Western Bulldogs v Melbourne
The Western Bulldogs AFLW side gets their 2022 campaign underway against Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday night.
MATCH INFORMATION
AFLW Round 1
When: Saturday 8 January 2022
Where: Victoria University Whitten Oval
Gates Open:
Game Starts: 7pm AEDT
Admission: Buy tickets here
Broadcast: Channel 7, 7plus. The match will also be streamed live on womens.afl and the Official AFLW app.
You can follow @BulldogsW on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live updates throughout the match. Don't forget to tag all your posts with the official club hashtag #MightyWest
2021 SUMMARY
Western Bulldogs 8th (5-4) 88.2%
Melbourne 4th (7-2) 130.4%
LAST MEETING
Round 4 2021
Western Bulldogs 6.1 (37) def Melbourne 2.12 (24)
The Bulldogs victory over Melbourne last season proved to be one of the highlights of the 2021 season, taking the most of limited chances against a previously undefeated side. Captain Ellie Blackburn iced the game with a thrilling final quarter goal to go with her 16 touches, while Isabel Huntington and Jess Fitzgerald kicked multiple goals.
PRACTICE MATCHES
Melbourne 6.5 (41) def Collingwood 3.4 (22)
Western Bulldogs 1.2 (8) def North Melbourne 8.11 (59)
TALKING NOTES
New additions
A plethora of draft picks and off-season recruits will breathe new life into the Bulldogs squad heading into Round 1. Former netballer Elle Bennetts crossed from GWS and provides versatility around the ground. Excitement machine Rocky Cranston adds some firepower from Geelong, while draftees Aurora Smith and Amanda Ling are a chance to make their AFLW debut.
Blackburn domination
The three-time All-Australian and skipper of the Bulldogs was at her brilliant best in 2021. Blackburn finished equal runner-up in the AFLW Best & Fairest and claimed the Club’s best player mantle in a strong season. Expect the fearless leader to dish up more of the same in this edition, starting with stamping her authority on Melbourne this weekend.
Whitten Oval fortress
It has been 642 days since the AFLW Bulldogs have lost a game at VU Whitten Oval and the squad has every intention of the hot streak continuing. A loss to Fremantle in Round 6, 2020 is the last blemish at home, giving our fierce women plenty of confidence heading into the new campaign.
Young talent brigade
The exciting core group of young Bulldogs will continue to grow in season 2022. The likes of Sarah Hartwig and Isabelle Pritchard enter their second season in the red, white and blue, while Nell Morris-Dalton, Issy Grant and Jess Fitzgerald remain early in their AFLW journey. Expect continued improvement from the squad heading into another season.
HISTORY OF HAMPSON-HARDEMAN
The Cup was named in honour of women’s footy pioneers Barb Hampson and Lisa Hardeman, who developed the first women’s national championships in 1998, and was established by the two clubs for the inaugural exhibition match held at the MCG in 2013.
The exhibition games were played annually over four years, before the introduction of the official AFLW competition in 2017.
HAMPSON-HARDEMAN CUP HISTORY
June 30, 2013 – Melbourne 8.5 (53) def. Western Bulldogs 3.3 (21)
June 29, 2014 – Western Bulldogs 4.2 (26) def. by Melbourne 10.12 (72)
May 24, 2015 – Melbourne 4.13 (37) def. Western Bulldogs 4.5 (29)
August 16, 2015 – Western Bulldogs 5.6 (36) def. by Melbourne 6.4 (40)
March 6, 2016 – Melbourne 3.3 (21) def. by Western Bulldogs 6.5 (41)
September 3, 2016 – Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) def. Melbourne 7.9 (51)
February 18, 2017* – Western Bulldogs 4.5 (29) def. by Melbourne 6.7 (43)
March 17, 2018 – Western Bulldogs 5.3 (33) def. Melbourne 4.7 (31)
March 9, 2019 – Western Bulldogs 6.2 (38) def. by Melbourne 5.9 (39)
February 14, 2020 – Western Bulldogs 2.0 (12) def. by Melbourne 4.8 (32)
February 21, 2021 – Western Bulldogs 6.1 (37) def Melbourne 2.12 (24)
