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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Woolcock

AFLW 2018 grand final: Western Bulldogs beat Brisbane Lions

Deanna Berry of the Western Bulldogs kicks a goal during the AFLW grand final against the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
Deanna Berry of the Western Bulldogs kicks a goal during the AFLW grand final against the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park in Melbourne. Photograph: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Bulldogs win thrilling AFLW Grand Final

The Western Bulldogs have delivered the Brisbane Lions a second consecutive narrow AFLW Grand Final defeat, with a 4.3.27 to 3.3.21 victory at Ikon Park.
After struggling to one point in the first two quarters, the Dogs forward line took off in the second half, led by best on ground Monique Conti. At half time the score was 7-1 in Brisbane’s favour, after the first entirely scoreless quarter in any senior AFL game since 1901. Despite the low scoring, not helped by heavy rain before the bounce, the game was a fierce contest from the first bounce until the final siren. Several players from both sides suffered injuries from collisions, and the result of the game was in doubt until the last minute. The Dogs opened a two goal lead when Emma Kearney kicked a set shot in the last quarter, before Jess Wuetschner of Brisbane gave her side hope with a late goal. The Lions couldn’t add another, with the ball in their forward line as the siren went. The Bulldogs captured their first AFLW premiership, with stand-in captain Ellie Blackburn calling the controversially suspended Katie Brennan onto the stage alongside coach Paul Groves. Brisbane will return to a new look AFLW in 2019, hoping to go one step better than their first two seasons. Western Bulldogs 4.3.27 (Goals - Berry, McLeod, Conti, Kearney)
Brisbane 3.3.21 (Goals - Wuetschner 2, Conway)

Not only does Ikon Park not have lights up to any decent standard, they’ve also got a PA system that made everyone sound like they were talking via a tin can with a wire through it from the bottom of a mine.
The audio issues were solved just in time for Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau to present the player of the game award to Monique Conti of the Western Bulldogs. Richly deserved after a storming second half.

What an amazing last quarter, with multiple twists and turns and players desperately crashing into each other like pinballs. The suspended Katie Brennan is there to congratulate her teammates, now we wait to see whether she’s given a Robert Murphy-esque berth in the post-match celebrations.

Heartbreak for the Lions as they lose a second Grand Final thriller in a row. Elation for the Dogs, who played the first AFL Women’s exhibition game five seasons ago and are now the second premiers.

Bulldogs win!!

With 20 seconds left the ball is thrown in, but the Bulldogs are able to clog up the stoppage. The ball spills into space and the Lions are given one last chance to hoist a long ball into their attacking 50. Their only forward is outnumbered 3-1 and the Dogs mark to make the game safe as the siren ends a remarkable last few minutes.

Western Bulldogs 4.3.27
Brisbane Lions 3.3.21

30 seconds left, ball on Bulldogs side of half way. They’ve almost got it won.

With two minutes left a dangerous Bulldogs kick across the ground just comes off, and they get it inside 50. A flying Conti shot from the boundary line is touched out, and after being nearly best on ground Kate Lutkins tries to avoid kicking a point and boots the ball away from goal and out on the full. She’s lucky that Lochland misses the kick, but there’s controversy as Brisbane try to keep the ball from rolling through from a point and it seemingly bounces through of the back of a Dogs player’s calf.
Dogs by a goal - 50 seconds left.

Holy moly! The Lions kick another goal and the margin is back to five with three minutes left. Wuetschner wins a free, plays on and we’ve got a grandstand finish.
Bulldogs 4.2.26, Lions 3.3.21

The Lions go forward, desperately needing to double their goal tally in the last four minutes. Emma Zielke gathers a loose ball from a throw-in and has a flying shot, but Lauren Spark is in place to deflect it through for what could end up being a handy point.

Bulldogs 4.2.26, Lions 2.3.15

A quick kick by O’Connor lands in the square, but Kasler cuts it off and gets the ball away from the danger area. Disaster for the Lions, as Ashmore gathers from a bounce and runs straight into a Kearney tackle. She kicks the goal, and the Dogs are all but home! Great time to kick a perfect set shot after 2.9 over the last two seasons.
Bulldogs 4.2.26, Lions 2.2.14

Now Shannon Campbell is down behind play, she’s been driven face first into the ground in a tackle after bumping heads in the tackle. 6.48 left with the Dogs a goal ahead. They’ve got the advantage, but the Lions just need to get lucky in attack once and we’re off to extra time.

Players are dropping everywhere - Hannah Scott of the Bulldogs and Sabrina Frederick-Traub of the Lions are both left laying after contests in the Bulldogs forward 50. The intensity in this game is fantastic.

The Bulldogs are having trouble clearing the ball, and only narrowly missing conceding another score. The Bulldogs get it to half way but run into the Kate Lutkins wall and Brisbane are soon back into attack. It comes to nothing, and with nine minutes left the Dogs still lead by a goal.

