The key talking points ahead of the Western Bulldogs’ round three match against North Melbourne, at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.
1. Top of the table
It may be early, but this looms as a crucial match for a finals berth.
There’s plenty of hype around newcomers North Melbourne, while the reigning premiers have gone under the radar.
It’s first and second coming together in the ultra-competitive Conference A, ahead of a round of cross-conference matches for the teams sitting outside the top two – Fremantle, Adelaide and Melbourne.
A win would shore up a top-two position – for now, anyway.
2. Blackburn v Kearney?
It’s a match-up that’s sure to be seen at some stage on Friday night.
Former teammates and midfield warriors Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney will have a huge impact on the result of this match.
The two premiership Dogs have started the season in scintillating form – Blackburn averaging 17.5 disposals and seven tackles per game, and now-Roo Kearney averaging 20 disposals and 6.5 tackles per game.
3. Road to goal
Both the Roos and Bulldogs have produced multiple avenues to goal in 2019.
The Roos are the competition’s second-highest scoring team, averaging 50 points per game, with the Dogs averaging 27 points per game.
Emma King has been the forward focal point for the Roos, with four goals in two games, while Katie Brennan has two goals to be the Dogs’ multiple goal-kicker.
4. Defensive battle
The Bulldogs have had the tightest defence in 2019, conceding just 16.5 points per game, with the Roos in second place, conceding just 19.5 points per game.
It’s a credit to both defences.
Lauren Spark has been influential for the Dogs, taking a competition-high 16 marks and averaging 13 disposals per game, while Jess Duffin has been in-form for the Roos, with 13 marks and averaging 18 disposals per game.
