Retribution will be on the cards for the Brisbane Lions Women's team when they travel to Victoria for the first time this season to face the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, February 23.
Just one straight kick was all that separated the two sides when they met in the big dance last March signalling the second time in as many years the Lions had fallen just one game short.
But this weekend’s grand final rematch appears more significant for the Lions than just earning vengeance against the Bulldogs – it looms as a crucial matchup in the scheme of the Lions’ 2019 season.
For just the second time in AFLW history, the Lions have lost consecutive games after coming after coming up short against both Fremantle and Melbourne across the past fortnight.
The Lions currently sit in third place in Conference B but trail Carlton and Geelong by mere percentage as we meet the halfway point of the season.
A win against the Bulldogs could aid in propelling Brisbane back into the finals bracket in the conference as they side aim toward a third straight Grand Final birth.
Lions AFLW Coach Craig Starcevich said the proposition of playing against the same side who beat them in the last Grand Final was exciting but admitted a lot has changed since then; preferring to focus on producing a wholesome effort this weekend,
“All we need is a competitive effort. We need more of that to be honest,” he said lions.com.au.
“We want a really strong effort and it wouldn't matter who we are playing but the fact that we're playing the team who we came up against in the last game of last year adds a little bit to it."
The efforts of Kate Lutkins, who starred for the Lions in the two side’s previous two outings, will be pivotal should the Lions claim the four points.
She produced a team-high 21 disposals amongst a game-high 14 contested possessions in the Grand Final rematch and has continued to flourish this season ranking equal fifth in the competition for intercept possessions.
Lutkins will likely earn a line-up against experienced Bulldogs’ forward Katie Brennan who leads the competition for contested marks after three rounds.
Elsewhere, the continued efforts of Ally Anderson and Nat Exon in the midfield will again be essential against midfield duo Ellie Blackburn and Monique Conti.
Despite suffering defeat against North Melbourne last weekend, the Western Bulldogs, led by their midfield pair, won out in the clearances and drew fairly even in the contested possessions.
AFLW Round 4
Who: Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs
When: Saturday, 23 February at 7.10pm AEDT / 6.10pm AEST
Where: Whitten Oval, Victoria University
Entry is FREE
SEE OUR ROUND 4 TEAM!
The match will be broadcasted nation-wide on 7Mate and Fox Footy from 6.10pm AEST.
For the latest updates before, during and after the match, keep an eye on the Lions AFLW Twitter and Instagram accounts.