Brisbane have come out of their huddle with maximum intent, going forward from the bounce and finding Sabrina Frederick-Traub on a tight angle. She misses, and it cuts the margin to a goal. Just under 12 minutes to play.
Bulldogs 3.2.20, Lions 2.2.14

Lions goal! They’ve started the last quarter in the best possible way, Jess Wuetschner dribbles one through from 20 metres out and the margin is back to seven.
Bulldogs 3.2.20, Lions 2.1.13

Ever since being handed an oversized novelty cheque in the pre-match coverage Emma Kearney has had a difficult day, but she’s not giving in!

It’s go for the last quarter. A repeat bounce in the middle runs 13 seconds off the clock for the Dogs, but it’s the Lions who go forward first. Ashmore has a chance to send her side inside 50 but can’t get the kick away and the ball is locked up in another stoppage.

Three-quarter time - Dogs roar back

After a short break for the umpire to order players where to stand, it’s three quarter time and in the space of one quarter the Dogs have put themselves in the box seat for a premiership.
Bulldogs 3.2.20 (Goals - Berry, McLeod, Conti)
Lions 1.1.7 (Goal - Conway)

The scoring opened up, for the Western Bulldogs anyway, but there was no less commitment by the players. Towards the end of the term the ground had more casualties than an emergency department. The sort of hate-watching talkback nuffy who gets mopey about women footballers being hurt will be having a heart attack. It’s a thing of beauty to me, and the idea that you have to engineer the game to create higher scoring and ‘excitement’ is bonkers.
Brisbane need to get going ASAP in the last quarter, one more Bulldogs goal will likely kill them off.

Dogs goal! With 15 seconds left in the third quarter, Monique Conti kicks an absolutely crucial goal. She gathers in space, wheels around and boots the third goal of the term. Brisbane haven’t scored since the first quarter and are in more trouble than the early settlers now.
Bulldogs 3.2.20, Lions 1.1.7

Replays of the tackle on Lamb suggest that the AFLW match review panel will have something else to consider.

Brisbane lucky not give away a free kick inside 50, as a tackle lingered on Deanna Berry. They get loose, but the ball is soon returned to the Dogs’ forward 50. The game is temporary held up for Tahlia Randall of Brisbane and Kirsty Lamb of the Dogs to be attended to by medics. This is a furious game, not much for football purists but a fantastic sporting contest. 2.45 left.

A look at the second Western Bulldogs goal

After seeing their half-time lead go up in a puff of smoke, the Lions enjoy a brief period of attack but can’t make anything of it. With seven minutes left in the third quarter the ball is locked on the wing, with the Bulldogs up by seven points.

Scores galore!
The Bulldogs go forward again, but forced to try and craft a goal rather than just shoot from distance they’re temporarily held at bay. Brisbane can’t get clear and a snap from Aisling Utri just bounces into the post. The kick-in doesn’t make it outside defensive 50 and McLeod add as a goal from close range. Bulldogs 2.2.14, Lions 1.1.7

The Dogs’ forward woes continue, with Lochland forced to work all the way to the half-back line to get a kick. She puts it out of bounds and gives the Lions a chance. They turn it over, and finally the Western Bulldogs get on the board.
Deanna Berry gathers outside 50, takes a few steps and rolls it through an unguarded goal. Game well and truly on. Lions 1.1.7, Bulldogs 1.1.7.

The second half begins under steady rain, with a repeat stoppage after more players belt into each other. The Lions get a free for holding and go orward first, with a deep forward entry ending in a Conway snap rolling out of bounds and giving away a free.

Despite Brisbane’s lead, I wouldn’t write the Dogs off just yet. They’ve looked threatening through the middle of the ground, but lacked killer instinct when going forward.

If Ashmore had goalled with that last kick of the half they’d have been in all sorts of trouble, but with the margin only a goal there is still everything to play for.

If you were there for Round 13, 1901 get in touch by email or Ouija Board.

Half time - Lions by the same goal

And there we have it - the rare scenario of an entirely scoreless quarter. Stats freaks, over to you. Critics will point to the score as a mark of the quality of the game, but that was as tough a low scoring term as you’re ever going to see. It will interesting to see what effect the hard slog has on the players in the second quarter.
Kaitlyn Ashmore had a chance for Brisbane after the siren, with a set shot after winning a free for holding the ball. Her kick drops in the square, and the Dogs were extremely not to concede what could have been the stereotypical ‘handy point’. Lions 1.1.7, Bulldogs 0.1.1
Goal - Conway

P.S - Dear Guardian Australia sports editors. Do I get a plaque to commemorative being the first person ever to live blog a scoreless quarter?

