It’s fair to say 2017 wasn’t a great year for the Western Bulldogs, winning the final game of the season against GWS to avoid the ignominy of winning the inaugural wooden spoon.
During the trade period Jaimee Lambert departed the club for the Magpies in a deal which netted the Bulldogs the first pick in the 2017 draft. Coming to the Bulldogs during the trade period from Melbourne was Deanna Berry. Jess Anderson & Rachel Ashley were signed as free agents.
Changes had to be made to the list and the likes of Lauren Morecroft & Lisa Williams were just 2 of the 8 player not re signed by the Bulldogs.
Along with the coveted first selection, the Bulldogs also had picks 4, 11, 19 & 27. It’s fair to say it was going to be a very different team. Not only was the personnel different, but the game style would also prove to be very different too. Credit to coach Paul Groves to accepted some pretty harsh feedback from his playing group & took the criticism on board & developed a totally different game style.
So, who were the Bulldogs going to select first? Would it be Izzy Huntington from Melbourne Uni, who’d sat out season 2017 due to a knee injury, or would it be Diamond Creek young gun Chloe Molloy? I’ll admit I was biased as I’d watched a fair bit of Chloe at the Creekers & knew how good she was. Izzy on the other hand was an unknown commodity to me.
It was not known until the night before the draft when Izzy Huntington was informed by the Bulldogs that she was going to be taken with pick 1. Monique Conti who played basketball with the Melbourne Boomers & footy with Melbourne Uni was our pick 4, St.Kilda Sharks Best & Fairest Jenna Bruton, Tasmanian young gun Daria Bannister & Box Hill’s Emma Mackie rounded out the club’s selections.
In addition to the draft, the club added 4 rookies & to me, these 4 players proved to be astute selections & all contributed significantly throughout the season. Western Spurs youngster Naomi Ferres was selected with our first rookie selection. A local who grew up barracking for the Western Bulldogs. I was thrilled as I’d known Naomi since she was little due to her playing footy & cricket with my son at Werribee Centrals. Our other selections were netballer Bonnie Toogood, hockey player Aisling Utri & basketballer Kim Rennie.
All up, of the 30 players on the list, there were 12 new players. Amazing to see 40% of the list changing in one off season!
I decided to attend training sessions where I could, mostly on Saturday mornings during the hot Summer months. Many of those sessions were at Maribyrnong High School & it always seemed to be above 30 degrees by 9am! Despite the heat, never did I once see a player complain about it. They knew what they had to do. What was enjoyable about these sessions was that the players were happy to say hi & have a chat. One of my favourite things about women’s footy is just how welcoming it is, be it players, coaches, staff or supporters.
Prior to the season, the Bulldogs played a practice match against Carlton at Ballarat. The Blues had secured Collingwood Best & Fairest Nicola Stevens & Brisbane key forward Tayla Harris. Many pundits had tipped the Blues to go all the way in 2018. On a balmy evening Carlton ran out winners by 16 points. A pretty impressive performance by the Bulldogs who were missing Katie Brennan & Emma Kearney.
A number of things spring to mind from that game; a) meeting Kass Hall for the first time, a person who’d I’d regularly watch footy with during the season b) hearing Kirsty Lamb being sledged as she had a shot for goal after one of the siren’s had sounded & laughing with her about it after the game as I fully expected it to be Shae Audley, a team mate of Lamby’s at Diamond Creek. I was surprised to hear it was in fact another of her Creeker’s team mates; Katie Loynes c) meeting up after the game with fanatical Blues fans Caity Gough & Danny Wyatt. Not only do these 2 have a love of Carlton, they love women’s footy more, so much so, they sponsor Chloe Molloy at Collingwood & d) finding out that Naomi Ferres ran 10 km during the game! When I subsequently spoke with Naomi, I asked if that was unusual & she stated she didn’t know, she’d never played footy before with a tracker!
The Season Launch was held in Albert Park, on a night where there was a major bike ride happening. Suffice to say just about everyone attending was held up in traffic for the best part of an hour. There was plenty of optimism from senior coach Paul Groves & the highlight was each player being presented to the crowd & coming out to a song of their choice. Ellie Blackburn brought the house down when she came out to the Wiggles song Big Red Car (toot toot chugga chugga).
- Round 1 Western Bulldogs v Fremantle at the Whitten Oval
Western Bulldogs 7.7.49
Fremantle 3.5.23
Goal Kickers: 3 Katie Brennan, 1 Brooke Lochland, 1 Ellie Blackburn, 1 Aasta O’Connor, 1 Bonnie Toogood
Right from the start it was obvious the Bulldogs would win, such was the dominance. The Dockers kicked all 3 of their goals in the third term. Emma Kearney & Ellie Blackburn had the ball 41 times between them & KB was a focal point up forward, kicking 3 goals, one a set shot from a very tight angle. The goal Ellie Blackburn kicked was poetry in motion, picking the ball up on the half volley at speed, then kicking truly from 45 metres out.
