1. Who’s got next?
Footy can be cruel sometimes. We’re just three weeks into the season and the Dogs have lost forwards Daria Bannister and Izzy Huntington to serious injury, and now captain Katie Brennan, who’s now racing the clock to get back before the end of the season.
But this group is nothing if not resilient and Paul Groves will no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve to replace lost firepower.
Other than Brennan and Huntington, the Dogs have had a spread of goal kickers each game from Brooke Lochland to Bonnie Toogood, and even defender Hannah Scott snuck forward in Round 2 to snag one, so Groves will be confident that they’ve got enough in the tank to kick a winning score.
2. Who’s got next II
The story is similar over at Ikon Park in that the Blues will be without key forward Tayla Harris after the former Lion was rubbed out for striking Brisbane defender Leah Kaslar last week, leaving the Blues with one less avenue to goal.
As always, the dangerous Darcy Vescio will be one to watch here. She’s the Blues’ leading goal kicker on the season and is capable of a bag, but she’ll also expect a bit of extra attention from the Dogs’ defence without Harris up forward with her.
Former skipper Lauren Arnell could potentially slot in, or tall forward Bridie Kennedy could potentially debut. Watch this space.
3. Playing for Pride
If Friday night under lights at VU Whitten Oval wasn’t enough for you, this Friday night will be an extra special occasion as the old ground hosts the first ever AFLW Pride game.
Both sides will be wearing Cotton On-designed guernseys, with the Dogs’ famous hoops being transformed into the colours of the rainbow flag to celebrate inclusiveness, gender diversity, and support for the LGBTIQ community.
It’ll be a pretty special night, so if you were looking for an extra reason to come along on Friday night, this is it.
BUY NOW | Purchase the Bulldogs' Pride Guernsey now at the Bulldogs Shop online.
4. The Unwatchables?
Let’s take this one head on. The women’s game has copped a bit of criticism from the outer in the past couple of weeks, and then right on cue, the footy gods delivered one of the truly great games at Norwood Oval last weekend.
The game had everything you could want from a sporting contest; it had drama, it had emotion, plenty of niggle and it came down to the final minute. It was genuine hold your breath stuff.
Brennan was simply a colossus before tragically going down at a critical moment, and we’re not afraid to say, if you aren’t able to appreciate what Erin Phillips did in dragging her team across the line almost singlehandedly, then you’re doing it wrong.
