The AFLW Bulldogs recorded a 38-point win in a match simulation session against expansion club Richmond on Saturday afternoon at the Swinburne Centre.
Providing the playing group with their first taste of opposition this year, the Bulldogs impressed with an 8.9 (57) to 3.1 (19) performance across five 12-minute quarters.
Not only was it an opportunity for recruits to show some of their skills, but a chance for new coach Nathan Burke to see his 2020 game-plan in action.
“We ticked off every box we wanted to – match fitness and letting the girls run around in match conditions, getting some game-time into the players who had interrupted pre-seasons, and trying our game-style and playing the way we want to play our footy,” Burke said.
“We came out with some great examples of what that looks like, and some confidence that it works.”
Deanna Berry, Issy Huntington and Irish import Katy Herron were among the standouts, but the first-year coach was happier to see the group bring a team-first mentality.
“The most pleasing thing was the real sense of team-work everyone showed,” Burke said.
“Sometimes being so close to round one you see some players being selfish and wanting to do more themselves, but that wasn’t the case.”
The AFLW Bulldogs will host Geelong in an official practice match at VU Whitten Oval from 10:30am on Saturday, January 25, before their season opener against St Kilda at RSEA Park the following weekend.
