The Brisbane Lions were once again the talk of the town in Round 4 of the AFL Women’s season as the team produce a clinical performance on the road against the Western Bulldogs.
The Lions defeated the Bulldogs 2.5 (17) to 7.7 (49) to claim their third win of the season and reclaim top place in Conference B.
The performance, the Lions’ most complete of the season to date, resulted in the Club beating the Bulldogs in a number of statistical areas.
Perhaps most notably was the Lions’ pressure around the ground.
Led by first-gamer Jaqui Yorston, who laid a team-high nine tackles on debut, the Lions launched a blitzkrieg around the contest and stuck 69 tackles – the team’s highest tally for the season.
Impressively, Brisbane recorded 22 tackles inside their forward 50 compared to the Bulldogs’ mere two in the same area of the ground.
Yorston’s monster tackle count wasn’t the only debutant highlight however, with Nat Grider and Jesse Keefe also contributing to the Lions’ win.
After being named as a late in for captain Leah Kaslar, Grider was a general across the defensive 50 recording an equal team-high four rebound 50s.
Keefe, who split time between the ruck and forward line, won 75% of her possessions in contested situations – the third highest rate of any Lion in Round 4.
While the Bulldogs earned some footing in the contest by winning the clearances, Brisbane held control of the contest wholeheartedly by winning the uncontested possessions (130 to 88), marks (50 to 33) and disposals (224 to 184).
The win in the uncontested possessions provided the away side with ample opportunity to dictate play on the outside. Brisbane produced a weekend-high ten running bounces while the Bulldogs were afforded that luxury just twice in the game.
Individually, West Australian product McKenzie Dowrick compiled perhaps the quirkiest stat line of the weekend.
The teenager boasts a renowned left foot and put it to good use against the Bulldogs, registering a Round 4-high ten long kicks in the Grand Final rematch. Remarkably, all ten of her long kicks were effective.
Elsewhere, Ally Anderson once again led from the front in the midfield as her spectacular 2019 season continued.
For the fourth straight game, Anderson tallied 20 disposals and in one of just four players in the competition to average above 20 per game.
While the team missed Kaslar undoubtably, the Lions’ defence held up just fine in her absence.
While Kate Lutkins kept Bulldogs’ spearhead Katie Brennan goalless and Shannon Campbell once again proved a rock in defence, the stingy defence repelled over 90% of the opponent’s inside 50s.
Round 4’s impressive win against the reigning premier was eye-catching in a number of areas but another challenge will await Brisbane in Round 5.
The Lions will face AFLW newcomers Geelong at home at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex this Saturday, March 2.
The game will commence at 3:45pm.
