The Western Bulldogs have been defeated by Geelong by 68 points at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. 

The Cats were a class above an understrength Bulldogs side, who were missing their two most recent best and fairests winners in Isabelle Pritchard (knee) and Ellie Blackburn (managed) in the 13.10 (88) to 3.2 (20) result.

Jackie Parry kicked Geelong's opening goal within the first 50 seconds of the game (finishing with five and perhaps the competition's leading goalkicker award), and it was an early warning side for the Dogs.

While Tam Hyett's side is made of sterner stuff in 2026, the Cats were able to find easy chip-marks in space all the way down the ground.

The 12-2 inside 50 count at quarter-time was reflected with a comfortable 20-point lead, although the one time the Dogs managed to get it over the top of Geelong's defence – which was pushed high up the ground – was perhaps indicative of how teams may look to target them in finals.

The goalkicking firm of (Chantel) Mason, (Nina) Morrison and (Emma) Murray all hit the board in the second term, as the margin well and truly got away from the Bulldogs, doing critical damage to their percentage and quest for a home elimination final.

In the absence of Pritchard, Blackburn and Jess Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs midfield was occupied by Cleo Buttifant, Sarah Poustie, Mikala Cann, Dom Carruthers and even forward Heidi Woodley as the magnets were flipped, trying to arrest Geelong's clearance dominance.

And the Dogs did manage to stem the flow im the second half, although their hard work wasn't necessarily rewarded on the scoreboard, and the disposal count was heavily skewed Geelong's way.

Elaine Grigg received treatment on an ankle injury in the third term, but played out the match.

Up next
Geelong is likely to finish second and host a qualifying final at IKON Park, quite possibly against coach Mick Stinear's former side Melbourne. Barring absolute thumping losses by Carlton and Sydney, Western Bulldogs have lost the right to host an elimination final, losing 21 percentage points in one match, and will likely finish seventh on the ladder.

GEELONG                          4.2     9.3     11.5     13.10 (88)
WESTERN BULLDOGS       1.0     2.1     3.2        3.2 (20)

GOALS
Geelong: Parry 5, Mason 3, Scheer 2, Moloney, Murray, Morrison
Western Bulldogs: Wilcox, Barwick, Berry

BEST
Geelong: Prespakis, Bowen, McDonald, Parry, Kearns, Morrison
Western Bulldogs: Cann, Laloifi, Woodley, Wilcox

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Grigg (ankle)

Crowd: 3,126 at GMHBA Stadium