Sunday evening looms as a must-win game for the Western Bulldogs. Unfortunately for the defending champs, they come across opposition that has surprised many in the Fremantle Dockers. With the match to be held at the Fremantle Oval as well – things do not bode well for the Bulldogs for the lead-up and unsurprisingly, head into the game as the underdogs.
Let's talk Fremantle here, I wouldn't have thought many people expected them to be 3-1 at this stage of the AFLW season. They were mightily impressive against Melbourne in round one and picked up the momentum from there, claiming big wins over Brisbane and Collingwood in the following weeks. Last week, they were given a stern reality check in Darwin as the Adelaide Crows handed them a 42-point thrashing.
After the first three rounds of the 2019 season, Fremantle were the highest-scoring team in the league. This weekend, they sit second behind the side that beat them in round four. Last year, they were equal-fifth in the league for scoring. This turnaround is due to Trent Cooper's change of game plan this year. Last year they were pretty good at winning the footy and gathering clearances, but it was the polish that needed work. So far in 2019, it has looked a lot better so far this year and it has put them in a good position to knock off the Bulldogs for the first time in the AFLW club's history.
The Bulldogs have had their fair share of problems over the past fortnight after starting the season strong with two good wins. Following their 31-point loss to North Melbourne in round three, last weekend they struggled to match the intensity of a Brisbane Lions side that was facing intense scrutiny – now they find themselves in a similar position themselves.
They sit in last position in conference A, but the positive is that they only sit a game behind second-placed Adelaide with three games to go, however, with a pretty poor percentage, they will need everything to go right from here on in if they are to contend for a spot in the Finals this year. It isn't out of the question just yet, but if they bring what they brought against Brisbane last week to Fremantle Oval – then it'll just be a matter of how much they get done by this week.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs IN: Izzy Huntington, Brooke Lochland, Eleanor Brown OUT: Bonnie Toogood, Nicole Callinan, Celine Moody (All Omitted)
B: Hannah Scott, Lauren Spark, Libby Birch HB: Selena Karlson, Tiarna Ernst, Aisling Utri MIDS: Kim Rennie, Ellie Blackburn, Monique Conti, Kirsty Lamb HF: Brooke Lochland, Ellyse Gamble, Kirsten McLeod F: Aisling McCarthy, Izzy Huntington, Katie Brennan INT: Eleanor Brown, Naomi Ferres, Angelica Gogos, Emma Mackie, Deanna Berry EMG: Kate Bartlett, Nicole Callinan
Three changes to the Bulldogs side that were beaten by Brisbane last weekend will see two key inclusions to the club's forward structures. They will welcome back Izzy Huntington for the first time since round two last year when she ruptured her ACL, lining up at full forward. They also welcome back Brooke Lochland after she had broke her fibula in a practice game against Collingwood earlier in the year. First-year player Eleanor Brown also makes a return to the side after missing the last two games.
First year ruck Celine Moody and Bonnie Toogood were left out of the 27-woman squad on Thursday, whilst another premiership player in Nicole Callinan was forced to make way when the final sides were announced Friday. It is also good to see Ellie Blackburn named in the side this week after she was stretchered off in a nasty collision last weekend.
Fremantle
IN: Hayley Miller, Alicia Janz, Maltilda Sergeant OUT: Katie-Jayne Grieve, Ashlee Atkins, Courtney Stubbs
B: Evie Gooch, Tayla Bresland, Angelique Stannett HB: Alex Williams, Ebony Antonio, Kara Donnellan MIDS: Parris Laurie, Philippa Seth, Dana Hooker, Stephanie Cain HF: Gemma Houghton, Ashley Sharp, Hayley Miller F: Kiara Bowers, Kellie Gibson, Sabreena Duffy INT: Alicia Janz, Laura Pugh, Gabby O'Sullivan, Matilda Sergeant, Melissa Caulfield EMG: Leah Mascall, Katie-Jayne Grieve
Fremantle have also made three changes to the side that got handed a thumping at the hands of Adelaide. Of the three changes, they have named one debutant in midfielder Matilda Sergeant. She is classified as a versatile midfielder who was taken late in last year's AFLW Draft and comes into the side after a hip injury disrupted the start to her year. Hayley Miller comes back into the side after missing last week due to suspension, whilst Alicia Janz will make her 2019 debut after missing the start of the year due to injury. The trio of Katie-Jayne Grieve, Ashlee Atkins and Courtney Stubbs all make way.
The Big Question
Western Bulldogs – What Can We Expect From Huntington and Lochland?
The answer to this is simple – I have no expectations for either player here. Yes they are badly missed because the forwards just simply aren't firing this season and Katie Brennan is playing her best footy further up the ground. Huntington hasn't played a game in over a year so maybe there's a little bit of rust to dust off there. Lochland proved last year she's good for a goal or two and given that she has proven to give opposition defenders headaches in the past, but she hasn't played a game of football in almost two months. I just hope they get through this game unscathed – I'll consider that a big plus.
Fremantle – Where Is Ebony Antonio's Best Footy Played? It's an interesting situation for Fremantle here. We know Ebony Antonio's best football in recent years has been as a key defender, but this year, she's played a bit more as a key forward and it has helped the Dockers out in winning games of football. She has averaged 11 disposals and six marks per game, whilst kickiing 5.3 this year and sits just two behind both Stevie-Lee Thompson and Emma King in the race for the league's leading goal-kicker award. She's currently lined up at centre-half back, but I won't be surprised at the least if she is moved up the ground at same stage.
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Hannah Scott It's been a lean fortnight for the 2018 All-Australian – so this is a very important game for Hannah Scott. She had just the 10 disposals and four tackles against North Melbourne and last week against Brisbane, she was hardly sighted, recording just the eight disposals. Maybe she's playing a bit sore, it hasn't been documented, but it was interesting to see her play a little bit up forward in the second half last weekend. We know she's a very tough player to beat, so maybe we might see her apply more pressure up forward and help kick a winning score this weekend.
Fremantle – Dana Hooker
After being so close to winning the league's best and fairest last year, it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone to see Dana Hooker continue on her fine form in 2018. She currently leads the league in clearances, averaging 5.8 per game, as well as averaging 16.8 disposals per game, 2.5 rebound 50s and 7.5 tackles per game. Fremantle's on-ball brigade is as good as it's ever been with the inclusion of Kiara Bowers and Philippa Seth as well as the revelation of Steph Cain, so shutting Hooker out of the game is imperative.
Final Verdict It's very hard to tip against Fremantle here. Despite the Bulldogs winning the only two previous encounters, those matches were at the Whitten Oval. This will be the Bulldogs' first game at the Fremantle Oval, and as the Dockers have proved so far this year, they play some pretty good footy over there and given that they will be looking to rebound from their first defeat of the year last week.
But you never know what any given game will bring – that's the joy of Footy, both in the AFL and AFLW. On recent form, you wouldn't give the Bulldogs a sniff. However, given that there is nearly nothing to lose at this point, sitting bottom of the ladder with a very poor percentage, I wouldn't put it past this group of players to give it a real crack against a good side.
Fremantle By 17 Points