AFLW AFLW/VFLW 2024 - General Discussion

[Bulldogs85]

 

[Bulldogs85]

 

[Fossie 32]

Amazing how easy it is to do an ACL

 

[Bulldogs85]

Amazing how easy it is to do an ACL

It’s sad isn’t it

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Hi Doggies. Just wondering if anyone has an insight into what's happening with Zimmie Farquharson? She was an exciting prospect at the Lions and I was disappointed when she stepped away for a year and then traded, but hoped the move would benefit her. But I can't find any recent mention of her being considered for selection.

 

[Bulldogs85]

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Hooray!

 

[weltschmerz]

Hi Doggies. Just wondering if anyone has an insight into what's happening with Zimmie Farquharson? She was an exciting prospect at the Lions and I was disappointed when she stepped away for a year and then traded, but hoped the move would benefit her. But I can't find any recent mention of her being considered for selection.

funnily enough, debuting this week! I think she and Weston-Turner will swap out for a while, Hartwig plays tall and is our best forward at the moment so we wouldn't play all three of them

 

[Bulldogs85]

The Western Bulldogs have made three changes for their Week 6 clash against North Melbourne on Saturday.

Zimmie Farquharson will make her club debut, while Naomi Ferres will play her first game of the season.
Analea McKee has also been recalled for the clash.

Jorja Borg comes out of the side through injury, while Elle Bennetts and Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner have been managed.

Brooke Barwick, Aurora Smith and Bree McFarlane have been listed as the emergencies.

Alice Edmonds will assume the number one ruck role, with De Berry, Isabelle Pritchard and Jess Fitzgerald starting in the centre.
Lauren Ahrens will lead the backline, while Sarah Hartwig will start at full forward.

Elisabeth Georgostathis will celebrate her 50th AFLW match.

The match will start at 1.05pm AEST at Arden Street Oval and be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.

 

[dogwatch]

Sorry to see Bennetts is out, even if it's only "managed". I thought she was one of our better players last week.

This week will be a real test of where we are at.

 

[Oliver G]

Sorry to see Bennetts is out, even if it's only "managed". I thought she was one of our better players last week.

This week will be a real test of where we are at.

It's the nature of this season, everyone is having to manage players with the condensed fixture. It's just insane fixturing that will surely not be repeated going forward.

This week will be our toughest game of the year, North have conceded just 4 goals in their last 3 games and kicked 21 themselves. North will also have over 500+ games of experience on us, realistically I can't see us getting within 40 points of them, as much as I'd like to.

I think the Brisbane game has been the best yardstick so far for us, we're vulnerable when teams get a run on and hoard possession but we do get shots when we get it inside 50 and that's tracked in both the Collingwood and Sydney games.

 

[dogwatch]

It's the nature of this season, everyone is having to manage players with the condensed fixture. It's just insane fixturing that will surely not be repeated going forward.

...

We say that about so much of what the AFL does. And yet they repeat it. Or come up with new ways to be stupid and insensitive.

 

[Oliver G]

We say that about so much of what the AFL does. And yet they repeat it. Or come up with new ways to be stupid and insensitive.

Very true and in particular about the AFLW.

 

[Oliver G]

Today will probably be our toughest match of the season, North have kicked 21 goals in their last 3 games and conceded just an incredible 4. We're going in approximately two years younger and with 400 games less experience. North is also ranked 1st for disposals while we're ranked 18th, so we're gonna find it tough getting our hands on the ball.

Given how we match up and that we're trying to develop our own game style this could very well be a blowout, but there is still plenty of opportunity to continue our development today. I'd love to see our pressure go up another level, we're creating enough tackle chances but letting far too many slip, with North likely to dominate the ball, today will be a good chance for us to build a big tackle count.

Here’s how we match up against North…

Western Bulldogs / North Melbourne - R6 2024 - Arden St

Avg. Career Games: 30.3 / 49.1
Median Career Games: 29 / 54

1-10 Games Experience: 4 / 0
11-30 Games Experience: 7 / 5
31-49 Games Experience: 6 / 5
50+ Games Experience: 4 / 11

Avg. Age: 23.5 / 25.7

Under 21 Years Old: 5 / 2
Aged 21-24 Years Old: 10 / 6
Over 25 Years Old: 6 / 12

 

[MYOB]

Congratulations to our Lizzie on her 50th game

 

[Fossie 32]

Congratulations to our Lizzie on her 50th game

 

[Dizzy Stuff]

Anyone know if there is undercover seating/standing area at Arden St?

 

[Bulldogs85]

 

[Bulldogs85]

 

[W W Biscuit]

Good effort so far, but we are so undersized down back. We need an Izzy Huntington type down there.

