The Western Bulldogs will play in the AFLW finals for the first time since 2018 after securing a nailbiting three-point victory over Carlton at Princes Park.
The Bulldogs, just one game clear of Gold Coast, so nearly had a nervous weekend wait after Carlton bravely battled hard despite having nothing to play for but pride, but finally wrapped up eighth spot with a 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31) victory.
Carlton came out firing early, leading by 14 points at quarter time after kicking three goals to one in slippery and wet conditions.
But the Bulldogs came back strong, holding the Blues scoreless in the second term to level things up at 20-points each at half time.
Carlton again pulled away in the second half, leading by ten points at three-quarter time.
But Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn kicked the decisive goal with less than two minutes left to secure the win — the first time the Bulldogs were ahead in the entire contest.
It was a contest of wild momentum swings built on intense pressure with the Bulldogs' finals incentive and the Blues striving to finish the season with a respectable home performance.
Blackburn ended with two goals, 23 disposals and nine clearances in a best-on-ground performance.
While the Dogs can now prepare for their first finals appearance since winning the 2018 premiership, it came at a cost with experienced Eleanor Brown confined to the interchange bench late in the third quarter after a heavy head knock.
If she's deemed to have been concussed, she will be forced to miss the first week of finals under AFLW medical protocols.
Carlton nearly snatched back the lead with a shot after the final siren, but young Blue Keeley Skepper didn't have the distance to convert a free kick from just inside the 50 after the siren.
Carlton ruck Breanna Moody won bragging rights in the sibling rivalry against twin Celine with a strong display of 12 possessions and 20 hitouts — but Celine had the last laugh as her side stayed alive for a finals campaign.
Lions unstoppable in Magpie rout
Brisbane have a stranglehold on the AFLW minor premiership thanks to a 45-point defeat of Collingwood on the Gold Coast.
An early tackling frenzy and some opportunistic offence established an early buffer before three quick goals in the shadows of half-time effectively killed the contest on Friday night at Carrara Stadium.
The 8.7 (55) to 1.4 (10) victory puts the Lions (9-1) a win and percentage ahead of Melbourne, who play their final-round match against West Coast on Saturday.
The Magpies' second straight defeat leaves them 7-3 and in a log-jam of teams fighting for spots in the bottom half of the eight.
Brisbane made almost double (78-43) the tackles of the visitors and weathered some early pressure before some razzle dazzle close to goal opened up the game.
First Courtney Hodder snapped out of the pack then Jesse Wardlaw took the ball straight from the bounce to score the Lions' second.
Dakota Davidson then soccered another in traffic close to goal while Cathy Svarc's running goal all-but broke the Magpies' backs before the main break.
Their pressure continued after the break, Wardlaw and Hodder both kicking another and Taylor Smith also finishing with two goals in the rout.
Ally Anderson had 26 disposals while Hodder and Svac both made nine tackles and Nat Grider was superb in defence.
Jaimee Lambert was Collingwood's lone goal scorer while Mikala Cann had 22 touches and five tackles for the visitors.
ABC/AAP