The only downside was the knee injury suffered by debutante Daria Bannister which would be confirmed as an ACL, requiring surgery & 12 months on the sidelines.
- Round 2 Brisbane v Western Bulldogs at the South Pines Sports Complex
Brisbane 3.6.24
Western Bulldogs 5.3.33
Goal Kickers: 2 Izzy Huntington, 1 Hannah Scott, 1 Aisling Utri, 1 Jenna Bruton
It all happened in the space of a few minutes late on in the second quarter. 2 towering marks in front of goal & 2 majors from Izzy Huntington had Dogs fans salivating. TV commentator Chyloe Kurdas proudly proclaimed Izzy to be the best footballer she’s ever seen! A few seconds later, an innocuous collision & Izzy Huntington becomes the second Bulldog to do a severe injury; her second ACL. After that, the result had little meaning for me. Yup, we won, but I remember saying I’d gladly give back the 4 points if it meant Izzy didn’t get hurt.
Kirsty Lamb played a blinder & as she does, goes in where angels fear to tread, just puts her head over the ball & continues to get it out to the likes of Ellie Blackburn & Emma Kearney. Again a ripper goal & a rascal moment. Hannah Scott from the outside of her right foot from 40 metres out was a highlight & Hannah herself the unwitting victim of Jess Wuetschner’s clever play in the back pocket. Remember, a new rule was introduced where the last disposal over the boundary line now resulted in a free kick. As the ball neared the boundary line adjacent to the point post Wuetschner tapped the ball onto the unsuspecting Scott’s boot which then ricocheted over the boundary line. The boundary umpire immediately signaled for a throw in, only for the field umpire to over rule & award Wuetschner a free kick saying Scott kicked the ball before it went out of bounds!
You couldn’t be anything but impressed with Izzy after the game. She had every right to seek her own solace given she knew how severe her knee injury was & the implication, but no, she was out on the ground embracing her team mates & joining in the song. She’s a good egg is Izzy!
Both Bonnie Toogood & Libby Birch received Rising Star Nominations. Birch was extremely effective in limiting Lions Kaitlyn Ashmore to just 3 possessions.
- Round 3 Adelaide v Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval
Adelaide 6.5.42
Western Bulldogs 5.4.34
Goal Kickers: 2 Katie Brennan, 1 Emma Kearney, 1 Brooke Lochland, 1 Aisling Utri
Once again the injury curse struck, late on with scores level Katie Brennan took the ball on the half forward flank & had an unmarked Brooke Lochland running towards goal when her ankle went from under her. All she could do was handball, Adelaide swooped & launched their own foray forward & scored twice in the final minutes to run out 7 point winners.
The competition’s best player in 2017 Erin Phillips played her first game, virtually on one leg & put on a clinic, kicking 4 of her teams 6 goals.
This was always going to be tough after having played the last game of round 2 in the heat in Brisbane before backing up with the first game of round 3.
- Round 4 Western Bulldogs v Carlton at the Whitten Oval
Western Bulldogs 12.14.86
Carlton 2.1.13
Goal Kickers: 7 Brooke Lochland, 3 Bonnie Toogood, 1 Ellie Blackburn, 1 Jenna Bruton
It was inspiring in the lead up to this game hearing what it meant to Hannah Scott to play in the very first AFLW Pride Game. Both teams wearing specially designed jumpers for the event.
It was as one sided a game as you’d ever wish to see! Brooke Lochland kicked more goals in a single AFLW game than anyone else with 7, including 4 goals in the second quarter!
Bonnie Toogood chimed in with 3 goals & Ellie Blackburn was the recipient of an errant kick across goal from the Blues 2017 skipper, Lauren Arnell with Ellie giving Arnell the thumbs up.
The Bulldogs could do no wrong & Carlton could do no right. Again Emma Kearney & Ellie Blackburn has a ton of possessions between them. The win was in essence 2 wins on the ladder as the Bulldogs percentage was boosted to 200%.
Again 2 further Rising Star nominations were received; Monique Conti & Aisling Utri the recipients.
