How did the experts see the Bulldogs’ history-making Grand Final win on Saturday?
AFL Media (Bruch Matthews)
FROM ladder stragglers to triumphant champions. The Western Bulldogs are the NAB AFL Women's premiers.
The Bulldogs completed their remarkable transformation with a fighting six-point win over Brisbane on a wet Ikon Park on Saturday.
The 4.3 (27) to 3.3 (21) triumph came with a spirited second half revival after the Dogs were held goalless in a scrappy first half played in steady rain.
After fighting to avoid the wooden spoon in the final round last season, the Bulldogs rose to emulate the feats of the club's men's team two years ago.
Fittingly, brave midfielder Emma Kearney sealed the victory with a tackle on Lion Kaitlyn Ashmore late in the last quarter and she goalled from the free kick from 30m.
BEST: Conti, Blackburn, Kearney, Birch, Spark, Bruton
The Age (Daniel Cherny)
The Daughters of the West proved to be Daughters of the Wet, as the Western Bulldogs overcame a goalless first half to clinch a thrilling six-point victory over the Brisbane Lions in the AFLW grand final at Ikon Park.
A three-goal-to-nil third term proved the game changer as the Dogs defied the absence of suspended skipper Katie Brennan, putting a dramatic week behind them to capture the premiership.
In what is now becoming part of the Bulldogs premiership experience, stand in skipper Ellie Blackburn called up Brennan to accept the premiership Cup with her and coach Paul Groves. Monique Conti won the medal for best afield after a brilliant third term in which she had eight disposals and kicked a goal.
BEST: Blackburn, Kearney, Conti, Lamb, Gogos, Bruton
Fox Sports (Sarah Olle)
While it’s difficult to know how suspended Bulldogs skipper Katie Brennan would have fared in the wet, her replacement Kirsten McLeod hadn’t touched the ball at half time.
But if the Lions dominated the first half, the third term was all Bulldogs.
And McLeod’s own third term performance epitomised this stark contrast.
Whatever Groves said to his players needs to be bottled and redistributed — it was gold. And led to three huge goals, which turned the game on its head.
Herald Sun (Lauren Wood)
It was player of the match Monique Conti who turned the game in the third quarter.
With just four touches to halftime, she bolstered that to 12 by the last break and was crucial to her side’s 13-point three-quarter time lead.
The textbook play was when Emma Kearney twisted out of a tackle on the wing and delivered to a sensational Ellie Blackburn, who kicked it to a contest inside 50. As Kate Lutkins, who was huge, tried to clear it a cheeky Conti intercepted the handball and goaled to put her team three kicks ahead
Best: Conti, Blackburn, Birch, Lamb, Spark, Burton
