The Collingwood Magpies are finally on the board in AFL Women’s, taking their first ever win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
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Final score
Western Bulldogs 3.7 (25)
Collingwood Magpies 5.2 (32)
When the Western Bulldogs take to Whitten Oval tonight for their Round 4 AFL Women’s clash against the Collingwood Magpies, they’ll be facing more than just 22 opponents in the Magpies famous black and white stripes. They’ll also be facing a team whose fate they’ll be desperate to avoid.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm AEDT.
Collingwood have been the unrivalled disappointment of the inaugural AFL Women’s season, losing each of their opening three matches, to be out of contention for the grand final before the season’s halfway mark.
After two straight losses to Adelaide and Melbourne, the Bulldogs know a similar status awaits them if they drop a third consecutive game to the eighth-placed Magpies.
The Bulldogs hopes of keeping their season alive have been boosted by the return of captain and star player, Katie Brennan, who missed the loss to the Demons with injury.
Megan McDonald and Lauren Morecroft have also been added to the side, while Rebecca Neaves, Jess Gardiner and Courtney Clarkson have been omitted.
The Magpies have lost to Carlton in Round 1 and Melbourne in Round 2, before travelling to Queensland last week to face the competition’s top side, Brisbane.
Collingwood produced a season-best performance in losing narrowly to Brisbane last week and the fact they’ve named an unchanged side from the one which lost by four points to the league leaders suggests they think a breakthrough win is within reach.
To achieve that, the Magpies will need to overturn the result of the sides only previous clash, a 10-point win for the Bulldogs in a practice match on Australia Day.
The lure of staying in touch for a grand final spot should be enough of an incentive for the Bulldogs to prevent this happening.
Tip: Bulldogs by 12 points.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm AEDT.
Floreat Pica
Guest
Once again D'arcy, Tesoriero, Garner, Hutchins, Cameron, Chiocci and McIntosh showed real guts and attack at the ball- King starting to flourish in her role and Grant exciting with the ball. Shattered for Katie but know she overcame much harder obstacles to get her debut as a professional footballer- looking forward to see her overcome this setback too. Very proud of you girls!
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
A 4 goal burst in the 3rd quarter was the difference for Collingwood, as the 22 point three-quarter time margin proved too much for the Bulldogs. For the Magpies, Garner kicked two, while Darcy, Eva and Hope had singles. Lamb kicked two for the Bulldogs, while Blackburn added one. The result doesn't change anything for Collingwood, who were already out of finals contention, but it's a hammer blow for the Bulldogs who've now dropped three straight games at home. It's turned out to be a disappointing season for the club that has arguably done more than any other in pioneering women's AFL. On a sad note, Kate Sheahan's long wait for an opportunity at AFL level came to an end almost as soon as it began when she suffered a serious knee injury with her first touch of the footy. At least her Magpie teamates ensured she finished a winner. Thanks for joining us.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
FT Coll 5.2.32 WB 3.7.25 Collingwood win! That Magpies get their first win of the season, holding off the Bulldogs by 7 points.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Pies hanging on and with less than a minute to go and a 7 pt lead, should be preparing to sing their song for the first time this season.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Sloppy free kick given away by the Bulldogs, allows Collingwood run down the clock. Dogs getting desperate.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Pies have done well to clogg things up and eat some time. Just over 4 mins left.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 5.2.32 WB 3.7.25 They're coming! Lamb goals on the turn and the margin is just 7 points. 6 mins left.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 5.2.32 WB 2.7.19 Miss! Blackburn was free dead in front but rushed her shot and missed. Could be costly for the Bulldogs.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 5.2.32 WB 2.6.18 Lamb gathered nicely on the bounce, but her banana shot missed. Bulldogs peppering.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 5.2.32 WB 2.4.16 Last qtr is mere seconds old when the Doggies rush it forward and Blackburn runs into an open goal. Every goal kicked tonight as been to the Barkly St end the Bulldogs are kicking to. Margin 16 pts.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Kirsten Mcleod is done with concussion, making the Bulldogs task even harder. Final term about to start, Pies by 22pts.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
3QT Coll 5.2.32 WB 1.4.10 Huge term by the Pies who made the most of the breeze to kick 4 goals and blow the game open. Garner and Darcy have been good up forward, while King has dominated the ruck. Meg Hutchins has been a general at the back and repeatedly turned defence into attack. Bulldogs need to do even better with the breeze than Collingwood did to stand a chance. Their season is on the line.
Marcel
Guest
Oh yeah
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 4.2.32 WB 1.4.10 Garner kicks her second in a row after a down field free kick. Dam wall about to burst.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 4.2.26 WB 1.4.10 3 in a row! Garner toe pokes through from the goal square after Meg Hutchins sent a long ball over the back. Collingwood will be hard to stop now.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 3.2.20 WB 1.4.10 Close! Darcy almost makes it two in a row. 10 point margin, Pies going for broke.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 3.1.19 WB 1.4.10 Great Goal Pies! Cameron kept it alive in the forward pocket before finding Eva who snapped beautifully over the shoulder. Collingwood's best passage of the season.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Coll 2.1.13 WB 1.4.10 Sarah Darcy gets boot to ball and scores a scrappy goal to put Collingwood back in front!
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
WB 1.4.10 Coll 1.1.7 3rd term underway and Collingwood kicking with the breeze to the Barkly St end. Need to make the most of it if they're to break their duck.
Cade Lucas
Roar Pro
Shocking scenes here at half time. 35 year old Kate Sheahan was in tears as she was carried from the field and her father Mike looked ashen faced in the stands. Worked so hard for so long to get a chance and it might be gone in an instant. Footy sucks sometimes.