AFLW R2 - Richmond vs Western Bulldogs Sunday August 24, 12:35pm Ikon Park

[TigermanM2]

Teams:

RICHMOND​

In: B.Lynch, S.Grieves, L.Brazzale, C.Wicksteed
Out: A.Dallaway (omitted)

WESTERN BULLDOGS​

In: M.Gorham, B.Barwick, A.McKee
Out: Nil

Preview:

Surprisingly this will be the first clash between the two teams since round 5 of the first season of 2022 with both sides coming into this game with losses in round 1.

After a somewhat competitive first half against Melbourne, the Bulldogs fell away badly in the second being outscored 6.4 to 0.4. Despite getting smashed in clearances, the dogs were able to get their hands on the ball but constantly turned it over seemingly under very little pressure. Their disposal by foot was abysmal and the gulf in skill level between Melbourne and the Dogs grew wider and wider as the game progressed. Hard to gage whether that result will be a confidence sapping loss or a result to fire them up.

Richmond on the other hand will look forward to playing on the larger Princes Park after being outplayed on the smaller North Sydney ground. Mon Conti played to her usual standard without hitting the interchange bench and Ellie McKenzie came away with a competition high 8 clearances. However, more help is needed in the midfield so a few need to step up this week to match the Bulldogs midfield who do manage to accumulate disposals. Montana Beruldsen was serviceable last week and her ability to run and carry and break lines can be a point of difference from last week. Maddie Shevlin and Ally Dallaway would both be keen to give a better showing.

I think the difference in the game will come down to the forward lines with Brennan, Greiser and Scott enjoying more space to run into and being able to kick a winning score.

Class should tell and the Tigers to come away with an 18 point win.

2025 Stats:





Recent matches

Feb 6 2022 - Whitten oval
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 2.2 4.6 4.6 (30)
RICHMOND 0.2 1.3 1.5 1.7 (13)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Moody, Morris-Dalton, Toogood
Richmond: Brennan
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Lamb, Toogood, Hunt, Grant, Brown
Richmond: Conti, J. Hosking, Shevlin, Brennan
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Richmond: McClelland (ankle), Burchall (knee)
LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2159

Mar 26 2021 - Whitten oval
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.0 5.0 5.3 7.3 (45)
RICHMOND 1.0 2.1 4.2 5.2 (32)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: McLeod 2, Lochland, Morris-Dalton, Huntington, Lamb, Toogood
Richmond: Brennan 3, Stahl, Wakefield
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Lamb, Blackburn, Lochland, Brown, Morris-Dalton, Ferres
Richmond: Hosking, Seymour, Brennan, Dempsey, Stahl
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Richmond: Nil

 

[Eraser]

Guessing since we haven’t got the ‘call home to parents’ video for Grieves that she won’t play again

 

[TigermanM2]

Guessing since we haven’t got the ‘call home to parents’ video for Grieves that she won’t play again

Still heaps of time for that. Sometimes those videos dont come out until close to the game.

 

[TigermanM2]

Round one threw up a few surprises, so what does round two have in store?

By Gemma Bastiani
Aug 22, 2025, 6:00 am

SUNDAY AUGUST 24​

Richmond v Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park, 12.35pm AEST

Last time they met: Western Bulldogs 4.6 (30) d Richmond 1.7 (13), round five, 2022 (S6)

It was a strange performance from Richmond last week, who found its way forward but was susceptible to Sydney's interceptors and couldn't find a way to work captain Katie Brennan into the game. But the use of Bec Miller as a swing player did reap rewards, so expect that to come into play again this week, given the Bulldogs have fewer tall forwards to defend.

Delivery to those Dogs forwards does differ based on how much uncontested ball the side is winning. When things are pressured and panicked, they do get sucked into long kicks down the line to contests, which can be picked off by the likes of Libby Graham and Gabby Seymour. Where the Bulldogs can generate some opportunity in front of goal is with midfielders/wingers sliding forward and losing their direct opponent in the process – something that hurt Richmond last week when the defence got caught napping.

Tip: Katie Brennan is ready for a big game. Richmond by 23 points.

 

[TigermanM2]

AFLW Match Previews R2: Richmond v Western Bulldogs

Sportsbet's Kate McCarthy and Alessia Francese preview the game between the Tigers and Bulldogs at Ikon Park

www.afl.com.au

 

[toenail63]

Leader returns for important Dogs clash​

Richmond has locked in its final side that will host the Western Bulldogs this Sunday.


Richmond has confirmed its final side to take on the Western Bulldogs at IKON Park on Sunday afternoon.

It includes the exciting return of Beth Lynch, replacing Ally Dallaway (omitted) in the side.

