FORWARDS THE PRIDE OF LIONS
AFLW: Star midfielder Emily Bates says a new “dynamic” forward line has Brisbane primed to snare that elusive AFLW premiership this season.
The Lions were dealt a massive blow when key forward Sabrina Frederick defected to Richmond in the off-season. Then club leading goal kicker Jess Wuetschner was struck by lightning in January and her ongoing recovery saw her ruled out of yesterday’s clash with Geelong.
But less-experienced teammates Jesse Wardlaw, Dakota Davidson and Ally Anderson stepped up to help steer their side to a 19-point win at GMHBA Stadium. It saw Brisbane shoot to the top of Conference A as they chase a maiden AFLW flag, having been runners-up in 2017 and 2018.
“Certain players that we have recruited this year are just athletic beasts,” Bates said. “I feel like our forward line is a lot more dynamic.”
Brisbane trailed by 13 points early in the second quarter, but then kept Geelong goalless for almost an hour as they piled on five unanswered majors in the 6.3 (39) to 3.2 (20) win.
“We never drop our heads,” Bates said. “We’ve done so much hard work in this preseason to know that no matter what, we can run out games. We just have that belief that no matter the score we can come back and run over the top of teams.”
Bates had a game-high 22 disposals, falling four short of the club record held jointly by Anderson and Kate Lutkins.
The win saw the Lions maintain their unbeaten start ahead of next Saturday night’s meeting with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.