The Western Bulldogs have snapped a three-match losing streak and moved within touching distance of an AFLW finals berth with a 15-point win over St Kilda.
Key points:
- The Bulldogs triumphed 4.11 (35) to 3.2 (20)
- The win leaves them a match clear of the Suns in eighth place on the ladder
- The Saints’ finals hopes were dashed with the loss
Ellie Blackburn and Alice Edmonds starred as the Bulldogs overcame a slow start and inaccuracy in front of goal to post a 4.11 (35) to 3.2 (20) victory in Ballarat.
The Bulldogs are a win clear of ninth-placed Gold Coast with two rounds left to play in the home-and-away season.
The result ends St Kilda’s finals hopes and there could be further pain in the fallout, with Nicola Xenos’s sling tackle on Kirsty Lamb certain to be reviewed.
Xenos conceded a free kick in the third-quarter incident but was not reported on the spot.
Bulldogs captain Blackburn (24 disposals, six tackles) and in-form ruck Edmonds (38 hit-outs, nine tackles) were influential for the victors, with Deanna Berry (14 disposals) also playing a key role.
St Kilda got the first two goals through Caitlin Greiser and Georgia Patrikios in a fast-paced opening few minutes but added just one more for the match.
Alice Burke was left sore after being crunched by Edmonds in a second-quarter marking contest, having fearlessly gone back with the flight of the ball on the wing.
The collision gave her father and Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke a few nervous moments, but the tough Saints defender got back to her feet and played out the match.
Celine Moody put the Bulldogs in front for the first time soon after the main break, ending their run of eight behinds with her first goal.
The scoring was all one-way in the final term as a fortuitous Elisabeth Georgostathis goal and another major to Keely Coyne put the result beyond doubt.
Hannah Priest (13 disposals) and Patrikios (11) fought hard against the tide for the Saints, who made a positive start to the season but have now lost six straight matches.
The Bulldogs can sew up a finals spot with victory away to West Coast in round nine, while the Saints host Port Adelaide.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
