Goalkickers: K. Skepper 1.1, K. Sherar 1.0, C. Moody 1.0, T. Brown 1.0, B. Moody 0.1, L. Goss 0.1, Rushed 0.1.

Reports: Nil.

Umpires: Sam Whetton, Lisa Compton-Robins, Kyle van Raay.

Injuries: Nil.

Ladder: 14th.

Game Review

Impressive Dogs crush Blues to silence critics

The Bulldogs have recorded an impressive win over the Blues - By Phoebe McWilliams at Ikon Park.

The Western Bulldogs have responded to their critics with an emphatic 33-point win over Carlton at Ikon Park on Thursday night. The Dogs came out with ferocious intensity, showing the crowd, their opponents and the AFLW community that they can play an attacking, entertaining brand of football. After finishing the past two games goalless, the Dogs had seven individual goalkickers to walk away with a 9.7 (61) to 4.4 (28) win in front of a crowd of 1,320. The loss almost certainly puts the Blues out of finals contention, as Mathew Buck's side drops to 13th on the ladder. After a tough week where their defensive match tactics were questioned, the Bulldogs came out and immediately silenced their critics, kicking the first of the game through forward Heidi Woodley. It then went goal for goal, with new Blue Celine Moody kicking her side's first against her old side, followed shortly after by a gift to the Dogs' Naomi Ferres who put one through on the goal line.

Carlton's young rising star Keeley Sherar, who kicked the matchwinner against Fremantle in week seven, scored her second goal in consecutive games when she snapped on her non-preferred from a stoppage inside 50. But it was slim pickings for the Blues after the Sherar goal with the Bulldogs adding on the next three through No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, captain Deanna Berry and Analea McKee. Defenders Mimi Hill and Harriet Cordner tried to stop the Dogs' ascendency, and eventually the Blues got on the board when young forward Keeley Skepper scored Carlton's first goal since the nine-minute mark of the second term just before three-quarter time, reducing the margin to 14 points. The Dogs didn't take their foot off the pedal, adding to the Blues' pain when they kicked a further four goals in the final term to put the win out of question, making it the Dogs' third win for the season.

Up next
Carlton and the Western Bulldogs now have a 10-day break, with their week nine matches taking place next Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs will play St Kilda at Mars Stadium in Ballarat at 1.05pm AEDT, while Carlton will be looking to reset when it takes on rival Collingwood at Victoria Park at 3.05pm AEDT.

Best: B.Moody, M.Hill, A. McKay, H. Cordner, M. Guerin, J. Good,

Team

Late change: Darcy Vescio (delayed concussion) replaced in selected side by Amelia Velardo.

In: Celine Moody, Amelia Velardo
Out: Lila Keck (omitted), Darcy Vescio (injured)

Milestones

50 Games: Round 9 2024 vs Western Bulldogs.
Last Game: Marianna Anthony

AFLW Coaches Votes

10 - Isabelle Pritchard (WB)
8 - Jess Fitzgerald (WB)
5 - Dom Carruthers (WB)
4 - Deanna Berry (WB)
3 - Sarah Hartwig (WB)

AFLW Best and Fairest Votes

3 - Deanna Berry (WB)
2 - Isabelle Pritchard (WB)
1 - Analea McKee (WB)

Club Best and Fairest Votes

Match Highlights