With the AFLW season quickly approaching it’s time to check in on how the Western Bulldogs are approaching the year.
Harper Sercombe chatted with Gemma Lagioia from the Bulldogs to hear her thoughts on the pre-season and what to expect from the Dogs in season eight of the AFLW.
Western Bulldogs young gun Gemma Lagioia is ready to take her game to the next level as the Bulldogs set their eyes on season eight of the AFLW
After spending her first three years within the AFLW system as an outside midfielder, Lagioia has been setting herself up for a season kicking goals.
“I’ll spend some more time in the forward line for sure,” she said. “That’s where I’ve been training in the pre-season, so I think that’ll be my main position.
“Kate McCarthy is the new forwards coach so it’s been great working with her and she was a small forward as well, so learning off her has been really good.”
With the season just around the corner, Lagioia said her focus is to play some more consistent footy to help her team stay within the top eight.
Lagioia played four games in AFLW season seven after six games in the first season in 2022.
“As a team we just want to improve on how we went last year,” she said.
“We think we can win the whole thing, that’s our aim.
“We just want to play some really good exciting footy and just do as well as we can.”
Already written in Bulldogs folk law as the three time All-Australian and four time best and fairest winner is set to embark on her fourth year as stand alone captain, Ellie Blackburn will be instrumental in returning her side back to the premiership successes of 2018.
“She’s amazing. She’s the best captain I’ve played under and I look up to Ellie so much,” Lagioia said.
“She’s had a great pre-season, there’s no doubt she’ll go into the season and just play the exact same as she has in the previous five seasons, if not even better.
“I’ve just learnt so much off of her, I’m really appreciative of playing under her.”
The Dogs added some depth and experience to their list in the off season through Maggie Gorham from Greater Western Sydney, Brianna McFarlane from the Brisbane Lions and mature aged draftee Dominique Carruthers.
“All three of them have fit in so well and all of them have made quite big moves down here, and they just fit in with the girls so well, they add so much to the group and I’ve really been enjoying getting to know them,” Lagioia said.
Along with the fresh recruits there has been plenty of progress made at the kennel throughout the preseason.
Midfielder turned key forward Gabrielle Newton and winger Aurora Smith, who is coming off an ACL injury from season six, have particularly caught Lagioia’s eye.
“(Newton), in the forward line, I’ve been able to play pretty close to her all pre-season, I think she’ll be great and kick goals every game hopefully,” she said.
“(Smith) has been able to have a pretty full pre-season, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes.
“I think everyone has taken really big steps this pre-season, we’ve all been working really hard, so I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone goes.”
The Dogs moved back into their traditional home of Whitten Oval during the off season following ongoing works to the ground and facilities.
“That’s been really good, the girls have been loving it,” Lagioia said.
The Bulldogs had their first hit out against Hawthorn in mid August in a pre-season match.
The Dogs won and Lagioia impressed in her new position kicking one of the Dogs’ five goals, although the focus was playing the way the team wanted to play.
“Our focus has been on working really hard defensively… we just want to get our game plan right and do what we want to do, as opposed to focusing too much on the opposition,” Lagioia said.
The Dogs were to face last year’s preliminary finalists North Melbourne in their last game before the season begins on Saturday, after deadline.
They start their season coming up on September 2 with a clash against Geelong.
The Bulldogs are looking to improve on last season when they finished in seventh spot, six points outside the top six.
“I’m so looking forward to round one, Geelong in Geelong, I’m really looking forward to that,” Lagioia said.
“Looking more into the future, we’re so excited about our first game at Whitten Oval in round five.
“There’s just so many points along the way that I’m excited for.”
The Dogs will play the Saints under lights in their return to Whitten Oval on Friday, September 29.
