BRISBANE has confirmed a home qualifying final next week with a strong win over the Western Bulldogs to finish their home and away season. 

The Lions fought off a spirited Bulldogs outfit to win 10.6 (66) to 5.4 (34) at Mars Stadium in Ballarat. 

DOGS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

Brisbane showed off its dangerous attacking contingent once again, with three players kicking multiple goals and seven individual goalkickers overall.  

05:52

AFLW Match Highlights: Western Bulldogs v Brisbane

The Bulldogs and Lions clash in round ten of the NAB AFL Women's Competition

The speed of Greta Bodey, Courtney Hodder and Orla O'Dwyer in attack broke through the Dogs' defences as they ran in support of one another and neatly set up handball chains deep into attack. 

00:51

Lions roar with jaw-dropping team goal

The Lions left the Dogs for dust with this blistering team goal which saw Courtney Hodder seal the deal

Early on, the Western Bulldogs were able to find some control through a clean kick and mark game, racking up 33 marks to half-time compared to the Lions' five, while Brisbane made its presence known at ground level winning the first-half tackle count 41-14. 

It was the Lions' pressure and one-percenters that kept the ball moving forward as they finished the game with 39 inside 50s and importantly 15 tackles inside 50. 

Before the game Ashleigh Guest announced her retirement from the AFLW after 40 games at the Bulldogs, GWS and Melbourne. She has been an important leader in defence for the Dogs in 22 games over three years at the Dogs.

00:47

Lions bite back with O'Dwyer magic

Orla O'Dwyer gave the Lions a much-needed goal against the grain and produced with this running finish

An unstoppable forward line
Brisbane's spread in attack has regularly broken the back of its opposition this year, and against the Bulldogs it was no different. Talls Jesse Wardlaw, Dakota Davidson and Taylor Smith present in the air and are rarely outmarked and once the ball comes to ground Hodder, Bodey and O'Dwyer get to work with slick handballs and poise out of congestion. The Lions kicked simple goals from the goalsquare more than once off the back of this workrate and clever positioning. 

00:33

Lions on fire to start the third

Brisbane burst out of the blocks with goals to Sophie Conway and Shannon Campbell seeing them extend their lead

Bates for B&F
Emily Bates has put her hand up as a contender for the competition's best and fairest award in a few weeks with another impressive performance through the middle of the ground. Bates racked up 18 disposals, 12 clearances and 11 tackles. 

An opportunity lost
A question will forever hover over the Bulldogs this season: without interruptions what might this season have been? They have shown regularly through the year that they can match it with the best teams, and without so many setbacks - COVID, significant injuries, condensed fixture - they would have likely been a genuine finals contender. 

00:24

Lamb snap strikes gold

Kirsty Lamb snapped through this brilliant goal to bring the Dogs within a kick

What's next?
For the Western Bulldogs, it's season over, but the Lions will prepare for a qualifying final likely against Collingwood in what they hope will be a repeat of last year's preliminary final.

WESTERN BULLDOGS       1.2     4.3     5.3     5.4 (34)  
BRISBANE                         3.3     5.3     8.5     10.6 (66)  

GOALS 
Western Bulldogs: Cranston 2, Berry, Toogood, Lamb 
Brisbane: Conway 2, O'Dwyer 2, Bodey 2, Farquharson, Campbell, Hodder, Smith 

BEST   
Western Bulldogs: Ferres, Moody, Blackburn, Pritchard  
Brisbane: Bates, Svarc, Conway, Campbell, Bodey 

INJURIES   
Western Bulldogs: Nil 
Brisbane: Nil 

Reports: Nil  

Crowd: 1,526 at Mars Stadium 

Did you head to the footy over the weekend? Tell us your thoughts! Take the survey now