- Round 5 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at Ted Summerton Reserve in Moe
Collingwood 6.5.41
Western Bulldogs 7.7.49
Goal Kickers: 2 Brooke Lochland, 1 Ellie Blackburn, 1 Aasta O’Connor, 1 Aisling Utri, 1 Bonnie Toogood
A nice sunny day for a drive to Gippsland & the game started with a bang as Libby Birch copped a nasty head knock from Pies skipper, Steph Chiocci which required her to leave the field. Fortunately she was stitched up, bandaged & able to return. Chiocci was subsequently suspended for 2 weeks after accepting the MRP finding. Having watched Chiocci the year before regularly at Diamond Creek, her crude bump was certainly out of character. Things didn’t get too much better for Libby Birch as she found herself on report for a late spoil on Mo Hope in the second quarter, which she received a reprimand for. As an aside my wife & I met up with Kass Hall & Elisabeth Tuckey at the game & sat next to a lovely lady named Barb who happened to be Libby Birch’s grandmother. Forever after, she was known as Nana Barb & was in somewhat of a tizz seeing Libby get cleaned up, then reported.
It wasn’t a game of too many highlights to be honest. The Bulldogs led throughout with Collingwood mounting a late charge which fizzled out when Brittany Bonnici gave away a free kick for an off the ball incident on Hannah Scott. At the time Collingwood were about to kick a goal from a set shot to bring the margin under a goal with 90 seconds remaining.
- Round 6 GWS v Western Bulldogs at UNSW Oval in Canberra
GWS 7.4.46
Western Bulldogs 4.4.28
Goal Kickers: 2 Kirsten McLeod, 1 Monique Conti, 1 Jenna Bruton
The equation was simple for the Bulldogs; win & book a Grand Final spot.
It sounded simple & we started brightly. Kirsten McLeod was dangerous up forward kicking 2 goals before injuring her quad. Not great timing with it being the penultimate round.
After half time GWS mature recruit Courtney Gum showed age was no barrier as she dominated. At three quarter time the 2 teams were separated by just 1 point, however in the final term the Giants kicked 3 goals to nil to run out deserved winners.
- Round 7 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at the Whitten Oval
Western Bulldogs: 5.3.33
Melbourne: 4.7.31
Goal Kickers: 1 Deanna Berry, 1 Katie Brennan, 1 Monique Conti, 1 Emma Kearney, 1 Brooke Lochland
Whilst it was round 7, it may well have been the finals, albeit a week early. Again, a win would ensure the Bulldogs hosted the Grand Final & a close loss to the Demons & the 2 teams would square off again a week later.
Skipper Katie Brennan returned & lost the toss. Daisy Pearce had no hesitation whatsoever, electing to kick with a strong wind. Melbourne enjoyed the majority of field position, however struggled to capitalise only kicking one goal. The Bulldogs fared a little better in the second term, kicking 3 goals, but Melbourne kept their hopes alive by kicking a goal into the breeze.
Melbourne struggled again kicking just one goal with the wind, however they missed a golden opportunity to kick a second. Earlier in the season Demon’s speedster Aliesha Newman had staked her claim to goal on the year with a 3 bounce running goal & seemed sure to do likewise when she got free over the back. Hannah Scott chased for her life, but was never going to close the gap, but try telling that to Scotty! She chased for her life & as a result it meant Newman couldn’t waltz into the goal square & inexplicably hit the post with her kick. Who knew just how much the game could swing on such a moment.
With the breeze at their backs in the final term the Bulldogs were expected to claim the victory they needed, but with 5 minutes remaining Melbourne went forward & goaled into the wind to take the lead, much to the surprise of the shocked crowd.
A forward foray by the Bulldogs with less than 2 minutes remaining resulted in a throw in. From the resultant throw in, the ball got over the back of the pack & Jenna Bruton ran onto it & handballed to an unmarked Brooke Lochland who snapped truly much to the approval of the local crowd who’s roar was deafening.
Even still, the Bulldogs required a contested mark from Hanna Scott to snuff out one last Demon surge forward.
Given Brisbane had thrashed GWS earlier in the round, they still needed results to go their way. A Bulldogs victory was just the tonic. So, like the year before, Adelaide needed to beat Collingwood at Olympic Park to progress to the Grand Final. Should the Crows fail to get the chocolates, then Brisbane would progress through. Collingwood ran out 21 point winners so, against the odds, Brisbane were in their second consecutive Grand Final.
Naomi Ferres was rewarded for her consistency with a Rising Star nomination.
The Bulldogs celebrations were put on hold when MRO Michael Christian charged Katie Brennan with a dangerous tackle. Ordinarily this would result in a reprimand, but Katie had already received a reprimand for a similar tackle earlier in the season. As second such infringement carries a 1 match suspension. In this case the 1 match just happened to be the Grand Final!
As expected the Bulldogs declined the opportunity of an early guilty plea but sadly at the tribunal, were unsuccessful meaning their skipper would miss the Grand Final along with round 1 in 2019.
