THERE'S been a few alterations since Monday, but it's still a blockbuster round of footy.

We'll have a much better picture of how sides are placed at the conclusion of round three of the NAB AFLW competition, with a series of games between relatively even sides.

GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS

7.10pm AEDT, Friday, February 12
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong, Vic

• Of immediate concern to Geelong is scoring just three majors across two matches (admittedly against pace-setters North Melbourne and Collingwood), including six goalless quarters. Despite losing two matches, the Cats have laid the equal-second fewest tackles this season.
• A third Friday night match for the high-scoring, free-flowing Dogs, who are starting to hit their groove, and confidence will be up after a breakthrough win last week. The Bulldogs aren't getting too much of the footy (ranked second-last for disposal), but using it well when they have it.
• Tip: Two sides who have had contrasting fortunes so far this year, and who have historically struggled with consistent form. The Dogs' momentum might carry them over the line here, eight points.

WATCH IT LIVE Cats v Bulldogs

GWS v GOLD COAST

3.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Blacktown International Sportspark, NSW

• After weeks on the road in pre-season and round one, two consecutive home games are just what the doctor ordered for the Giants. Coach Alan McConnell has highlighted the team's disposal (41 per cent efficiency against Adelaide) as an area of concern.
• The Suns will be desperate to get at least one goal after the board after a dismal two-point effort last week against Brisbane. They took just one mark inside 50 for the game and allowed 22 up the other end.
• Tip: A difficult one to call, with both sides coming off a poor performance. The last time these played resulted in a one-point win to the Giants, but the Suns might just get over the line here. Four points.

WATCH IT LIVE Giants v Suns

ST KILDA v CARLTON

5.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
RSEA Park, Moorabbin, Vic

• St Kilda have alternatively dominated and been dominated in its games this year. With Caitlin Greiser, Jacqui Vogt, Kate Shierlaw and Darcy Guttridge, the Saints have the potential to score quickly, but struggled to translate their possession into a meaningful tally against North Melbourne.
• It's starting to get a little serious for pre-season premiership fancy Carlton, sitting at 0-2 in a nine-round season. The inclusions of defenders Mua Laloifi (concussion) and Gab Pound (hand) and midfielder Lucy McEvoy (cheekbone) will help enormously.
• Tip: Patrikios v Prespakis, yes please. The two former Calder Cannons teammates will face off in the middle of the ground, but it's the latter looking likely to finish with the choccies. Blues by 17 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Saints v Blues

MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE

7.10pm AEDT, Saturday, February 13
Casey Fields, Vic

• Melbourne has done everything asked of it in the first two rounds of the season, seeing off second-year clubs Gold Coast and Richmond. Conceding early majors would be a bit of a concern, but the number of goals they've created at their end (16 in two weeks, equal-second highest) would please coach Mick Stinear.
• Similarly, North Melbourne has ticked every box in front of it thus far. The Roos are winning plenty of the footy (ranked second for disposal), controlling play (second for marks) and converting inside 50 (equal-second for goals).
• Tip: By the end of this match, one team will have lost their first game for the season. Despite the somewhat chaotic conditions the blustery Casey Fields can throw up, the powerful Kangaroos should hold firm. North by 22 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Demons v Kangaroos

ADELAIDE v FREMANTLE

12.40pm ACDT, Sunday, February 14
Norwood Oval, SA

• Is the rampaging Adelaide back as one of the premier sides of the competition? Early signs indicate yes, although their two wins have come against strugglers West Coast and GWS. Danielle Ponter's habit of converting one goal into three is proving to be a dangerous one for opposition sides.
• The all-conquering Dockers head to Adelaide, having just overtaken the Crows' own record for consecutive wins (now nine straight). There'll be a few battered bodies after playing in a torrential downpour, and accuracy will be front of mind after kicking 2.11.
• Tip: Will Chelsea Randall return to her defensive roots to take on the equally athletic Gemma Houghton? This match is very much a flip of a coin, but the Crows' midfield depth may be too much. Crows by five points.

