Collingwood skipper Steph Chiocci reported as Western Bulldogs move closer to grand final berth

THE Western Bulldogs have moved one step closer to sewing up a spot in this year’s AFLW grand final after sweeping aside Collingwood in a fiery clash in Moe. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS

Nicole Callinan celebrates a goal with her teammates in the win over Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

THE Western Bulldogs have moved one step closer to sewing up a spot in this year’s AFLW grand final after sweeping aside Collingwood in a fiery clash in Moe.

The Bulldogs secured their fourth win from five matches as they scored an eight-point triumph, leaving them one game and percentage clear on top of the ladder with two rounds remaining.

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After claiming their first win of the season against Melbourne the previous week, Collingwood could not get much going as its midfield was belted and its backline was continually under siege.

The Magpies’ efficiency going forward kept them in the match after they lost the inside-50 count in the opening half 22-4.

Collingwood went on to win the second half by three points but the Bulldogs were never headed as they held on in another solid performance.

Collingwood's Steph Chiocci cleans up Libby Birch. Picture: Michael Klein

Bulldogs players attend to Libby Birch after she copped a heavy first-term bump. Picture: Michael Klein

ALL FIRED UP

The match was one of the more heated we have seen in the AFLW this season, with no love lost between the two teams.

There were two reports out of the match, with Collingwood captain Stephanie Chiocci put in the book in the opening minutes for a high bump on Bulldogs opponent Libby Birch.

Birch then had her own number taken in the second quarter for rough conduct on Magpie Mo Hope.

.@BulldogsW defender Libby Birch has left the field following this collision with Steph Chiocci. #AFLWPiesDogs pic.twitter.com/xQIatIKBVQ

— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) March 4, 2018

There was also a brief scuffle in the second term after Collingwood’s Britt Bonnici slung Western Bulldogs midfielder Emma Kearney into the boundary line television crew in a tackle that was not well recieved.

BRILLIANT BLACKBURN

Ellie Blackburn is relishing the acting captain role at the Western Bulldogs, again leading from the front in another win for her side.

The quick and silky midfielder set the tone from the start and had 10 touches to her name at halftime before finishing with 17 disposals and a goal.

The effort – which coach Paul Groves said was arguably the best game he had seen Blackburn play – equalled the 22-year-old’s season average of 17 disposals while she now has three goals to her name from five matches.

Ellie Blackburn tries to break a tackle. Picture: AAP

LOCHLAND LEADS

She was the star of last week with seven goals against Carlton and Bulldog Brooke Lochland hit the scoreboard again.

With the Western Bulldogs still missing captain and key forward Katie Brennan (ankle), Lochland again bobbed up to boot an equal-game high two goals against the Magpies, taking her season tally to 11 majors.

The total puts Lochland four goals clear of Brisbane’s Jess Wuetschner and Greater Western Sydney’s Phoebe McWilliams who each have seven goals with two rounds remaining.

Carlton’s Darcy Vescio finished the first AFLW season last year as the competition’s leading goalkicker with 14 majors.