The Bulldogs decided to challenge this decision claiming that in the AFL players are not suspended, rather fined after a second such indiscretion. Despite this, again Katie’s appeal failed meaning she would miss the Grand Final. A possibility existed for the Bulldogs to challenge the decision through the Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission. After consultation with the AFL, who agreed the sanctions differed between the men’s & women's competitions & they would look at rectifying this in the off season. As a result, Katie withdrew her complaint meaning there was now no longer any recourse open to her.
- Grand Final Western Bulldogs v Brisbane at Princes Park
Western Bulldogs 4.3.27
Brisbane 3.3.21
Goal Kickers: 1 Deanna Berry, 1 Monique Conti, 1 Kirsten McLeod, 1 Emma Kearney
Just the once change for the Bulldogs, with Kirsten McLeod replacing the suspended Katie Brennan.
Princes Park was chosen as the venue by the AFL despite claims by the Bulldogs to play the game at the club’s home ground, the Whitten Oval.
Saturday morning started with the heaven’s opening with some of the heaviest rain seen in Melbourne in months. A number of faithful including myself, my son, Kass Hall, Steve Barass-Miller & his daughter Mary, met at a cafe in Carlton for breakfast. After a hearty fill we walked to the ground when there was a break in the weather. Sadly for us the break was short lived & we got saturated on the walk.
So heavy was the rain, the pre match entertainment was deemed unsafe & subsequently cancelled.
In appalling conditions it was difficult to control the slippery ball & scoring was almost impossible, with only the one goal scored in the entire first half, that to a unmarked Sophie Conway who was found by the dangerous Jess Wuetschner.
The rain abated at half time & the Bulldogs found a way through the previously unstoppable Brisbane defence marshalled by Kate Lutkins. 3 goals to the Bulldogs in quick time broke the game open. The first by Deanna Berry who kicked a long goal which bounced well before the goal line but skidded through. Mon Conti started to get her hand on the ball & was rewarded with her dominance by kicking a major as did Kirsten McLeod.
A 2 goal cushion at the final change, would it be enough? Wuetschner kicked the first goal of the final term but shortly after Emma Kearney kicked truly after being rewarded with a free kick for her tackle on Katelyn Ashmore.
Wuetschner then created something out of nothing to reduce to the margin to 5 points late on. The Bulldogs went forward again & should have been awarded a goal as a loose ball clearly hit the back of Kirsten McLeod’s boot before crossing the line. Sadly there’s no video review in AFLW & after consultation between the umpires a point was awarded.
Brisbane threw everything at the Bulldogs in a frantic final few minutes. Stoppage after stoppage resulted in the Lions advancing the ball forward & in the dying seconds Wuetschner again got the ball & pumped it forward & fortunately for the Bulldogs Naomi Ferres found herself in the right place at the right time, diving forward to hold onto a mark as the final siren sounded!
THE WESTERN BULLDOGS WERE THE AFLW PREMIERS!!!
Joyous scenes prevailed as Monique Conti was awarded the medal for best player on the ground. Brisbane defender Kate Lutkins can consider herself unlucky not to win it, she played a great game. Players received their medals & it was touching when Katie Brennan joined Ellie Blackburn on the stage to accept the Premiership Cup! It was fantastic to see friends & family of the victorious players there, shedding tears of joy, particularly Biff & Renae Ferres & Matilda, Naomi’s younger sister & biggest fan. Nana Barb was there too along with Sam Conti & Russell Lamb who’s daughters are the apples of their eyes!
I’ll admit, I too shed tears of joy as the little girl who played with my son all those years ago, proudly showed us her gleaming gold Premiership Medal.
After the game I received a call from Mandy David from one of the sponsors, The Pancake Parlour who invited me to the after match celebratory function. What a great night it was too! Seeing the players all proudly wearing their jumpers & Premiership Medals.
Take a bow Paul Groves, Premiership Coach! Always approachable & willing to chat, you could tell throughout the year he was well thought of by the players he coached.
The Best & Fairest was a joyous occasion & fittingly Emma Kearney was crowned club champion to go along with winning the Competition Best & Fairest.
The top 10 was:
- Emma Kearney - 121
- Ellie Blackburn - 114
- Kirsty Lamb - 107
- Lauren Spark - 106
- Libby Birch - 100
- Jenna Bruton – 98
- Brooke Lochland – 96
- Monique Conti – 95
- Hannah Scott – 91
- Angelica Gogos – 86
I thoroughly enjoyed AFLW2 & seeing the players give their all & then be rewarded was the most wonderful feeling. At every trading session I attended, the players, officials & coaching staff were so kind. Women's footy is just so welcoming & I’m thrilled to support it.
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