Bulldogs put bite on Freo
KATIE Brennan and Ellie Blackburn have starred for the Western Bulldogs in a 26-point AFLW win over Fremantle at Whitten Oval yesterday.
But in one of the few lowlights for the Dogs, Tasmanian youngster Daria Bannister was stretchered from the field after copping a blow to the head.
Bulldogs skipper Brennan booted three first-half goals as her side won a seesawing contest in front of 8500 fans.
Blackburn had 23 possessions and a third-quarter goal in a pivotal performance. The Dogs powered out of the gates to lead by 34 points at halftime, with the hapless visitors unable to register a single point in the opening two quarters.
Brennan, restricted to just two games last season by injuries, kicked the opening two goals of the game, with her second a brilliant effort from a set shot on the boundary.
But in a big turnaround, the Dockers, with the aid of a stiff breeze, scored three goals in the third term, while the Bulldogs went goalless. Amy Lavell sparked the Fremantle fightback with two goals inside a minute to start the second half.
That was all the fight the Dockers could muster, however, with Bonnie Toogood and Aasta O’Connor securing the points with the only two goals of the term.
Kara Donnellan and Dana Hooker were the leading possession winners for Fremantle with 12 touches each.