Tara Murray, with Oliver Caffrey, AAP
The Western Bulldogs have recorded their first win of the AFLW season, storming home to smash an injury-hit Collingwood by 42 points.
After beginning life under new coach Tamara Hyett with four straight defeats, the Bulldogs rallied at Victoria Park to pile more misery upon the Magpies on Sunday.
Trailing Collingwood by eight points at quarter-time, the Bulldogs slotted eight-straight goals to set up the 9.3 (57) to 2.3 (15) win.
It was the Bulldogs’ first victory since they beat West Coast late last season – their only victory for the 2023 campaign.
Still without superstar Ellie Blackburn, the Bulldogs’ younger guard stepped up and built on an encouraging performance against reigning premiers Brisbane last week.
Number one draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner enjoyed a breakout game, slotting the first goal of a career full of promise.
The 19-year-old capped off a special day for the Bulldogs when she snapped a goal-of-the-year contender from the pocket in the last quarter.
Weston-Turner, Heidi Woodley and Jessica Fitzgerald finished with two goals each for the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs captain Deanna Berry was thrilled with the win. It’s her first win as skipper.
“We’ve been building so much over the last few weeks, and every week we’ve just continually got better,” she told the Seven Network.
“We wanted it today so bad.
“After Wednesday playing the Lions, we knew that we had the confidence to come out really put on a good show.
“Those girls, they’re working their butts off right now, and we’re proving that we’re going to be there soon.
“I’m just so proud of them.”
Coach Tamara Hyett, who coached her first win, said she was so happy for everyone at the club to finally taste a win.
She said it was reward for what the players have been committing too.
“The scoreboard looked flattering for us,” she said. “But what I’m most pleased about is that we stuck to our processes.”
Hyett said after a strong start they went away from a few things structurally and they had to reset at quarter time an the prove is in the pudding.
She said they were able to do the basics right and they’re continuing to build game awareness.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday night against Sydney.
Hyett said they’ve shown glimpses of what they can do, they just have to do it for longer.
Tara Murray, with Oliver Caffrey, AAP
