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.
Brisbane showed off its dangerous attacking contingent once again, with three players kicking multiple goals and seven individual goal kickers overall.
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.
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 37 games at the Bulldogs, GWS and Melbourne. She has been an important leader in defence for the Dogs in 21 games over three years at the Dogs.
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.
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.
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
