SNAPSHOT OF THE WESTERN BULLDOGS’ SIX-POINT AFLW GRAND FINAL WIN OVER THE BRISBANE LIONS:
* RESULT: Western Bulldogs 4.3 (27) bt Brisbane Lions 3.3 (21) on Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park in front of 7,083 fans.
* THE STORY: Brisbane started well in slippery conditions and led by a goal at halftime but didn’t score in the second and third quarters. The Bulldogs didn’t kick their first goal of the match until almost five minutes into the third quarter, but a three-goals-to-nil third term was pivotal. They led by 13 points at three-quarter time and held off a late challenge to hang on for a thrilling six-point win.
* THE GOAL: Both sides found scoring difficult in the first half, but Deanna Berry’s long-range effort early in the third quarter was a team lifter for the Bulldogs. With Lions defenders converging she set sail from just outside 50 and watched as it bounced through for a key goal that sparked a Bulldogs’ resurgence.
* THE MOMENT: Jess Wuetschner kicked two goals to keep the Lions in it in the final term. With the clock ticking down in a frantic last quarter, the visitors trailed by six points. They launched one last-ditch attack, but Dogs defender Libby Gore took a saving mark just as the final siren sounded.
* THE STARS: Bulldogs forward Monique Conti won the player of the match award after she put on a star turn in the third quarter, which included a brilliant goal. Kate Lutkins was outstanding in defence for the Lions, taking several courageous intercept marks and launching counter-attacks from the back half.
* THE CELEBRATION: In scenes reminiscent of the Bulldogs’ 2016 AFL grand final win, suspended skipper Katie Brennan was called onto the stage to hold aloft the premiership cup with coach Paul Groves and stand-in captain Ellie Blackburn.
* THE QUOTE: “Every one was saying ‘It’s such a big week … are you knackered?’ It just makes it a little bit more special, I think. I’m pretty keen to take a picture of Ella in the cup,” Bulldogs premiership coach Paul Groves, whose wife gave birth to their second child on Tuesday.
* THE INJURIES: Brisbane’s Shannon Campbell had a day to forget. She received treatment after limping off the ground in pre-game warm-up but was able to take her place on the field. She was later concussed in an Ellie Blackburn tackle that saw her leave the game for good in the last quarter.