Western Bulldogs book spot in AFLW Grand Final with thrilling win over Melbourne
THE “daughters of the west” are one win away from becoming the Queens of the west after the Western Bulldogs booked their place in the AFLW Grand Final with a thrilling win over Melbourne.
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THE “daughters of the west” are one win away from becoming the Queens of the west after the Western Bulldogs booked their place in the AFLW Grand Final.
The Bulldogs on Saturday night outlasted Melbourne in a see-sawing tug of war at a windy Whitten Oval — the two pioneers of the women’s game trading blows in a pressure-packed slog.
The Dogs will play either reigning premier Adelaide or last year’s runner-up, Brisbane Lions, in next Saturday’s premiership decider, but they won’t get a home Grand Final in the west.
The AFL on Saturday night decided to play the game at the bigger Ikon Park, fearful too many fans would miss out if it was staged at the Whitten Oval.
Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves said it was the correct call.
“If we locked out 2000-3000 Western Bulldogs supporters because they couldn’t get in here, but they can watch us at Ikon, I think that’s the right decision,” Groves said.
“We want to fill it with as many Western Bulldogs people as we can. Past players, fans, members, supporters, or just someone who has jumped on us because they don’t have a women’s team to support yet, we want you in red, white and blue.”
In a game dictated by a howling northerly blasting down the middle of the ground, the Dogs had use of it in the last term and overcome a five-point deficit to win 5.3 (33) to 4.7 (31).
AFLW doesn’t have preliminary finals, but this virtual one was just as good.
It had the crowd — 7593 — the intensity and the nailbiting high stakes of the fixture we’ve become accustomed to in the men’s game.
With a brave Melbourne clinging to a four-point lead with 85 seconds left, Brooke Lochland’s left foot snap gave the Dogs the lead they wouldn’t surrender.
“They’re joyous, but ... there’s a getting into the Grand Final is a great achievement (feeling), but there’s also the next step,” Groves said.
“We want to put that cup in our hands at the end of the game next Saturday.”
In what Groves called a “contested ball feast”, Lochland wasn’t the only hero in red, white and blue.
Emma Kearney was brilliant, with 15 of her 20 disposals and a goal coming in an electric first half.
Lauren Spark muzzling of Melbourne’s three-goal hero from last week, Tegan Cunningham, was so comprehensive, Cuningham didn’t touch the ball all night.
Kirsty Lamb’s tight-checking physicality blunted Daisy Pearce’s brilliance. Pearce had it 17 times, but wasn’t overly damaging.
And then there was Monique Conti, whose spark and pace across half-forward always made something happen.
The Demons were gutted at the final siren having led inside the final 90 seconds courtesy of Kate Hore’s clutch set shot into the wind. They were the only side to goal at the dead end of the ground, doing so twice.
Karen Paxman got the other one and was clearly Melbourne’s best player, roaming around the ground to dominate the air and the ground with 23 touches and three marks. Elise O’Dea also tried hard.
In a game of fine margins, Melbourne’s Alicia Newman will be cursing what might have been. Newman seized on an advantage decision over the back in the third quarter, but after taking three bounces and streaking into the goalsquare, she somehow missed.
With only nine goals kicked, it was as costly a miss as they come.
Where Newman missed, Lochland didn’t. For all the anticipation over the return of Western Bulldogs forward Katie Brennan, it was another Dogs forward who stole the show.
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