threenewpadlocks
Brownlow Medallist
Details:
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle, Round 1 at Victoria University Whitten Oval Saturday 4th February 7.35 pm AEDT. Entry free, match will be broadcast on Channel 7.
History will be made
Nearly four years on from being a pioneer of women's footy, being one of the teams involved in the inaugural exhibition game, we arrive to Round 1 of the first ever national, professional women's league.
For some, like Katie Brennan and Aasta O'Connor, not to mention the employees of the club and others like Susan Alberti, it's the culmination for up to four years of dedication to the red, white and blue that they will be able to see a women's team run out and play on Whitten Oval and to write their own history.
Possible teams:
Western Bulldogs
FB: Hunt, Birch
HB: Ebb?, O'Connor, Wildes
C: Lambert?, Kearney, Lochland
HF: Tyndall, Brennan?, Williams
FF: Clarkson, McLeod
R: Spark, Blackburn, Scott
INT: Callinan, Gamble, Ernst, Morecroft, 2 (or more if injures from above) from:, Gardner, Lamb?, Bailey, Morecroft, Timmins?, Gogos, McDonald, Neaves
Ones with question marks did not play against Collingwood, though I may be wrong about that, plus Brennan who copped a knock.
Fremantle (how they lined up in their practice game)
FB: Smith, Bresland
HB: Davidson, Antonio, Haynes
C: Miller, Donnellan, Hooker
HF: Cain, Barr, Okley
FF: Filocamo, Sharp
R: Chuot, Houghton, O'Sullivan
INT: Priestly, Angel, Golisano, Devlyn
Probable inclusions: Green, Lavell, Phillips, Bently
Other possible inclusions: Caufield, Mickle, Clinch,
Talking points
KB injury
Katie Brennan took a knock in the practice game against Collingwood, was seen in a moon boon on Monday Night's season launch, and with a shorter recovery time to the game compared with Freo, could be in a race against time to be fit for the opening game
GF preview?
Western Australia, the birthplace of women's footy about 100 years ago, is arguably as strong as Victoria in regards to top end talent, beating the Vics in their last representative game back in 2015. With the Victorian talent being split four ways, it first seemed they would have the lion's share of the Australian talent. However, with 6 WA players heading interstate as marquees, one of their own marquees (Bowers) tearing an ACL, and numerous others nominating for the draft in other states, most analysts, bookmakers and media sources believe that Freo have been returned back to the pack, or remain slightly ahead.
In part from drafting a little older than most other Vic teams, and with a win in the pre-season hitout, we have emerged as a front-runner for the flag alongside Freo. This match could end up being a preview for the Grand Final that will be played in two months time
Known unknowns
During the WMD saga in the Bush administration, Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretaryof State, famously said "there are known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns". Whilst correctly derided in regards to the WMD saga, and it truly is a torturous statement, it seems like it's a statement that can funnily enough be more appropriately applied to the first round of the first season of the AFLW teams.
Known knowns:
We know, for example, who some of the better and worse players are from each team - we just have to look at the order they were drafted. We know players like KB and Kara Donnellan are superstars, and we know that we intend to play a quicker, outside running game.
Known unknowns:
We know that it's new teams coming together, with players from different local clubs, but it's an unknown how much an impact this will have. We know that there's more travel involved, and how teams will recover from consecutive weeks of travel (something these players have never done before) is an unknown that we know about!
Unknown unknowns:
As with anything completely new, there's a multitude to things that are unknown unknown. Anything could happen in regards to the players, coaches, grounds, media, etc. that with anything new is plain and simple an unknown unknown.
Key battles:
Paul Groves vs Michelle Cowan
The first battle will be in the coaches box, between the two coaches Paul Groves and Michelle Cowan. Both have impressive pedigrees in both men's and women's footy, however, it's their previous matchup that will bring the most joy to Dogs fans: the all-star game that resulted in a Bulldogs thrashing.
The Dogs had not beaten the Dees in any of the previous 5 all-star clashes in which Cowan had outsmarted various coaches, including two who are current AFLW coaches at other teams. In that time, the talent level was reasonably balanced, leading it to the coaches. However, when Paul Groves came on board a matter of weeks before the all-star game, he took a team that was just as good as the previous battles and masterminded a comfortable win over his counterpart in Cowan.
