A three-goal burst in the third quarter has seen the Western Bulldogs claim the 2018 AFLW premiership with a 6-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
In wet and gray conditions it was the Lions who had the best of the game in the first half – they adapted better and scored the first goal of the game through Sophie Conway.
However while they created opportunities they struggled to convert them, something that would come back to haunt the side.
After a scoreless second quarter, the Lions lead by a goal, but the Bulldogs returned a different team in the second half – slightly drier conditions didn’t hurt.
Deanna Berry opened their account and leveled the scores with an early goal, this was quickly followed by Kristen McLeod who put them ahead for the first time since early in the match.
Late in the third, Monique Conti added one more to their tally with just 15 seconds left on the clock to give the Bulldogs a 13-point advantage at the final break.
The Lions struck early in the fourth term with Jess Wuetschner rolling one through, followed by a minor score which brought the margin back to an even goal.
A goal in response from AFLWPA MVP Emma Kearney with less than five minutes on the clock put the Dogs back out to a 12-point advantage, but the game was not done yet.
It was Wuetschner again who gave the Dogs a breath of hope, a free kick allowing her to add her second goal and it put the margin back under a kick.
There were some tense finals moments and the Lions were still driving forward when the siren blew, but just weren’t able to set up that one last major to bridge the gap.
In the end it was heartbreak for the Brisbane Lions losing the grand final for the second year in the row, but jubilation for the Western Bulldogs, winning their first AFLW premiership.
Monique Conti was awarded the medal for best on ground after sending the Bulldogs forward again and again in the third term and kicking a goal herself. Kate Lutkins was the best for Brisbane.
The Bulldogs were the best team throughout 2018, and despite regularly copping longterm injuries and losing skipper Katie Brennan to suspension, they’ve deservingly come out on top.
A bittersweet moment for Brennan to be sure, but despite having to watch the match from the sidelines she was beaming with pride after the siren.
Stand-in captain Ellie Blackburn invited Brennan up onto the stage in a move reminiscent of Luke Beveridge and Bob Murphy in 2016, the perfect finish to a perfect day for the daughters of the west.
Western Bulldogs 4.3 (27)
Brisbane Lions 3.3 (21)
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