The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne will be contesting the women’s All-star game in a weekend full of footy action despite the finals bye. Join The Roar for all the live scores, action and highlights from 7:10pm (AEST).
In the midst of the men’s finals round bye, the AFL has put on the EJ Whitten legends game and now it’s time for the women’s All-star fixture.
» Women’s AFL league on The Roar
» All the teams and squad lists for the women’s AFL
» Complete 2017 women’s AFL fixtures
As the first national women’s league draft approaches, on October 12, the game is a perfect hunting ground for scouts to get a last look at the women before the clubs decide on their rosters.
The eight inaugural clubs have already picked up two marquee signings each, but now wait for the draft to strengthen their sides for the opening 2017 campaign.
“It will be a chance to showcase women’s footy at the highest level; there are so many talented footballers playing this weekend and we can all come together and play a really great standard of football”, said Western Bulldogs midfielder Ellie Blackburn.
The rules for tonight’s clash have been altered a bit to open up the contest and create an exciting brand of footy to showcase the growing women’s game.
Each side will have a reduced 16 girls on the park with six on the interchange bench, while the balls being used a slightly smaller than regular footy’s.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the inaugural women’s AFL All-Star match from 7:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment below.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It just occurs to me that bulldogs captain Steph Chiocci wasn't drafted by a team, meaning she is still available to one of the four Melbourne clubs. I'd love to see her stay at the bulldogs, with Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn.
DB
Guest
Really impressed, but thought the crowd was disappointing
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call Connor, a very special night , it fills me with pride to be a bulldogs supporter. The traffick on twitter has been huge, suggests to me that the ratings will be pretty good. It's no guarantee for next year, but it doesn't hurt either. I'm thinking that longer term, wouldn't this bye weekend be the perfect time to play the womens grand final?
Connor Bennett
Editor
An incredible response to tonight's game from the players and fans alike. Six and half thousand packed into the Whitten Oval. The women put on an exceptional game of footy, and I have no doubt that it opened a lot of eyes and allowed the world to see the talent out there in the women's game. Social media was buzzing. Nearly 100 tweets a minute throughout the whole night with the hashtag #AFLWomensGame. So much support for the game all over the place and it's a massive opener for the new season next year and a big chapter in the game's history.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Stef Chiocci accepting the trophy as the winning captain, she was good tonight as well.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Mo has won best player.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Really emotional scenes here at the Whitten Oval. All these girls will split up and be spread across the 8 teams next year in the inaugural season of the NWL, and we've had glimpse of just how good it's going to be.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME A big win in the end for the Bulldogs, winning by 39 points in the end after a blistering second half. It was a real wrestle in the opening half, especially the first quarter, but the game began to open up in the second stanza as the Bulldogs started to open up the Melbourne midfield and create chance after chance up front. Massive performance from Moana Hope who scored four goals in five minutes late in the third quarter, eventually ending the game with six to her name. Melbourne kept the fight alive right to the final siren, but the Bulldogs were simply too good on a historic night for women's AFL. Melbourne 7.9 (51) Bulldogs 14.6 (90)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Inside the final minute now and the play has just begun to slow down in between a pair of stoppages. Melbourne 6.9 (45) Bulldogs 14.6 (90)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL BULLDOGS!! Moana Hope. Six goals!! An incredible performance from her tonight. She adds another one to her tally, this time from outside 50 into the open goal. She hit it about 40 metres on the fly, but the bounce was good and it won the race against the pursuing defence. Melbourne 6.9 (45) Bulldogs 14.6 (90)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Mo with her 6th! long range effort from the top of the 50
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' A bit of a bump on Eva who wins a penalty for it. Melbourne are pressing up front, not giving up until the end here. Melbourne 6.9 (45) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Emma Swanson in open space inside 50... fires off the inside of the right boot towards goal. But she's just sliced it wide. She did all the work to get there and set up the opportunity, but it was a tough chance with the defence right on her heels. Melbourne 6.9 (45) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Some loose ball through centre field from the Bulldogs and Melbourne pounce on the turnover, sending it up field for the counter attack. It's a bit of a wrestle on the edge of the forward 50 now. Melbourne 6.8 (44) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Susan Alberti giving Katie Brennan a hug off the ground - I'm so rapt she's one of ours next year!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL MELBOURNE!! Frederick-Traub has had a tough time in front of goal tonight, as have most of the Melbourne goals, but that doesn't take away from her dominance on the contested mark. She's been near unmarkable up front tonight and she has a second goal as reward for that, sending it home from 25 metres out and a few yards left of centre. Melbourne 6.8 (44) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Marinoff on the back of some good ball movement by Melbourne inside 50... Frederick-Traub!! She's been there all night and she's been unstoppable in the contest. So strong and powerful to take the grab 25 metres out from goal. Melbourne 5.8 (38) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
An emotional Susan Alberti being interviewed. She did a lot behind the scenes to get this concept off the ground. Official attendance of 6,355 - what a fantastic night at Whitten Oval, it will host 3 or 4 games next year, and hopefull those games will get a similar crowd.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Melbourne are holding on and trying to make something as the game runs away from them, but they're spending much more time at their own end of the park than not. Melbourne 5.8 (38) Bulldogs 13.6 (84)