Lynch earned her spot in the side after successfully recovering from the shoulder injury that saw her miss last week's season opener against Sydney.

The defender was elevated to the leadership group this season, having been a revelation since returning to the Swinburne Centre, where she had previously been a VFLW player.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL ROUND 2 TEAM

Laura McClelland, Katelyn Cox, Lynch, Gabby Seymour and Rebecca Miller resume their spots in the backline.

Grace Egan takes her place in the centre, supported by Maddie Shevlin and Kate Dempsey on the wings.

Emelia Yassir, Paige Scott, Montana Beruldsen, skipper Katie Brennan and Caitlin Greiser make up the forward line.

Poppy Kelly takes her place in the ruck, with Monique Conti and Ellie McKenzie alongside in the midfield.

Libby Graham, Lulu Beatty, Jodie Hicks, Isabel Bacon and Mackenzie Ford complete the interchange bench.

Lauren Brazzale, Charli Wicksteed and Sierra Grieves are the emergencies.

 

[toenail63]

Great to see Lynch is over her injury.

Ally Dallaway (omitted) is not a straight positional swap, so something to keep an eye on game day for potential midfield time from Lynch or Beruldsen maybe? KB? Maybe a tag on Pritchard or Blackburn?

 

[TigermanM2]

Great to see Lynch is over her injury.

Ally Dallaway (omitted) is not a straight positional swap, so something to keep an eye on game day for potential midfield time from Lynch or Beruldsen maybe? KB? Maybe a tag on Pritchard or Blackburn?

Took a deep dive on the stats in last weeks game. Lulu Beatty had a very unusual game.

9 Disposals
3 Marks
162m gained
36% game time.

Did butcher it a bit but did get it a fair bit of the ball in the little time she had.

Can understand why it was Dallaway who made way.

Maybe it might be a game to give Bacon more minutes in the midfield. Would like to try Yassir there. What is there to loose?

 

[toenail63]

Took a deep dive on the stats in last weeks game. Lulu Beatty had a very unusual game.

9 Disposals
3 Marks
162m gained
36% game time.

Did butcher it a bit but did get it a fair bit of the ball in the little time she had.

Can understand why it was Dallaway who made way.

Maybe it might be a game to give Bacon more minutes in the midfield. Would like to try Yassir there. What is there to loose?

Yassir played a lot of footy at Cannons as a midfielder, so you would have to think that her size has been the reason that she has been overlooked to date but nothing ventured nothing gained and worth a shot putting her on ball to see how she would go currently. I was thinking that a tagging role for Bacon if we decided we need to go that way.

With Lulu, that’s impressive stats for the limited game time, sometimes you don’t consciously follow how a player is performing out there if they are missing from the field for large patches.

One thing I have noticed with Lulu’s games with us and backed up with her highlights was that she moves to the right places and seems comfortable to play off contest for handball receives, happy to draw attention from the oppo and then had either the strength, or the evasiveness to keep the possession game going. Important traits and even more now with the tougher umpiring on the holding the ball rule.

My concerns are that as she goes up a level from VFLW, to a faster game, with less reaction time, and not seemingly having noticeable break away speed, could she adapt to AFLW? She looks promising and you hope if everything comes together for her to find that improvement in our system, coaching etc, that we might have found a player there.

 

[TigermanM2]

Yassir played a lot of footy at Cannons as a midfielder, so you would have to think that her size has been the reason that she has been overlooked to date but nothing ventured nothing gained and worth a shot putting her on ball to see how she would go currently. I was thinking that a tagging role for Bacon if we decided we need to go that way.

With Lulu, that’s impressive stats for the limited game time, sometimes you don’t consciously follow how a player is performing out there if they are missing from the field for large patches.

One thing I have noticed with Lulu’s games with us and backed up with her highlights was that she moves to the right places and seems comfortable to play off contest for handball receives, happy to draw attention from the oppo and then had either the strength, or the evasiveness to keep the possession game going. Important traits and even more now with the tougher umpiring on the holding the ball rule.

My concerns are that as she goes up a level from VFLW, to a faster game, with less reaction time, and not seemingly having noticeable break away speed, could she adapt to AFLW? She looks promising and you hope if everything comes together for her to find that improvement in our system, coaching etc, that we might have found a player there.

Great observations.
Yes, there was a few times that Lulu thought she had more time and was caught resulting in her disposal not being clean.

I can see the occasional pinch hitting mid role for Yassir like how teams throw their crafty zippy forwards in the middle for a bit of different look. Similar to a Hotton or Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett etc.

These things are probably trialled preseason and might not work who knows.