If that past form is anything to go by, the Dogs already have the edge in the coaches box that we've already been used to experiencing with Bevo over the last two years
Katie Brennan vs Ebony Antonio
One of the few players with the raw athleticism to match Brennan, Antonio will not only shape up to be one of, if not, the league's best key defenders, but could be Brennan's kryptonite, especially if she's not fully fit. Antonio played on Brennan in the all-star game last year and kept her relatively quiet, and with Brennan's strength, agility and leaping power matched by the ex-basketballer from WA, she might have to, unusually for her, rely on her footy smarts and use the fact she's played high level footy fifteen years longer than Antonio to win the matchup
Ellie Blackburn vs Kara Donnellan
Quite possibly the two best midfielders in Australia outside of Daisy Pearce, it would be a fantastic battle for all fans if these two go head-to-head in the midfield. Not only are both accumulators of the ball with deceptively good skills, and can play inside and out, both generally play well by using their running power to beat their direct opponent to the ball. If these two go head to head, an entertaining battle could ensure due to their similar play styles, an arm wrestle that could prove vital if it is a close game
Key players
Western Bulldogs
Bailey Hunt
The twenty-year-old wasn't necessarily one of the hottest talents coming into the season, but after shutting down Moana Hope in Thursday's practice game, will now be on the radar of all opposition teams.
The slightly undersized young KPD will have a big game on her hands, especially given the uncertainty around who will play closes to goal for the Dockers - they played the smaller midfielder Filocamo out of the goalsquare in their practice game, with their two key forwards, Phillips (who kicked 6 in the WA-based exhibition game last year), and Lavell (the WA league leading goalkicker last year) both not playing for unknown reasons.
Emma Kearney
Kearney has now finished up her season with the Melbourne Stars and will prominently feature in the midfield for the Doggies. She plays very direct-to-goal and will often look to put on the afterburners and will be critical in winning the clearances for the Dogs. She will also be key pushing forward and back due to the open spaces, with four less players on the field with usual, and winning a heap of the ball.
Fremantle
Cassie Davidson
Davidson was the loose player for the Dockers in their game against Adelaide and won a heap of ball from intercept marks. She will be a thorn for the Dogs' ball movement all day if she is left off the leash as often as she was in that game in Darwin.
Gemma Houghton
The basketball convert, playing her first ever game of football, was Freo's best in their win over the Crows, using her athleticism to burst out of packs and also showing she can roost the ball a mile. If she can play a similarly good game, it will be a lot harder for the Dogs to win.
Prediction:
Western Bulldogs by 7 points.
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle, Round 1 at Victoria University Whitten Oval Saturday 4th February 7.35 pm AEDT. Entry free, match will be broadcast on Channel 7.
History will be made
Nearly four years on from being a pioneer of women's footy, being one of the teams involved in the inaugural exhibition game, we arrive to Round 1 of the first ever national, professional women's league.
For some, like Katie Brennan and Aasta O'Connor, not to mention the employees of the club and others like Susan Alberti, it's the culmination for up to four years of dedication to the red, white and blue that they will be able to see a women's team run out and play on Whitten Oval and to write their own history.
Possible teams:
Western Bulldogs
FB: Hunt, Birch
HB: Ebb?, O'Connor, Wildes
C: Lambert?, Kearney, Lochland
HF: Tyndall, Brennan?, Williams
FF: Clarkson, McLeod
R: Spark, Blackburn, Scott
INT: Callinan, Gamble, Ernst, Morecroft, 2 (or more if injures from above) from:, Gardner, Lamb?, Bailey, Morecroft, Timmins?, Gogos, McDonald, Neaves
Ones with question marks did not play against Collingwood, though I may be wrong about that, plus Brennan who copped a knock.
Fremantle (how they lined up in their practice game)
FB: Smith, Bresland
HB: Davidson, Antonio, Haynes
C: Miller, Donnellan, Hooker
HF: Cain, Barr, Okley
FF: Filocamo, Sharp
R: Chuot, Houghton, O'Sullivan
INT: Priestly, Angel, Golisano, Devlyn
Probable inclusions: Green, Lavell, Phillips, Bently
Other possible inclusions: Caufield, Mickle, Clinch,
Talking points
KB injury
Katie Brennan took a knock in the practice game against Collingwood, was seen in a moon boon on Monday Night's season launch, and with a shorter recovery time to the game compared with Freo, could be in a race against time to be fit for the opening game
GF preview?
Western Australia, the birthplace of women's footy about 100 years ago, is arguably as strong as Victoria in regards to top end talent, beating the Vics in their last representative game back in 2015. With the Victorian talent being split four ways, it first seemed they would have the lion's share of the Australian talent. However, with 6 WA players heading interstate as marquees, one of their own marquees (Bowers) tearing an ACL, and numerous others nominating for the draft in other states, most analysts, bookmakers and media sources believe that Freo have been returned back to the pack, or remain slightly ahead.
