A two-goal burst in the final term was enough to secure the Western Bulldogs their third VFLW win of 2019, edging out Geelong by seven points at Victoria University Whitten Oval on Sunday afternoon.
It was the Bulldogs the made the most of limited opportunities in a dour affair to take the victory, and remain undefeated, 3.1 (19) to 1.6 (12)
After trailing by four points at three quarter time, it was Sarah Jolly that kicked the go-ahead goal at the eight minute mark of fourth quarter, before Annabel Scott extended the margin just minutes later.
Brooke Lochland was an influential figure for the Bulldogs, playing an unfamiliar defensive role, using her speed and agility to provide run and carry out of the back half.
In an opening term that was spent for the most part between the arcs, the Bulldogs’ Danielle Marshall registered the first and only goal of the opening term converting a set shot opportunity. The Cats squandered a close-range chance late in the term, which saw the home side enter quarter time with a five-point advantage.
In her first match of the state-league season, AFLW-listed Bulldog Izzy Huntington started alongside Bonnie Toogood in a key defensive post, with the top pick in the 2017 NAB ALFW Draft having an early impact with some crucial intercept marks.
The ball spent the majority of the second term camped inside the Cats’ forward half, with heavy numbers around the contest making effective inside 50m entries hard to come by for the visitors. Despite dominating territory, the Geelong could only muster a single behind for the term kicking to the Geelong Road end, while the home side didn’t score.
An early goal to the Cats’ Kate Darby in the third quarter, saw the visitors hit the lead for the first time, however the scorers were seldom troubled again through the remainder of the term. Winning the territory battle again, the Cats added a further three behinds, as the Bulldogs defense led by Bonnie Toogood, Lochland and Jessie Davies held strong to keep the home side within a kick at the final change.
After their third successive win of the season, the Western Bulldogs will return to VU Whitten Oval next Saturday 8 June as they host the winless Darebin Falcons. The first bounce will be at midday.
Western Bulldogs 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 (18)
Geelong Cats 0.1 0.2 1.4 1.6 (12)
GOALS:
Western Bulldogs: Danielle Marshall, Annabel Scott, Sarah Jolly.
Geelong Cats: Kate Darby