WATCH IT LIVE Crows v Dockers

RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD

3.10pm AEDT, Sunday, February 14
Swinburne Centre, Vic

• We're fast becoming accustomed to rescheduled games, and at the start of the week, Richmond was drawn to play West Coast and Collingwood to make the trip north to face Brisbane.
• Despite boasting some high-profile forwards in Katie Brennan and Sabrina Frederick, the Tigers have kicked just three goals across two games. Inaccuracy and supply have been issues, but they simply need to get on the board more to win games.
• Collingwood steadily dismantled Geelong, proving they have too many threats all over the park. Ruby Schleicher is becoming a genuine rebound defender, while the pacey Sarah Rowe slotted in perfectly across half-forward after missing round one with a shoulder injury.
• Tip: The Tigers were hoping to break their duck against West Coast, but a fixture reshuffle proved that was not to be. Unfortunately, that win is now unlikely to come this weekend. Pies by 28 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Tigers v Magpies

BRISBANE v WEST COAST

4.15pm AEST, Monday February 15
Hickey Park, Qld

• Brisbane nearly played a perfect match against Gold Coast, holding their intrastate rivals to just two points while kicking 10 goals. The Lions appear to have a good mix of experience and youth, with the latter – led by Nat Grider, Belle Dawes, Jesse Wardlaw and Dakota Davidson – beginning to dictate matches.
• West Coast lost no admirers for its tough performance in soggy conditions against Fremantle, with Mikayla Bowen and a much-improved Belinda Smith among those trying their hearts out. After needing to dip into top-up players to fill the emergency slots, Melissa Caulfield (hamstring) and Maddy Collier (concussion) are now available.
• Tip: Lions have too much momentum at the moment, and the Eagles are making one of the longest trips in footy from Perth to Brisbane. Lions by 32 points.

WATCH IT LIVE Lions v Eagles

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CAPTAIN Ellie Blackburn proved the difference as her Western Bulldogs outlasted Geelong in an arm-wrestle at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. 

With just one point separating the two sides early in the last term, the Dogs kicked the final two goals to run away 3.6 (24) to 1.3 (9) victors. 

CATS v DOGS Full match coverage and stats

In the only NAB AFLW match of round three in Victoria to be played in front of fans due to the state's latest lockdown, Blackburn collected 25 disposals and directly set-up the Dogs' first two goals. 

Dogs No.2 draft pick Jess Fitzgerald was then left to ice the match, fending off two Cats opponents before finishing off a brilliant solo running effort. 

It conspired Geelong to its third consecutive defeat of the season with the Cats goalless in nine of 12 quarters for the season. 

The Dogs, now placed at 2-1, should've been further in front at half-time through the dominance of Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb (20 disposals) around the contest. 

The Cats brought a stronger tackling edge after the main break and kicked their sole major through Phoebe McWilliams but were unable to make the most of territory dominance. 

Blackburn again got the ball rolling in the final term with the Dogs registering five scoring shots to one and claim back-to-back victories.  

Young talent time
Dogs father-daughter debutant Isabella Grant was quick to show off her bag of tricks in the opening minutes. After a mark on the wing, Grant sold a bag of candy to Cats first-gamer Nicole Garner on the mark before waltzing forward to record her first kick at AFLW level. Grant donned her dad Chris' No.3 guernsey, one he made famous in a super career for the Dogs.

Cats to click soon
Coach Paul Hood insists his side is on the verge of a breakout game after matching the Dogs for most of the night. Despite a goalless first half the Cats only lost the contested possession count by two and tackles by seven, leaving Dogs coach Nathan Burke to compare their intensity to a "brick wall". Cats defender Meg McDonald copped a cork to her knee in the third term but is expected to be fine to continue her pairing with rising young defender Amy McDonald (23 disposals). 

Dog in the wars
Ash Guest is going to wake up sore on Saturday morning. The Dogs defender was winded in a crunching blow in the opening stages before coming off second-best from a head clash in the final term. Guest copped a monstrous egg above her left eye and will be put through concussion protocols, coach Nathan Burke adding, "Luckily Guesty didn't look in the mirror because she's a bit squirmish and might've fainted at her own sight."

Say what?
"Sometimes you've got to win ugly and that was a bit of an ugly win. (I'd) probably give us 10/10 for work-rate and 5/10 for footy smarts, the way that we played the game and the fact we can still win a game with those numbers is a good sign." – Western Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke

"I thought the effort was fantastic, we can't find any fault with that. It was the most complete four-quarter performance from an intensity perspective we've given. But we're not content with the result and want to keep working on our ability to score and find each other inside 50." – Geelong coach Paul Hood

GEELONG                                0.0       0.1       1.2       1.3 (9)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             1.1       1.3       1.3       3.6 (24)

GOALS
Geelong: McWilliams
Western Bulldogs: Huntington, McLeod, Fitzgerald

BEST 
Geelong: McWilliams, A.McDonald, Purcell, O'Connor, M.McDonald
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Lamb, Huntington, Lochland, Ferres, Georgostathis 

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil 
Western Bulldogs: Guest (cut eye)

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: 1124 at GMHBA Stadium