Western Bulldogs defender Elle Bennetts says Saturday’s 27-point win over the Swans wouldn’t have been possible without a whole team effort.
The Dogs trailed by four points at the final break of the Indigenous Round clash, before storming home with five goals to prevail in front of a 2142 home crowd at Mission Whitten Oval.
“It’s one of my favourite rounds of the season - I hope we did the jumper proud and it was really nice to have so many turn up today,” Bennetts said post-match.
“That crowd really helped us get across the line in the end.
“The middle of the game was really testing, but it’s unreal that we came away in the last quarter.
“We had a focus on forward-half pressure. We just kept coming and forcing them to make decisions that they usually wouldn’t make.
“Everyone just ended up playing their role really well – it was a full team effort.”
It was an extra-special win for Bennetts in particular, who notched up her 75th milestone match.
“I feel like I didn’t reflect on it too much until even probably this morning…to make the decision 10 years ago after playing netball to move to Sydney and give (footy) a go, I didn’t really expect my career to be as long as it has been,” she said.
“I’ve still got a few years left in me so it’s just been unreal.
“I’ve been here at the Dogs longer than I was at the Giants now, and it’s just such a special group. I love this Club so much.”
Bennetts was one of the Dogs’ best in the win, recording 20 disposals, five marks and 477 metres gained from 100% time-on-ground, but was quick to praise her fellow defenders.
“It’s nice to be able to get your hands on the ball and impact the game that way…but I’m not looking for touches. I just want to play my role for the team,” Bennetts said.
“(Us defenders) are just building every game. Having that confidence to bring our strengths to the game and see everyone do that – Mua was awesome, and Kesh did great today.
“I could congratulate all of them but they’ve been unreal.
“Hopefully we can keep building our defensive unit over the next month.”
The Bulldogs will next meet Hawthorn at the Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley next Saturday afternoon.
