The Western Bulldogs have secured the minor premiership and a spot in the 2018 AFLW grand final with a two-point win over Melbounre on Saturday night.
Final score
Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33)
Melbourne Demons 4.7 (31)
It’s a preliminary final without having such a title when the Western Bulldogs take on the Melbourne Demons at Whitten Oval. The winner will play in the grand final next weekend. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm AEDT.
The Western Bulldogs could have locked in their spot in the 2018 grand final last Saturday, but after a loss to the GWS Giants they find themselves in a must-win match. They will be looking to bounce back and will be lifted by the inclusion of their captain, Katie Brennan.
Melbourne, who four of the AFLW Captains picked as most likely to reach the grand final, will need to play well across all four quarters if they are to feature in the final match of the season.
The Demons kicked six goals, three behinds in a huge opening quarter against Carlton last Sunday, only to manage two goals and six behinds for the final three quarters.
While Melbourne’s ferocious start proved too big of a margin for Carlton to come back from, it will take more than a first quarter blitz to beat the ladder leaders, the Western Bulldogs.
Katie Brennan returns to the Bulldogs line up, after recovering from an ankle injury that has kept her out for three weeks. Aisling Utri also returns to the forward line, with Kirsten McLeod (injured) and Emma Mackie (omitted) to miss the clash with Melbourne.
Melbourne have made two changes as well, one forced due to Melissa Hickey’s torn ACL, while Cat Phillips has been omitted. Bianca Jakobbson and Sarah Lampard will come into the side, returning from injuries.
The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Demons are equally matched teams and both are desperate to play in the AFLW grand final after disappointing 2017 seasons. Both teams have had injuries this season, but are in-form now and putting together strong performances.
Prediction
It will be a tight contest between these two ladder-leading teams. However, the inclusion of Brennan for the Bulldogs and exclusion of Hickey for the Demons has me leaning towards a Bulldogs’ win.
Bulldogs by 3.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm AEDT.
MattyB
Guest
One club,3 teams, well done girls. Good tipping Sarah,one point off. Now for GF glory.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Dogs are in! The Western Bulldogs have defeated the Melbourne Demons by two points in blustery conditions at Whitten Oval on Saturday night. They left it very late, but the Bulldogs took the lead with less than two minutes to go, and then put extra defenders behind the ball to protect their two point buffer. AFLW leading goal kicker Brooke Lochland snapped the winning goal in a frenetic final few minutes, and the Western Bulldogs locked themselves in as one of the grand finalists’ for 2018. It was a tight contest across the ground, and while the Bulldogs were kept scoreless in the two quarters they kicked into the wind, the Demons managed to muster up two goals in their two quarters against the breeze. Melbourne had their opportunities with the gusty wind in the third quarter, but a poor effort in front of goals meant they only added one goal and six behinds. The Bulldogs were pleased with their work in the first three quarters and were confident going into the last, knowing they had the breeze advantage. However, a great set-shot goal by Kate Hore gave Melbourne the lead once again midway through the final term. All of Melbourne’s work across the four quarters was unrewarded though, as the Bulldogs’ snatched it late. Emma Kearney (20 disposals, 1 goal, 4 tackles) was best on ground for the Bulldogs. Jenna Bruton also had plenty of the ball with 18 disposals and topped the tackle count for the night with 10. Karen Paxman (22 disposals, 1 goal) and Daisy Pearce (17 disposals, 4 tackles) lead the way for Melbourne through the centre. Melbourne coach, Mick Stinear, revealed in a post-match press-conference that Paxman played 100 per cent game time and desperately tried to put her team in the decider. Bulldogs’ captain, Katie Brennan, had a positive return to the team, leading high up the ground and contributing with one goal, from her seven disposals. Sarah Lampard went off in the first quarter with a right knee. It was put on ice and she played no further part in the game, leaving Melbourne with 20 players for majority of the match. Scans will reveal more tomorrow. Melbourne’s 2018 season is over, and again they’ve come close to the grand final. For the Western Bulldogs, their season continues and they’ll play in the second AFLW grand final, at IKON Park next weekend. Who the Bulldogs will play is to be determined tomorrow, as the Adelaide Crows take on the Collingwood Magpies. If Adelaide win, they will join the Bulldogs in the grand final. Should the Magpies win, or the game end in a draw, the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs will face off in the decider.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in! I'll put up a match report soon.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full time stats The Bulldogs win to make the AFLW grand final. They left it late in blustery conditions at Whitten Oval, but a late goal from Lochland put the Bulldogs in front and they stole the win from Melbourne. Just who the Dogs will play? That will be decided by the Adelaide Crows tomorrow at 2:35pm AEDT. Goals Bulldogs: Lochland, Brennan, Kearney, Berry, Conti Demons: Paxman, Cranston, Hore, Smith Disposals Bulldogs: Kearney 20, Bruton 18, Conti 13 Demons: Paxman 23, Pearce 17, O'Dea 15 Final Score Bulldogs: 5.3 (33) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full-time They fought hard, but Melbourne will not play in next weeks AFLW Grand final. The Western Bulldogs win by 2. Bulldogs: 5.3 (33) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Dees head forward again, but Scott takes the intercept mark to get the dogs home. Bulldogs: 5.3 (33) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
One minute to go Bulldogs: 5.3 (33) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Huge. Lochland snaps and goals. She's now put the Dogs in front by 2 and leads the goal kicking for the AFLW Season. Bulldogs: 5.3 (33) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Three minutes left in this clash. Bulldogs: 4.3 (27) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Good movement by the Dogs but Blackburn goes out on the full with her kick towards goal. Dees by 4. Bulldogs: 4.3 (27) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL MELBOURNE Paxman finds Newman inside 50 and she finds Hore. She kicks a goal and they're up again! The Demons have found a way to score into the wind, once in the second quarter and now in the fourth. Bulldogs: 4.3 (27) Demons: 4.7 (31)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Melbourne taking their time with the transition off half back and have made it inside 50 again. They'll keep peppering here. Bulldogs: 4.3 (27) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND BULLDOGS Bruton goes bang from long range and it rolls through for a behind. Bulldogs: 4.3 (27) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Free-kick Bulldogs (questionable), right in front of goal. The youngster Conti takes full advantage and kicks a goal. Dogs lead by 1. Bulldogs: 4.2 (26) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Fourth term underway Here we go, last quarter in this "preliminary final": who will be a certain feature of next weekend's grand final? Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Three-quarter time stats Goals Bulldogs: Brennan, Kearney, Berry Demons: Cranston, Paxman, Smith Disposals Bulldogs: Kearney 16, Bruton 14, Spark 10 Demons: Paxman 16, O'Dea 13, Pearce 12 Score Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
End of the third. Again, the Bulldogs defended really well and even though they had no score themselves, they should be confident heading into the last. Melbourne had multiple opportunities but could only manage 1 goal, 6 behinds. Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Bulldogs with some repeat entries inside 50 here... can they take a lead into the final term, with the wind behind them aswell? Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
2 minutes remain in the third... Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BEHIND MELBOURNE A missed shot at goal by Paxman. The Demons have less than 5 minutes left with the breeze and will want another goal or two, otherwise they'll have a very small lead to defend in the last. Bulldogs: 3.2 (20) Demons: 3.7 (25)