In part from drafting a little older than most other Vic teams, and with a win in the pre-season hitout, we have emerged as a front-runner for the flag alongside Freo. This match could end up being a preview for the Grand Final that will be played in two months time
Known unknowns
During the WMD saga in the Bush administration, Donald Rumsfeld, the US Secretaryof State, famously said "there are known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns". Whilst correctly derided in regards to the WMD saga, and it truly is a torturous statement, it seems like it's a statement that can funnily enough be more appropriately applied to the first round of the first season of the AFLW teams.
Known knowns:
We know, for example, who some of the better and worse players are from each team - we just have to look at the order they were drafted. We know players like KB and Kara Donnellan are superstars, and we know that we intend to play a quicker, outside running game.
Known unknowns:
We know that it's new teams coming together, with players from different local clubs, but it's an unknown how much an impact this will have. We know that there's more travel involved, and how teams will recover from consecutive weeks of travel (something these players have never done before) is an unknown that we know about!
Unknown unknowns:
As with anything completely new, there's a multitude to things that are unknown unknown. Anything could happen in regards to the players, coaches, grounds, media, etc. that with anything new is plain and simple an unknown unknown.
Key battles:
Paul Groves vs Michelle Cowan
The first battle will be in the coaches box, between the two coaches Paul Groves and Michelle Cowan. Both have impressive pedigrees in both men's and women's footy, however, it's their previous matchup that will bring the most joy to Dogs fans: the all-star game that resulted in a Bulldogs thrashing.
The Dogs had not beaten the Dees in any of the previous 5 all-star clashes in which Cowan had outsmarted various coaches, including two who are current AFLW coaches at other teams. In that time, the talent level was reasonably balanced, leading it to the coaches. However, when Paul Groves came on board a matter of weeks before the all-star game, he took a team that was just as good as the previous battles and masterminded a comfortable win over his counterpart in Cowan.
If that past form is anything to go by, the Dogs already have the edge in the coaches box that we've already been used to experiencing with Bevo over the last two years
Katie Brennan vs Ebony Antonio
One of the few players with the raw athleticism to match Brennan, Antonio will not only shape up to be one of, if not, the league's best key defenders, but could be Brennan's kryptonite, especially if she's not fully fit. Antonio played on Brennan in the all-star game last year and kept her relatively quiet, and with Brennan's strength, agility and leaping power matched by the ex-basketballer from WA, she might have to, unusually for her, rely on her footy smarts and use the fact she's played high level footy fifteen years longer than Antonio to win the matchup
Ellie Blackburn vs Kara Donnellan
Quite possibly the two best midfielders in Australia outside of Daisy Pearce, it would be a fantastic battle for all fans if these two go head-to-head in the midfield. Not only are both accumulators of the ball with deceptively good skills, and can play inside and out, both generally play well by using their running power to beat their direct opponent to the ball. If these two go head to head, an entertaining battle could ensure due to their similar play styles, an arm wrestle that could prove vital if it is a close game
Key players
Western Bulldogs
Bailey Hunt
The twenty-year-old wasn't necessarily one of the hottest talents coming into the season, but after shutting down Moana Hope in Thursday's practice game, will now be on the radar of all opposition teams.
The slightly undersized young KPD will have a big game on her hands, especially given the uncertainty around who will play closes to goal for the Dockers - they played the smaller midfielder Filocamo out of the goalsquare in their practice game, with their two key forwards, Phillips (who kicked 6 in the WA-based exhibition game last year), and Lavell (the WA league leading goalkicker last year) both not playing for unknown reasons.
Emma Kearney
Kearney has now finished up her season with the Melbourne Stars and will prominently feature in the midfield for the Doggies. She plays very direct-to-goal and will often look to put on the afterburners and will be critical in winning the clearances for the Dogs. She will also be key pushing forward and back due to the open spaces, with four less players on the field with usual, and winning a heap of the ball.
Fremantle
Cassie Davidson
Davidson was the loose player for the Dockers in their game against Adelaide and won a heap of ball from intercept marks. She will be a thorn for the Dogs' ball movement all day if she is left off the leash as often as she was in that game in Darwin.
Gemma Houghton
The basketball convert, playing her first ever game of football, was Freo's best in their win over the Crows, using her athleticism to burst out of packs and also showing she can roost the ball a mile. If she can play a similarly good game, it will be a lot harder for the Dogs to win.
Prediction:
Western Bulldogs by 7 points.
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