Western Bulldogs AFLW player profiles for 2018 season
A FULL season from Katie Brennan will make a difference for the Western Bulldogs, who have bolstered their squad with three picks in the top 11 at last year’s draft.
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A FULL season from Katie Brennan will make a difference for the Western Bulldogs, after the captain managed just two games last year due to ankle and quad injuries.
The Bulldogs had three picks in the top 11 at last year’s draft, including No.1 Isabel Huntington, who is an exciting forward.
Accuracy will be another key after 31.54 last season.
KICKING GOALS: AFLW TO GIVE FANS WHAT THEY WANT
CAPTAIN’S POLL: DEMONS, BLUES TIPPED TO RISE
ROUND 1: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AFLW02
Coach: Paul Groves
Captain: Katie Brennan
Last year: 6th (2-5)
Average age: 23
Average height: 170cm
Youngest player: Monique Conti (18)
Oldest player: Nicole Callinan (35)
Odds: $6
THE QUOTE
“A lot of what we did last year was good. Yes, we’ve seen the areas that we need to improve — our goalkicking, for one. We’re working on rectifying that.”
— Paul Groves
WESTERN BULLDOGS AFLW PLAYER PROFILES
1. Brooke Lochland
Age: 26 Hgt: 159cm
Midfielder
Former ice-skater who played every game last season, averaging more than nine disposals and 4.6 tackles. Tough and has good hands.
2. Ellie Blackburn
Age: 23 Hgt: 170cm
Midfielder
Elite last season, finishing as AFLW’s fifth-leading disposal winner (average of 19.4 touches) and winning the Bulldogs’ best-and-fairest.
3. Katie Brennan
Age: 25 Hgt: 175cm
Forward
Captain was restricted to two games last season by an ankle injury but bounced back to kick 35 goals in 13 VFLW games last year. Genuine star when fit.
4. Aasta O’Connor
Age: 30 Hgt: 182cm
Defender/ruck
Knee injury ended her AFLW01 season after four games. Quality and versatile tall who boasts a booming kick.
5. Emma Kearney
Age: 28 Hgt: 168cm
Midfielder
League’s fourth-highest disposal winner last season, averaging 21.4 touches in seven games. Topped the clearances average and was runner-up in club best-and-fairest.
6. Kristen McLeod
Age: 23 Hgt: 161cm
Forward
Lively small forward with plenty of X-factor but will be looking to improve accuracy after 4.8 from in six games last season.
7. Deanna Berry
Age: 19 Hgt: 171cm
Forward
Exciting youngster picked up in a trade with Melbourne. Kicked 5.5 in seven games for the Demons last season while averaging seven disposals.
8. Monique Conti
Age: 18 Hgt: 165cm
Midfielder
WNBL point-guard selected with pick No.4 in last year’s draft. Speedy, good in confined spaces and can kick goals.
9. Isabel Huntington
Age: 18 Hgt: 175cm
Forward
The No.1 pick in last year’s draft missed the season with an ACL. Had 30 touches and kicked five goals in a girls’ national championships game in 2016.
10. Nicole Callinan
Age: 35 Hgt: 164cm
Midfielder/defender
Former indoor cricketer was a handy outside onballer last season. Works hard and played every game, averaging almost 10 disposals and two tackles.
11. Lauren Spark
Age: 32 Hgt: 182cm
Ruck/defender
Experienced, versatile key defender played every game last season, averaging eight disposals. Represented Australia at volleyball.
12. Kimberley Ebb
Age: 30 Hgt: 170cm
Midfielder/defender
A veteran of more than 200 VWFL games is a hard-running half-back who can also play through the midfield. Four games in AFLW01 for an average of seven disposals.
13. Laura Bailey
Age: 25 Hgt: 166cm
Defender
Tough, known for her dash off half-back. Missed one game last season through suspension but played the other six, averaging more than seven disposals and almost two tackles.
14. Ellyse Gamble
Age: 20 Hgt: 180cm
Defender/ruck
Spent time forward and in the ruck during six games last season but impressed in the VFLW last year as a defender so looks set for a shift.
15. Rachel Ashley
Age: 19 Hgt: 171cm
Defender
Intercepting defender from Perth has a good pair of hands. Secured as a free agent after missing selection in last year’s draft.
16. Naomi Ferres
Age: 20 Hgt: 164cm
Midfielder
High half-forward or midfielder has solid skills and can break the lines. Picked up in rookie draft last year.
17. Hayley Wildes
Age: 21 Hgt: 168cm
Defender/midfielder
Played every game last season, averaging eight disposals and two tackles. Rarely wastes the ball, tough and reads the play well.
18. Libby Birch
Age: 20 Hgt: 175cm
Defender
Former state-level junior netballer took up football in mid-2016 and impressed in seven AFLW01 games. Fast and can play a variety of positions.
19. Tiarna Ernst
Age: 30 Hgt: 180cm
Ruck
Queensland doctor shouldered most of the ruck duties last season, averaging six disposals and 13 hitouts in seven games. Fifth in the bes-and-fairest.
20. Daria Bannister
Age: 18 Hgt: 162cm
Midfielder
Recruit from Launceston, selected at No.19 in last year’s draft. Can push forward and was selected in the under-18 All-Australian squad last season.
21. Bailey Hunt
Age: 21 Hgt: 171cm
Defender
Rising Star nominee played every game last season as a lockdown defender. Tough, quick expected to develop even more this year.
22. Hannah Scott
Age: 27 Hgt: 168cm
Midfielder/defender
Hamstring injury delayed her start to pre-season, but back and firing. Third in last year’s best-and-fairest after averaging 12.7 disposals as a rebounding defender.
23. Aisling Utri
Age: 19 Hgt: 165cm
Midfielder/forward
Recruited as a rookie from a hockey background last August but was quickly upgraded to the senior list. Has pace, hardness and good skills.
24. Kim Rennie
Age: 23 Hgt: 185cm
Ruck
Former basketballer who impressed at a talent search day last June and was signed as a rookie. Still developing but has the height and athleticism to shine.
25. Emma Mackie
Age: 33 Hgt: 168cm
Midfielder
Powerful onballer stood out for Box Hill in VFLW last season, winning the club best-and-fairest. Pick No.27 in last year’s draft.
26. Jess Anderson
Age: 20 Hgt: 177cm
Utility
Signed as a free agent after being delisted by Melbourne following five AFLW01 games. Can play at either end.
27. Kristy Lamb
Age: 23 Hgt: 162cm
Midfielder
Impressed through the midfield last season, averaging 10.3 disposals, but likely to spend some time forward last year. Juggled football and cricket, but now focused on AFLW.
28. Bonnie Toogood
Age: 20 Hgt: 178cm
Utility
State league netballer has little football experience but was selected in last year’s rookie draft. Has good game sense and foot skills and could feature at either end.
35. Jenna Bruton
Age: 22 Hgt: 158cm
Midfield/forward
Pick No.11 in last year’s draft. Won VFLW outfit St Kilda Sharks’ best-and-fairest and was in a preliminary final side last season.
36. Angelica Gogos
Age: 28 Hgt: 156cm
Midfielder/forward
Solid contributor in AFLW last season, playing every game in her return to football after two years off. Finished as competition’s fourth-best tackler, averaging 6.1.
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