WVFL Practice Match Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

WVFL Practice Match Western Bulldogs versus Geelong Saturday 11:30 am 21 April 2018 at Kardinia Park Geelong.

The match was held as a curtain raiser to the VFL match Geelong vs Western Bulldogs that started at 2:00 pm.

Those who played
1 Nicole McMahon
2 Tahlia Sleeth
4 Simone Ruedin
7 Jess Franke
8 Alicia Rooth
11 Nicole Paul
12 Clarke Kerry
14 Wlyse Gamble
15 Ashley Rachael
16 Ricki-lee Martinuzzo
17 Leah Oswald
19 Emma May
20 Lauren Murphy
21 Sarah Jolly
23 Aleshia Gunn
24 ?
25 Rachael Gastin
26 ?
27 Taylor Moss
28 Erin McLaughlan
29 Tara Morgan
31 Kylie Nicolaci
35 Jess Davies
Didn't notice these girls
3 Danni Teasdale
5 Amanda Tessari

Some of the numbers and names may not be correct.
None of the above were members of the AFLW side that won the premiership this year. I am also advised that Geelong left out about 4 of their best players.

One thing very noticeable before the first bounce was that our players, in the main, were a lot shorter in height than their Geelong counterparts. The match started off fairly evenly and it wasn't long before we had 2 points on the board. Our girls showed tremendous fight and courage and never shirked an issue. By quarter time we were two points to Geelong's 2 goals 4.

Geelong tried to stop our every forward move but we got through sometimes and nearly scored. Our girls managed to tie the ball up in their forward line time and time again. Several times we had impressive chains of passes. We also made many tackles and gave some hard bumps.

By half time it was plain that our girls were severely fatigued, but they fought on bravely. One by one they came off injured. Number 35 Jess Davies looks like she got a knee injury and an ankle injury at the same time. 15 Ashley Rachael and 16 Ricki-lee Martinuzzo had to be carried off the field in severe pain but made a brave return afterwards. 14 Wlyse Gamble did her ankle. The interchange bench was like a battlefield.

During the third and fourth quarters we twice got it past half way and twice got the ball into our forward 50. When the final siren went Geelong had not won by 100 points and so it was a triumph of sorts. Final score Us 2 points and them 14 goals 16 behinds 100 points. Imagine just how much better the team would have played if all were fit.

Thanks for the report

Thanks again JC

Sounds like a disappointing trip down the highway JC.