With 90 seconds left in the half the ball is on the Bulldogs half-forward flank, and they win a free for a deliberate out of bounds. Blackburn’s kick is poor, and Lutkins clears again. Fredrick-Traub kicks off the ground, but her teammate can’t gather and the Bulldogs get the ball back.

The Dogs just can’t find any targets forward, while the Lions are strugling to get it inside 50 in the first place. Much of the game is being played between the arcs. Another goal against the run of play for Brisbane would be crucial, especially when Kate Lutkins providing brick-wall style defence in their backline.

4 minutes to play, Lions by a goal.

Another Bulldogs attack falls flat, with a bad bounce keeping the ball away from Lochlan. There’s been no score in the first half of this quarter, but both teams are crashing in wholeheartedly. 7-1 Lions.

Big chance for the Lions, with the ball bouncing out the back of a pack for Ashmore to throw a wild boot at it. It rolls wide and the Dogs survive.

The ball doesn’t get far outside 50 before the Lions are attacking again, but the Dogs narrowly avoid disaster and clear the ball. They go forward where Gogos takes a brave bounce on the forward 50 but is wrapped up in a tackle. 9.30 to play in the first half.

A long kick into the Bulldogs forward 50 is indicative of their troubles so far, heading towards a teammate outnumbered two-on-one, then missing everyone, pitching left and rolling out for a free.

Their next attack fizzles due to a miscommunication between players, and a third is cut off with a mark inside 50 by Kate Lutkins. No further score from quarter time - 12 minutes to play.

At quarter time, Bulldogs coach Paul Groves admitted the Lions adapted better to the conditions than his side. Now that the rain is all but gone they’ll have to get a move on.

We’re off in the second quarter, with Kearney finding space for almost the first time all day to set up the first centre clearance. The ball goes towards the Bulldogs end first, before a free kick from a vigorous ruck contest allows the Lions to clear.

A look at the only goal of the day so far

Quarter time - Lions by a goal

The Bulldogs have gone forward more, but haven’t been able to find a reliable attacking option. From their limited inside 50s, the Lions are looking significantly more dangerous. The Bulldogs need more from their stars, Kearney is being tagged out of the game and league leading goalkicker Brooke Lochland hasn’t looked likely to score yet.

Brisbane 1.1.7, Bulldogs 0.1.1
Goal - Conway

Wuetschner gets her shot on goal eventually, just being worried out of her kick at the last minute from 20 metres out. It rolls through for a point, Lions by a goal with 40 seconds left.
Lions 1.1.7, Bulldogs 0.1.1

Conway has an opportunity for a second goal, she doesn’t see Wuetschner and has a shot that narrowly rolls wide for a Bulldogs free. With 90 seconds left in the first quarter the score is 6-1 Lions.

The rain lifted just in time for the game to begin, and we’re seeing the sides able to piece together chains of possession. The Bulldogs remain on the attack, but haven’t had a chance since Brisbane’s goal. The Lions are winning the contested possession battle, and are holding firm in defence.

Goal Brisbane! Pre-match injury victim Campbell sets up Jess Wueschner, who finds Sophie Conway on her own at the top of the square. She converts, and against the run of play the Lions hit the lead.

Lions 1.0.6, Bulldogs 0.1.1

Since Brisbane’s first attack it’s been all Bulldogs, before the Lions get a lucky break. A disputed out of bounds free was given to Brisbane, who were then advanced 50 metres due to an off-the-ball infringement. Brisbane’s attack is foiled, as Deanna Berry buries Emma Zielke in a tackle to win a free.

Bulldogs star Emma Kearney is being tagged by former celebrity mullet wearer Nat Exon, and she gets lucky as Exon smothers her kick but then gives away a free for a careless push as the ball goes out of bounds.
Ellie Blackburn wins a free kick just outside 50, and tries a short pass to a leading Deanna Berry. Berry had all the space in the world but the kick narrowly fell short. From the resulting stoppage, Kirsty Lamb opens the scoring with a snap from a pack that rolls left for a point.

Bulldogs 0.0.1, Lions 0.0.0

Game on!

The Lions get the first clearance of the afternoon, before the ball is locked away on the wing for the first of what may be a huge number of stopapges. Brisbane also gets the first inside 50, and have the first chance to score but just fall short.

Pre-game drama for Brisbane. Shannon Campbell has been forced to undergo treatment after the warm-up, and only narrowly made it back for the national anthem.
Fans of players singing the anthem will have enjoyed the range of performances by the players, from some going for it wholeheartedly to others nervously mouthing the words. Congratulations also to the singer, who delivered a flawless rendition despite looking like she was about to pass out from the cold. The rain is starting to ease, but the ground will be soaked throughout the day. The good old fashioned kick off the ground is poised to play a big part in where the premiership ends up.

We’re five minutes from the bounce.

