Deanna Berry kicked three goals as the Western Bulldogs returned to the winners list, securing an emphatic 78-point victory over the NT Thunder at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Keeping the visiting Thunder scoreless after half-time, the Bulldogs had nine individual goalkickers in the 13-goal win.

Winning 13.13 (91) to 2.1 (13), the Bulldogs score was the highest of any team in 2019 VFLW season to date.

It was the second time in as many weeks that the NT Thunder had been defeated by 10 goals, after falling to Casey Demons by 65-points in Alice Springs last Saturday.

Save for a 90 second burst in the second term when Tayla Hart-Aluni kicked the visitor’s only two goals, momentum was entirely with the Bulldogs.

Starting with a goal to Kirsty Lamb in the opening minutes of the contest, the Bulldogs converted four of their seven shots on goal in the opening term,to lead by 27-points at the first change.

It was more of an arm-wrestle in the second term, with both sides kicking two goals, however a couple of extra behinds saw the Bulldogs extend their margin to 30-points at the main break.

After half time it was all red, white and blue, as the home side piled on seven goals to zero in the second half to runaway comprehensive victors.

Along with Berry, skipper Mickayla Ward and Mary Sandral were the other multiple goalkickers in the line-up with two each, while Sophie Molan and Elisabeth Georgostathis kicked goals on debut for the Bulldogs.

The win over the seventh placed NT Thunder sees the Bulldogs consolidate their fourth place on the VFLW ladder with four rounds of the home and away season remaining.

The Bulldogs have the bye next weekend, and will return to the field to face Essendon at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday 10 August.

MATCH DETAILS

Western Bulldogs    4.3  6.7   10.10   13.13 (91)

NT Thunder              0.0  2.1    2.1       2.1    (13)


GOALS
Western Bulldogs: D. Berry 3, M Sandral 2, M. Ward, K. Lamb, D. Marshall, B. Lochland, E. Georgostathis, S. Molan, T. Dinuccio
NT Thunder: T. Hart-Aluni 2