To say that it was a difficult year for the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW team would be an understatement.
The record won’t lie - one win from six games will tell you that it is a poor campaign. But let’s be honest here - this team was always facing an uphill battle to play off for Finals this year. After their fantastic opening round win against St. Kilda, the Dogs faced games against premiership contenders Melbourne, Carlton, Collingwood and Fremantle and were outclassed by them all. The other loss, perhaps the most frustrating of them all, a game against West Coast where they should have won, but nothing went right for them.
However, this whole season gives head coach Nathan Burke a gauge for next year. The team is still relatively young when you look at it all. Captain Ellie Blackburn is only 25 years of age and heading into the prime of her career. In addition, out of the squad of 30 this year, 18 of them are born in 1996 or later and another six are 30 years or older, now down to five with the retirement of Nicole Callinan - Speaks a lot about the youth of the team right?
There’s a lot to love about the future of the club. All the draftees - except Issy Grant, who missed games due to injury - played games this year, headlined by the consistency of Gabby Newton, the flashes of brilliance by Elisabeth Georgostathis and Gemma Lagoia and the promise of Britney Gutknecht and Hannah Munyard. I wish Nell Morris-Dalton played more games this year, because she showed in the last game of the season that she can cause a lot of problems for key defenders in the years to come.
Then there comes the improvement of several players. Kirsten McLeod won the club’s most improved player award at the Bulldogs’ best and fairest awards night - and rightfully deserved it too, because whilst she has always shown how dangerous she could be, just her consistency in past years have been problematic. been an issue. She kicked four goals in her final two games in 2020 following games in which she kicked 0.3 against the Eagles in round four and 1.1 against Carlton in round three.
Bailey Hunt showed enormous development, flourishing into an outside, wing role. In 2019, she fell in and out of the team and averaged only three disposals as a defender. This year, she averaged 11 touches per game and played every game. Bonnie Toogood became a go-to key forward and showed plenty before injury took her out for the remaining two games of the year, Eleanor Brown started growing into her own as a defender towards the end of the season and Aisling McCarthy took big strides transitioning from forward to midfielder.
And of course, there’s Izzy Huntington. I’ve openly had my doubts in the past about the Dogs selecting her at pick one back in 2017, having already undergone a knee reconstruction and breaking a leg prior to the Draft. Not only did she manage to get through this year without a major injury, but she was at her dominant best across the defensive 50, intercepting plays brilliantly and display strong marking hands. She won the competition’s Rising Star award, her first All-Australian spot and was named as the Bulldogs’ best and fairest this year.
For the team to go forward next year, they need to find help for the captain Ellie Blackburn - consistent help. Blackburn is amongst one of the A-grade midfielders of the competition and had another exceptionally good year in 2020 - you can arguably claim she was stiff not to win the best and fairest this year. However, apart from her, there isn’t much to go with in the middle.
I really like Kirsty Lamb as a player, but at times this year she found herself missing in moments where she needed to elevate herself to another level. Then there are players like McCarthy, Newton and Lagoia - players that are still relatively raw in experience - but they should benefit from another pre-season.
Furthermore, they have another high pick in the Draft this year, which could see them land one of Ellie McKenzie, Montana Ham or Isabelle Pritchard, but with the lack of exposure from the under-18s this year, nailing that first-round pick will be as crucial as ever. I’m just thankful no new clubs come into the league to pillage the rest of the players.
Another factor why this year was a struggle was that they had their fair share of injuries. They would have loved to have had Brooke Lochland on the park, but hamstring injuries restricted her to just two games this year. Celine Moody was looking set for a promising year before an ankle injury derailed her campaign, whilst Ange Gogos and Bonnie Toogood both missed games throughout the year with injury as well.
And whilst this one isn’t an injury, they could have really used a player of Aisling Utri’s caliber. She missed all the year as she focused more on her hockey career. Should she come back into the team in 2021, she will also provide strong service through the midfield and across half-forward. Remember, she did finish third in the Bulldogs’ Best and Fairest last year.
I find it bizarre to think that if we take away the 2018 season, the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW team have only won just five games from 20 starts. Is it good enough? You know the answer is no, but there is not a doubt in my mind that Nathan Burke will look at this season as a starting point and look towards next year with an eye towards continuing to develop and improve this side.
Still though, with the number of frustrating bumps this year, I firmly believe that there has been enough upside to suggest that this team will rise again in the future. I for one, am excited to see what awaits the Daughters of the West in 2021.