AFLW 2024: Western Bulldogs captain Deanna Berry reaches 50 games

The Western Bulldogs’ problems were laid bare in front of more than 20,000 at the MCG, but here’s why their leaders remain optimistic.

Western Bulldogs captain Deanna Berry insists her side is already making inroads on the vast gap between last year’s wooden spooners and the rest of the competition.

The Bulldogs claimed an unwanted AFLW scoring record on a goalless Friday night at the MCG last week that laid their on-field issues bare to a crowd of more than 23,000.

Their score of 0.6 (6) meant they have a combined score of only 24 from their past three games – lower than even expansion club Hawthorn’s aggregate of 26 between rounds 2 and 4 in 2022.

Under pressure at the end of last season to explain their decline to levels well below the other eight foundation clubs, the Bulldogs replaced coach Nathan Burke and created an overdue director of women’s football position filled by Patrice Berthold.

In a surprise move, Berry was also backed to lead a cultural revolution at the club as a first-year captain, replacing longtime skipper and star midfielder Ellie Blackburn.

Western Bulldogs AFLW captain Deanna Berry will play her 50th game on Thursday when the Dogs face West Coast at Whitten Oval. Berry played seven games for Melbourne in 2017 before arriving at the Bulldogs. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

Berry will play her 50th AFLW game when the Bulldogs officially reopen Whitten Oval against West Coast on Thursday night.

She acknowledged the long road the Dogs were facing but denied they had regressed in their first two games this season as she expected a competitive performance against Daisy Pearce’s Eagles.

“We had good moments on the weekend against Port, and our numbers stacked up … we just lacked in ‘moments’, and if you aren’t taking your chances, it’s obviously going to fall the other way,” Berry said.

“We nailed essentially what we set out to achieve in terms of being competitive in the game.

“And I think we’re moving in the right direction off the field … most of the group came in on Saturday morning to do recovery together and have a coffee, so we’ve got some really promising signs, and it’s the young girls leading the way.”

Bulldogs coach Tamara Hyett said her ‘young and raw’ side wasn’t ready for the demands of playing at the MCG. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

The Bulldogs had more disposals than the Power, drew for total clearances and only had one fewer inside 50 in the 40-point loss, but coach Tamara Hyett said after the game it was clear there was no “short-term fix” to impact the scoreboard.

“I think we’ve actually made gains … it might not look like it on the scoreboard … but we definitely had growth tonight,” Hyett said after the game.

“We’re realists … it’s probably a couple of years, two or three years, but we’ll continue to be better every week.

“I’m not sure the MCG probably is the right fit for our group at the moment, to be honest.”

Berry said she was one of the players who needed to improve their fitness, but the 26-year-old has only just come out the other side of a horror run of injuries.

“I probably haven’t reflected too much yet, but there’s been a lot in between my debut and 50th game … a couple shoulder reconstructions, a knee reconstruction, an ankle reconstruction and other things,” she said.

“So I’m pretty grateful to be here and very excited for what’s to come on Thursday night.

“There’s no place like Whitten Oval … it’s a pretty special place for us and our fans, and we’re really excited to reopen the facilities to everyone.”