AFLW Grand Final: Katie Brennan proud of her Western Bulldogs premiership teammates

STAND-IN Western Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn knew she couldn’t do it by herself, Katie Brennan had to be there when she lifted the AFLW premiership cup. RECAP

KATIE Brennan had to lift the cup. Ellie Blackburn knew she couldn’t do it by herself.

Blackburn’s declaration was a simple one, but one she had considered in the days leading up to the AFL Women’s grand final – how she could get her suspended captain onto the dais if they won. At 2.20pm, the stand-in skipper’s contemplations suddenly became a reality as the Western Bulldogs prevailed over Brisbane by six points. “I can’t hold that cup up alone – KB, get up here,” Blackburn said on stage. Brennan had no inkling. MATCH REPORT: CONTI THE SPARK AS DOGS CLAIM AFLW PREMIERSHIP FIGHT: BRENNAN OUT OF GRAND FINAL BUT TAKING AFL TO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION The 25-year-old – who fought tooth and nail all week against her suspension for rough conduct that cost her a grand final berth – watched from the city wing of Ikon Park, alongside family and fellow Bulldogs who weren’t pulling on the guernsey. She was vocal. And when Emma Kearney drew a free kick in front of goal in the final quarter and kicked a crucial goal, the captain was the first to rise, embracing No.1 draft pick Izzy Huntington, who also missed the game due to injury. Secretly, the pair and the Bulldogs women’s players not part of the 21 selected, donned their guernseys under their club gear and coats that were swiftly ripped off as celebrations exploded. This was no time for heartbreak. Only the lauding of the heroics of her teammates. “This just washes it all away,” Brennan said. “We get to hold the premiership cup high. It’s just been an incredible experience. I’m really proud of them.” Blackburn knew there’d be parallels drawn with Luke Beveridge’s gesture to injured Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy in 2016. She was OK with that. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it,” Blackburn said after the game. “It definitely crossed my mind during the week, knowing that Katie probably wasn’t going to be able to play in the grand final. She’s the captain of this football club. “Whether she was a player or not, she’s led this group exceptionally well and her and I have done a great job this year as effectively co-captains to a certain degree. “Every bit of me knew I was going to pull her up there with me.” The forward, who had fought a serious ankle injury and will this week have surgery, admitted that there had “of course” been emotional moments in a week she had been so publicly stoic. “It’s been a massive week,” Brennan said. “I fought really hard to get back out there, and it didn’t go my way. As soon as that moment was gone, then the mindset shifted. “That has been my main priority – the girls in this group, our support staff and everyone a part of this club. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster but at the same time, it’s topped off in this moment.” Brennan wasn’t sad. Just “nervous, excited and sick”. “I had so much belief. And I think that’s what we’ve had all year. We could be two points down, we could be 20 points down but you just still believe that the group can do it and get over the line. “I’m so proud.” Brennan’s fight with the AFL is set to continue at the Australian Human Rights Commission after a complaint of gender discrimination was lodged on Friday. She opted not to take her battle to play to the Federal Court, but is determined that no other female player suffers her fate. “Gender equality is important to me,” she said. “I wanted to really shift the focus and make sure that I’m soaking up grand final week and I’m there for the girls and that I can play a role as a leader of this group.” RE-CAP OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE AFLW GRAND FINAL BELOW

Originally published as AFLW Grand Final: Katie Brennan proud of her Western Bulldogs premiership teammates

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