 

[Phar Ace]

Yassir played a lot of footy at Cannons as a midfielder, so you would have to think that her size has been the reason that she has been overlooked to date but nothing ventured nothing gained and worth a shot putting her on ball to see how she would go currently. I was thinking that a tagging role for Bacon if we decided we need to go that way.

With Lulu, that’s impressive stats for the limited game time, sometimes you don’t consciously follow how a player is performing out there if they are missing from the field for large patches.

One thing I have noticed with Lulu’s games with us and backed up with her highlights was that she moves to the right places and seems comfortable to play off contest for handball receives, happy to draw attention from the oppo and then had either the strength, or the evasiveness to keep the possession game going. Important traits and even more now with the tougher umpiring on the holding the ball rule.

My concerns are that as she goes up a level from VFLW, to a faster game, with less reaction time, and not seemingly having noticeable break away speed, could she adapt to AFLW? She looks promising and you hope if everything comes together for her to find that improvement in our system, coaching etc, that we might have found a player there.

Very few make the immediate speed adjustment - if they do, they are pretty special. It's a gradual three weeks adjustment period if they make it, minimum, usually with work at training about it.

 

[year of the tiger]

nearly fell over with shock when i saw Cox retained after her blanketing of Molloy last week, sarcasm intended. But then I realized it is because of her 23 game average of 6 disposals per game made up of 4.4 kicks and 1.6 handballs per game all with a disposal efficiency of 56.8%. Yes, our coach sees her as a ball magnet with greg williams like skills.

 

[balmainforever]

nearly fell over with shock when i saw Cox retained after her blanketing of Molloy last week, sarcasm intended. But then I realized it is because of her 23 game average of 6 disposals per game made up of 4.4 kicks and 1.6 handballs per game all with a disposal efficiency of 56.8%. Yes, our coach sees her as a ball magnet with greg williams like skills.

Cox isn’t a bad player, she’s just not a lock down defender on a Molloy type player. Shocking coaching performance

 

[snakehips]

Very few make the immediate speed adjustment - if they do, they are pretty special. It's a gradual three weeks adjustment period if they make it, minimum, usually with work at training about it.

Lulu was definitely getting to the right spots and was quite involved early, but the low TOG I found surprising, I don't think she was injured. Lulu did look a bit panicky at times, perhaps credit to the Swans' pressure? It shouldn't be a "speed of the game" adjustment as this is her third year in the AFLW system, albeit much of 2023 season spent injured on the sidelines. We'll get another look today, hope she does well.

 

[tigs2010]

Cox isn’t a bad player, she’s just not a lock down defender on a Molloy type player. Shocking coaching performance

Molloy has kicked 7 in 100% of games not opposed to Cox

 

[TigermanM2]

Lulu was definitely getting to the right spots and was quite involved early, but the low TOG I found surprising, I don't think she was injured. Lulu did look a bit panicky at times, perhaps credit to the Swans' pressure? It shouldn't be a "speed of the game" adjustment as this is her third year in the AFLW system, albeit much of 2023 season spent injured on the sidelines. We'll get another look today, hope she does well.

Lulu might have been in the system for 3 years but had only played 4 games last year and some of those games were against lower ranked teams so the pressure would have been totally different to last week.

I’m also not sure given Carlton’s last 3 years she would have been at a club with the standards and players to prepare you for the next level.

The positive is she’s in the side, the ball finds her and it’s in her hands. The low match time is a concern as she needs the coach to also have the faith in her game day. It’s an important year for Lulu. As an injury replacement player she is fighting for her spot on the list.

 

[TigermanM2]

Some pretty scary performances yesterday.

It’s a round for high scores and kicking bags.

Over to you Tigers.

 

[balmainforever]

Execution still a problem.

 

[wegetpumped]

Gosh, is it just me, but the quality of the women's game is trash. It's horrendous watching this.

 

[balmainforever]

Disgusting quarter of football
We’re up by a point thanks to a great tackle and goal from Scott.

 

[k31th]

great chase down tackle and goal from Paige to end the 1st

 

[balmainforever]

Gosh, is it just me, but the quality of the women's game is trash. It's horrendous watching this.

There’s not enough talent to have a quality competition with 18 clubs.
There’s 3-4 good clubs and the rest are just making up the numbers

 

[wegetpumped]

There’s not enough talent to have a quality competition with 18 clubs.
There’s 3-4 good clubs and the rest are just making up the numbers

Similar to the AFL, then, and they are still increasing teams. Ohh, the old VFL, even the Fitzroys and South Melbournes were a joy to watch.

 

[k31th]

lol Woodley; not sure how you even miss that

 

[k31th]

Brennan looking good