The Western Bulldogs have reaped the benefits of a firing new-look forward line to kick off their AFLW season with a seven-point victory over GWS.
Key points:
- Former number-one draft pick Gabby Newton kicked two for the Bulldogs
- Newton missed the entirety of last season with a shoulder injury
- Cora Staunton led the Giants with three of her own, but didn’t have enough help
The Bulldogs lost leading goalkicker Bonnie Toogood to Essendon over the off-season but comeback kid Gabby Newton and Celine Moody booted two goals apiece in the 6.5 (41) to 5.4 (34) victory at Princes Park.
Skipper Ellie Blackburn (21 disposals, nine clearances) was typically brilliant while Isabelle Pritchard (18 disposals), ruck Alice Edmonds (28 hitouts) and defender Eleanor Brown also excelled.
Giants vice-captain Alyce Parker (25 disposals, six clearances and a goal) was outstanding while veteran forward Cora Staunton sparked GWS with three goals.
Lamb dobbed the Dogs’ first goal just over a minute into the clash but the Giants hit back through 18-year-old Jessica Doyle and led by a point at the first change.
The Bulldogs lifted at the start of the second quarter when former number-one draft pick Newton caught Georgina Fowler holding the ball and dobbed her first career goal.
Newton was making her return after missing all of last season due to a double shoulder reconstruction.
She kicked her second from a tight angle shortly after.
Staunton sparked the Giants when she coolly fended off Isabella Grant and goaled.
But the Bulldogs got a massive let-off just before half-time when Haneen Zreika kicked her close-range set shot into the player on the mark.
Staunton got the Giants within a point at the start of the third term but two Moody goals handed the Bulldogs a two-goal lead at the final change.
Late in the fourth quarter, Staunton took the ball out of the ruck and found Parker, who snapped the Giants back within a goal.
But a moment of brilliance from Richelle Cranston sealed the deal.
Cranston forced herself between two Giants to prevent a simple intercept mark, then followed up her own work, brilliantly toe-poking a bouncing, trickling goal home.
Staunton jagged her third but the Giants couldn’t pull off a late miracle.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