 

[Bulldogs85]

Like the look of zimmorlei Farquharson

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

It’s funny looking at so many ex doggies playing for Norf.

 

[gordo2016]

Hopefully the girls can kick a couple and get some reward for their efforts. They are trying very hard and clearly getting better.

 

[Bulldogs85]

Dog days are over: How Bulldogs have risen out of early crisis

Things were looking bleak for the Bulldogs, but they've defied expectations in recent weeks. Dylan Bolch looks at the key reasons behind this surge

www.afl.com.au

THINGS were looking bleak for the Western Bulldogs, but just like a phoenix, they have risen from the ashes.

When the Dogs slumped to a win-loss record of 0-4 to begin their 2024 season, there were dark clouds hanging over Whitten Oval.

Former captain and midfield star Ellie Blackburn had gone down with a foot injury in the loss to West Coast, sending shockwaves through the Bulldogs camp. Already struggling to get into games and be competitive, how could the club cover the loss of arguably their greatest ever AFLW player?

Ex-Blue Mua Laloifi had ruptured her ACL in a practice match just weeks beforehand and young gun Keely Coyne had already been ruled out of the season with a knee injury of her own suffered last year.
Led by new captain Deanna Berry, the Bulldogs have played some inspiring football over their past two matches, posting consecutive wins for the first time since 2022.

At one stage it looked as though a winless season was on the cards, but new coach Tamara Hyett has found a way to lead her inexperienced pups to victories against Collingwood and Sydney in the past two matches.
What initially looked like a long and difficult season ahead has suddenly been turbo-charged with energy and enthusiasm.

Right at the forefront of the Dogs’ mini revival has been a strong core of youth.

No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner has shown why the club pounced on her with the top selection last season, adding flair and explosiveness to the Bulldogs forward setup. While the youngster has plied her trade as a forward so far in her short AFLW career, don’t be surprised to see the former Western Jet spend stints in the midfield given her X-factor and match-winning ability.
Then there’s Elaine Grigg, the ultra-quick speedster who dazzles with every possession. The creative small forward doesn’t need much of the ball to have an impact on the game and her defensive pressure and tackling intent has become a trademark of her game.

Exciting midfielder Isabelle Pritchard looks poised for a breakout season as she is handed the keys to the midfield. The tough nut has increased her numbers already this season, averaging 19.2 disposals, 6.3 tackles and 4.2 clearances a match so far. It’s obviously early doors, but you’d have to think she’s a frontrunner for the club’s best and fairest right now. Jess Fitzgerald began the season off half-back but has been thrust back into a midfield role and the 22-year-old has been crucial in covering for the loss of Blackburn. Fitzgerald’s hard-working attitude and good ball use looms as a key cog to Hyett’s midfield mix moving forward.
Winger Rylie Wilcox is a player to watch moving forward and has quickly become an important member of Hyett’s side. Wilcox has now managed 25 games at the top level and has made a name for herself as a tough youngster who never takes a backwards step. She’s a well-loved member of the Bulldogs side and has all the qualities to become one of the stars of the competition.

The return of Britney Gutknecht has also been beneficial to the Doggies. Gutknecht suffered a gruesome leg injury back in September 2022 but has returned to be a key performer for the Dogs. Gutknecht was simply immense in the final term against the Swans last match, booting a crucial goal. In the absence of Blackburn, veteran Elle Bennetts has been a calming influence for this young side. The former netballer has overcome an ACL injury to return to footy and is somewhat of an on-field coach for these young pups who are carving out a new era. It always gives teams a lift when a much-loved member of the playing group returns from a long-term injury and that’s exactly what has happened with Bennetts.
And don’t forget about star ruck Alice Edmonds, who’s been a dominant force for several years. Edmonds often gives the on-ball brigade first use and is an aerial target around the grounds, whether it be for a bail out kick out of defensive 50 or as a marking target in the forward half. Edmonds has averaged 30 hit outs a game in 2024 and has started to get back to her best form in recent weeks.

But make no mistake, the Dogs are still well and truly facing the prospect of a long rebuild as they look to get back to being an AFLW powerhouse once more.
But with Hyett at the helm and a bunch of youngsters flourishing and building with each and every game, the future is bright at Whitten Oval.

The Bulldogs take on the Kangaroos at Arden Street on Saturday afternoon as they look to make it three wins in a row.

 

[gordo2016]

Like the look of zimmorlei Farquharson

She has some talent, looked good at Brisbane. Not sure why she hasn't been played earlier. Maybe her fitness hasn't been there, as she only played half of each quarter.