui Yorston, Megan Hunt, Kate McCarthy
EMG: Nat Grider, Jade Ellenger
Following their 39-point loss to Melbourne – the worst in the history of Brisbane's AFLW team – the Lions have made four changes to their side. Half of those inclusions are debutants in Jessy Keeffe and Jacqui Yorston. Keeffe was a late pick in the 2017 AFLW Draft as a project player. Her height means she'll play either as a ruck or tall forward, and has been developing her game since being drafted. Yorston was signed on after the 2018 AFLW Draft and has showed that she can play in the middle to good effect.
Rounding out the inclusions are midfielder Megan Hunt, who will play her first game in 2019 and defender Arianna Clarke who comes back from suspension. Emma Pittman, along with first-year players Lauren Bella and Paige Parker have been omitted, whilst Tori Groves-Little will miss with a minor calf complaint.
The Big Question
Western Bulldogs – Should Katie Brennan Play More At Full Forward?
Don't get it twisted here, I'm loving Katie Brennan playing more of an 'up the ground' role at the present time. She's got strong marking hands and she's set up the Bulldogs' forward thrusts with regularity. However, with her playing up the ground, the team has suffered in terms of goals kicked. The club is ninth in the league for goals kicked, averaging just 3.3 per game and ninth for scoring. Only two Bulldogs have kicked multiple goals this season that being Brennan and Aisling Utri, who is entering career-best form.
Brisbane Lions – Can Sabrina Frederick-Traub Shake Off The Slump?
Last week, having a look at Brisbane taking on Melbourne, one big talking point out of that game was watching Sabrina Frederick-Traub get shut out of the game completely by Melbourne's Harriet Cordner, holding her to just four touches. It doesn't get much easier this week as her past two games against the Bulldogs have resulted in zero goals – having been comprehensively beaten by Lauren Spark and the rest of the Bulldogs' defence. She's one of a few that needs to step up if the Lions are to salvage their season.
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Monique Conti Following a stunning performance in the AFLW Grand Final that saw her claim the best on ground that day, Monique Conti is finding her stride and has produced some brilliant footy in the past fortnight. 19 disposals a couple of weeks ago against Geelong was followed up with a 16-disposal effort against North Melbourne last round. She is also averaging 2.3 marks, 2.3 clearances and three tackles per game this season.
Brisbane Lions – Kate Lutkins
Those that will remember the 2018 AFLW Grand Final last year will remember what an impact Kate Lutkins produced on the defensive end of things – particularly during the first half. Last year she emerged as the premier key defender in the league, and whilst the Lions aren't performing as well as they've had in the first two seasons, her stats suggest that she is having another fine year, averaging 13.7 disposals, four marks and 4.7 rebound 50s per game.
Final Verdict
Despite the Bulldogs' problems in front of goal, I think when you consider Brisbane's form over the first three rounds, you'd think the Bulldogs are the better of the two sides and should claim another win at home. Currently the winning streak at Whitten Oval stands at four games and when I watched them play Geelong the other week, they played the ground to pretty much perfection, and given that this will be Brisbane's first time in Footscray, it makes their task of winning just a tad more difficult.
Having said that however, I believe that Brisbane will be up for whatever challenge comes their way on Saturday. They had a horrid game last weekend against Melbourne and the second quarter produced from the Demons in particular pretty much killed off any chance of winning that game. I have no doubt Craig Starcevich would've rallied his troops for a big game and if they don't play Finals this year, then they would love nothing more than to knock off the team that beat them in last year's Grand Final.
Western Bulldogs By 20 Points