The Bulldogs are on field too, to the strains of their specially recorded AFLW version theme. In the battle of banners I’m going to give the nod to the Lions narrowly, based almost entirely on the Bulldogs’ effort having a curtain so large that the players were effectively running through a crepe paper arch.

The teams are coming on to the ground, with Brisbane greeted by a fireworks show that resembled the Do Lung bridge scene from Apocalypse Now. There’s no sign of the rain abating, the players are being pelted with rain during their warm-up.

It’s certainly been a fascinating second season of AFLW, capped off by that thrilling last round which saw the Lions vault into the Grand Final and the Bulldogs narrowly holding their position in a thrilling win over Melbourne.

The AFL’s famous memo enforcing the way teams should play was a post-Round 1 buzzkill, but the competition should be recognised for regularly bringing in solid crowds . The weather suggests we won’t be seeing a repeat of the Round 1, 2017 Ikon Park full house today, but AFLW continues to grow in stature. We’ll soon start seeing new teams added to the league, increasing the opportunity for female players but presumably at the cost of a few more teething problems while the competition settles.

We’re 15 minutes away from the bounce at Ikon Park.

The first meeting of these sides in 2018 saw the Bulldogs win by nine points, set up by a four goal to none second quarter. At the rate the weather is going today I’m not sure we’re going to get four goals in total.

Note to AFL executives and spectacle chasers, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Some of us love when footy becomes toil and struggle, but then again some of us are Melbourne fans so what other option do we have?

Snorkel vendors. The Bureau of Meteorology rain radars suggest the showers aren’t going anywhere by the time the game starts.

Your teams for today:

Western Bulldogs

B: Libby Birch, Lauren Spark, Natalie Ferres
HB: Hannah Scott, Tiarna Ernst, Nicole Callinan
C: Ellie Blackburn
HF: Jenna Bruton, Bonnie Toogood, Monique Conti
F: Aisling Utri, Kirsten McLeod, Brooke Lochland
Foll: Aasta O’Connor, Emma Kearney, Kirsty Lamb
Int: Angelique Gogos, Kim Rennie, Bailey Hunt, Hailey Wildes, Deanna Berry

Kirsten McLeod replaces Brennan. McLeod has played nine AFLW games for six goals.

Brisbane Lions

B: Emma Pittman, Leah Kaslar, Breanna Koenen
HB: Emma Zielke, Kate Lutkins, Kate McCarthy
C: Nat Exon
HF: Emily Bates, Tahlia Randall, Megan Hunt
F: Jessica Wuetschner, Brittany Gibson, Kaitlyn Ashmore
Foll: Sabrina Frederick-Traub, Jamie Stanton, Ally Anderson
Int: Sharni Webb, Isabella Ayre, Shannon Campbell, Sophie Conway, Arianna Clarke

It’s absolutely chucking it down at Ikon Park, but I’m going to stick with the locals. Bulldogs to win by five points.

Good morning, and welcome to our coverage of the 2018 AFLW Grand Final. From 12:30 Melbourne time, we’ll find out if the Brisbane Lions can avenge last year’s Grand Final disappointment, or whether the minor premier Western Bulldogs will capture their first title.

As they used to say on TV, “it’s been a big week in football.” The headline act was, of course, Katie Brennan’s suspension and subsequent failed appeal. In a new twist on the time honoured Grand Final week suspension controversy, the case ended up heading for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The findings of the commission will come too late for Brennan, who will sit on the sidelines while her team does battle today. At least she’ll be dry, after several rain-free weeks across Melbourne the weather this morning is strictly for the ducks. A soggy game will hold no fears for the Lions, having splashed through a narrow win against Fremantle in Round 4.

Elsewhere, there was controversy over the location of the Grand Final, with the league opting for Ikon Park (or Princes Park if you prefer) over the MCG or Etihad Stadium. Ironically, the ground that came under fire earlier in the season for not having a professional standard of lighting for night games will end up hosting a day Grand Final in dark and stormy conditions.

And while everyone was fixated on the Brennan case and the Grand Final build-up, Carlton quietly became the first club to part ways with their senior coach. Damien Keeping became Damien Letting Go after his side dropped their last five games of the season.

Speaking of the wooden spooners, perhaps inappropriately on a day where we celebrate the best in the competition, star player Tayla Harris engaged in Twitter biff with an independent women’s footy website that mysteriously shut up shop two days later.

And last, but certainly not least, on the morning of the competition’s biggest game Fairfax Media is reporting that the AFL is hell bent on changing the rules of the women’s game to artificially enhance spectacle.

Next year the Grand Final will probably be played five-a-side inside a squash court, so let’s try and enjoy this one for what it is - two teams thumping the suitcase out of each other in the wet to win the ultimate prize.

Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Kate O’Halloran’s preview of today’s match:

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