THE BRISBANE Lions will be desperate to atone for their loss to Adelaide in last year’s NAB AFL Women’s Grand Final.

They face the Western Bulldogs, the dominant team this year, with the most wins (five) and best percentage (142.5).

Although the Dogs are at home (albeit at Ikon Park and not Whitten Oval, where they won three times this year), the Lions travel well, with six wins and one draw in eight away matches since the competition started in 2017.

The last time they met
The teams met in round two, with the Bulldogs victorious by nine points. Isabel Huntington, last year’s No. 1 draft pick, kick-started the Dogs with two goals in two minutes, before rupturing the ACL in her right knee. In hot and windy conditions, the Bulldogs’ better ball movement was too much for the Lions.

Lions more relaxed this time around

What to watch for… 

Two all-star midfields going head-to-head
Bulldog Emma Kearney has had an excellent season and was joint-winner of the AFL Coaches AFLW Champion Player of the Year award. Kearney, Ellie Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb are super-damaging and set up many of the Dogs’ forward moves. They’ll go up against Lions trio Emily Bates, Ally Anderson and skipper Emma Zielke, excellent ball-users, particularly in contested situations. 

How the Lions start
They have been slow starters this season, but often have finished games very well. Brisbane has won all seven of their fourth quarters, but will be looking to control the match, rather than fall behind and have to chase. 

A genuine key-position battle
One of the main match-ups will see powerhouse Brisbane forward Sabrina Frederick-Traub against Bulldogs defender Lauren Spark. Spark kept Frederick-Traub to five disposals, one mark and one behind in their round-two meeting, while also comfortably holding Melbourne’s Tegan Cunningham last weekend. Frederick-Traub is in explosive form, single-handedly keeping Brisbane in the game against Collingwood in round six, before following it up with four goals and 18 disposals in Brisbane’s win against the Giants last weekend.

Stopping Sabrina Frederick-Traub will be at the top of the Bulldogs' list. Picture: AFL Photos

A shut-down specialist at work
Bulldogs defender Libby Birch successfully kept livewire Lions forward Kaitlyn Ashmore out of the game in round two. Relatively new to footy, the star junior netballer has established herself as one of the competition’s premier defenders, her spoiling work and other defensive skills recognised with a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination and a spot in the Virgin Australia AFLW All-Australian squad.

Dogs trying to normalise testing week

Lefty Lochland
Bulldogs forward Brooke Lochland was the competition’s leading goalscorer this season (with 12). Her bag of seven in round four against Carlton was a highlight of the season. The left-footed former speed-skater also booted the winner against Melbourne last Saturday night. With skipper Katie Brennan out, Lochland looms at the Dogs’ most dangerous forward option. 

The Tasmanian Terror
Lions forward Jess Wuetschner has also been in fine form, finishing one goal behind Lochland for in the goalkicking award. Wuetschner plays with passion and an early strike or two from the Tasmanian could get the Lions fired up. 

One versus three
Brisbane youngster Tahlia Randall has shouldered the majority of the ruck work this season and is third in the competition for hit-outs, with 126. She will be looking to give her teammates first use of the ball against the Bulldogs’ rotating trio of Aasta O’Connor, Tiarna Ernst and Kim Rennie. 

Young pups
The Bulldogs’ new faces have been influential. First-year players Monique Conti, Aisling Utri, Bonnie Toogood and Naomi Ferres have scored NAB AFLW Rising Star award nominations, while 23-year-old Jenna Bruton has added another dimension to the Dogs’ midfield.

Monique Conti is one of an exciting band of young Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Photos

Slippery slope?
Rain is forecast for Saturday’s game, and the likely wet conditions could see a tight contest. This season, the Bulldogs have won three games by 10 or fewer points; the Lions have been victorious only once in in that score range.

RECORDS AT IKON PARK

Western Bulldogs       0-1
Round 5, 2017
Lost to Carlton

Brisbane Lions 1-0-1
Round 7, 2017
Drew with Carlton

Round 3, 2018
Defeated Carlton