NAB AFLW Round 7

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Friday 25 September, 2:05pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung
Broadcast: Fox Footy / Kayo / Binge

There's no better way to spend your public holiday afternoon than at Mission Whitten Oval supporting the AFLW Pups.

There will be good vibes, good footy and a whole lot of fun!

Key Match Timings

Gates open: 1:00pm
Team entry: 2:05pm

What's on at the Kennel

• All 4 Paws Dog Rescue are BACK with their adorable pups - come for a pre-game pat and cuddle
• Free limited-edition bucket hats for the first 200 fans to visit our fan zone
• Grab a giveaway, including heat press patches, team posters and player face masks
• Enjoy the inflatables on the hill (weather permitting)

Getting to Mission Whitten Oval

It’s never been easier to get to the ground with more trains than ever heading to West Footscray Train Station thanks to the new Metro Tunnel. The platform is less than 100 metres from the gate.

Plan your journey ahead of time using the PTV Journey Planner.

Please note that that there is limited on-street parking.

Gate Entry

The primary public entry points are:

• Gate 1 – Located near Barkly Street
• Gate 3 – Located at Cross Street 

Please note: Gate 2 is reserved for VIPs, staff, and accredited individuals only.

AFLW members can enter via Gate 2, for easy access to the Bulldogs Social Members Lounge, located on Level 2.

Accessibility Information

Mission Whitten Oval has the following facilities available to all visitors:

• Multi-faith prayer room
• Parent room with changing facilities
• Changes Places facility suitable for individuals with high support needs
• Elevated disability viewing spots located around the venue

People with accessibility needs are encouraged to access the venue via Gate 2 (Whitten Avenue via the Café/main reception).

Not an AFLW Member?

The best way to support the Club is to Go All In On W - sign up as a W member today!

Score access to every home game & bring a friend for free! That's two tickets to six home games for only $39. 

NAB AFLW Round 7

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Friday 25 September, 2:05pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval, Footscray • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung
Broadcast: Fox Footy / Kayo / Binge

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 8, 2025
Port Adelaide 8.6 (54) def. Western Bulldogs 5.5 (35)

The Bulldogs went down to a surging Power outfit in a tense 19-point contest at Alberton Oval.

The Power led by a point at three-quarter time and sealed the 8.6 (54) to 5.5 (35) win with a dominant last quarter.

The Bulldogs led by 13 points when Elaine Grigg goaled two minutes into the third term, but Port’s Indy Tahau kicked the next three goals as the Power went on a match-winning run of six unanswered goals.

The Dogs made the home side pay for its inefficiency inside 50, Rylie Wilcox with the first major of the contest as the visitors gathered momentum; the Dogs were dominating possession with 47 more disposals in the first half, but Lauren Arnell’s side dug deep.

THE LINE-UP

WHAT IT MEANS

The Bulldogs have been one of the big improvers in 2026 and have given themselves a real shot at playing in another finals series. The big positive out of the Dogs this year is that they've had a very thin injury list throughout the season, which means competition for places has been fierce. Add in the fact that they play with plenty of fight and grit and that's meant they've been competitive in every match they've played. 

PLAYER TO WATCH

Ellie Blackburn returned from a hamstring injury last week and could make a real difference in the second half of the season. While she's now 31 years of age, Blackburn's leadership and footy IQ will be a huge boost to this Bulldogs side. She attended just 28.6 per cent of centre bounces last week - will that number rise or will Tam Hyett continue to rely on other names in the midfield?

A FOUR-GOAL haul from Heidi Woodley helped the Western Bulldogs hold off Port Adelaide to claim a hard-fought victory in front of a convivial Grand Final Eve crowd at Mission Whitten Oval.

It marked the first time Woodley has kicked four goals in a match, headlining a frantic 14-goal second half where the Power stayed in touch but the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed in a 10.2 (62) to 8.1 (49) victory.

While the Power edged the inside-50 count 37-35 and won the clearance battle 32-26, the Bulldogs were far more efficient, converting 28 per cent of their entries into goals compared to Port Adelaide’s 21 per cent.

With the win, the Western Bulldogs continue their promising campaign, improving their record to 5-2 to consolidate a spot place in the top eight.

Keeley Hardingham stepped into the primary ruck role to replace the injured Alice Edmonds, joining fellow inclusions Analea McKee and Sarah Poustie.

With Edmonds, who leads the league in hitouts this season, sidelined, her absence was a huge loss for the Bulldogs and gave Port's Matilda Scholz a major advantage in the middle. Consequently, the battle at the stoppages became a key focal point for the Dogs, but despite losing hitouts 45-11, they held their own to tie stoppage clearances at 21 each.

While Woodley led all comers on the scoreboard, teammate Isabelle Pritchard collected a game-high 23 disposals.

For the Power, Shineah Goody and Hampson both chipped in with two goals, while Scholz and Dowrick shared a team-high 22 disposals.

The Bulldogs found their rhythm early, displaying strong link-up play through the middle and flooding forward with numbers to drive the ball inside 50.

Playing the early minutes almost entirely in their forward half, the opening goal came from a forward-half intercept for Woodley, who snapped truly. She had two on the board shortly after with another snap finish.

Despite Port evening up the inside-50 count, the Bulldogs took a seven-point lead into the first break.

With minutes remaining in the second quarter, neither side managed to score as both defences held firm. While the match remained tightly contested, the Bulldogs controlled general play, leading forward-50 disposals (24-9), forward-50 marks (5-2), and shots at goal (8-2).

Late in the term, an Analea McKee tackle yielded a holding-the-ball free kick in the forward 50, which she duly converted from the resulting set shot to give the Bulldogs a 13-point lead at half-time.

The hosts picked up where they left off, with a classy finish from Ellie Blackburn triggering a flurry of goals, a stark contrast to a defensive second term that produced only one.

The response for Port Adelaide came quickly through Hampson, before Woodley converted a set shot for a career-high third goal, all within five minutes.

Jasmyn Smith snapped one from the square before Goody kicked her second major, marking the first two-goal game of her career. Shortly after, backing into the flight to win the aerial contest, Woodley gathered possession and snapped home her fourth.

Late in the term, Blackburn and Boyd collided in a heavy contest, with Boyd coming off second best, suffering swelling to her temple and heading straight off the ground for an assessment before being ruled out for the remainder of the match.

Following a seven-goal quarter, the Bulldogs took a 19-point lead into the final change. The shootout continued as both sides relentlessly traded goals but the home side held on.

Up next

The Western Bulldogs head for their home away from home in Ballarat to face St Kilda at Mars Stadium on Saturday at 3:05pm AEST, before Port Adelaide hosts Adelaide at Alberton Oval for the Showdown at 7:15pm AEST.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     2.2    3.2    7.2   10.2 (62)
PORT ADELAIDE             1.1    1.1    4.1    8.1 (49)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Woodley 4, McKee, Blackburn, Smith, Hartwig, Fitzgerald, Wilcox
Port Adelaide: Hampson 3, Goodey 2, Young, Woodland, Mules-Robinson

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Woodley, Pritchard, Fitzgerald, Cann, Georgostathis, McKee 
Port Adelaide: Scholz, Hampson, Goody, Young, Dorwick, Brooksby

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: Boyd (concussion)

LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: Katelyn Pope (illness) replaced in selected side by Jasmine Evans

Crowd: 2431 at Whitten Oval