Another week, another shocking injury.
The Western Bulldogs injury curse struck again in Saturday’s heartbreaking seven-point loss to the Adelaide Crows in the AFL Women’s at Norwood Oval.
After the pain of season-ending knee injuries to rookies Daria Bannister and Isabel Huntington in the opening two rounds, the Bulldogs will now be without captain Katie Brennan for an extended period after an ankle injury sustained in the last quarter.
It was salt rubbed into the wound for the Western Bulldogs, who were pipped at the post by the fast-finishing Crows after their superstar forward Erin Phillips put on a master class with a match-winning four-goal performance.
The Bulldogs led most of the game, but the short turnaround from their Brisbane game meant they ran out of puff. Their inability to convert inside 50s – they had nine more entries than the Crows – was another telling factor.
Star duo Emma Kearney (20 disposals and six tackles) and Ellie Blackburn (17 disposals and five tackles) were at their best as the Bulldogs leading possession getters, while half-forwards Monique Conti and Brooke Lochland were never too far away from the action.
The Paul Groves-coached Bulldogs will host Carlton in the first AFLW pride game at the Victoria University Whitten Oval on Friday night at 7.05pm.
