WESTERN Bulldogs emerged victorious over the Casey Demons in a hard-fought VFLW battle, securing a 21-point win despite Casey's early lead and spirited performance.
Casey, with a powerful start, made its presence felt early. In a similar style to last week, the game's first goal came from Sarah D'arcy, setting the tone for the Demons' determination.
The Dees maintained their momentum throughout the first quarter and headed into the first break with a narrow three-point lead over the Bulldogs.
Both teams traded goals in the second quarter, with Casey reclaiming the lead thanks to a goal from Zoe Mitchell. However, the Bulldogs remained persistent, keeping the pressure on.
AFLW-listed Demon Alyssa Bannan kicked a crucial goal in the dying seconds of the second term, heading into halftime locked in a tight battle leading by four points.
The third quarter proved challenging for Casey as the Bulldogs surged ahead, kicking two crucial goals to push the margin to nine points. Despite their best efforts, Casey trailed by ten points heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw Casey digging deep, but the Bulldogs proved too strong to overcome. A late goal from Tegan Williams couldn't help Casey bridge the gap, ultimately falling short as the Bulldogs secured the victory.
Key players for Casey included Meg Macdonald, Lauren Jatczak, Shree Fairchild, and Kasey Phillips, who displayed determination and skill throughout the match. Williams and Siobhan Sheerin kept the Dees in the hunt, scoring two goals each.
It was a hard-fought contest between two competitive teams, with the Western Bulldogs finishing on top in a thrilling encounter.
The Demons will take away plenty of positives from the match and now look ahead to playing North Melbourne next Saturday at Arden Street.
DEMONS | 2.3 5.5 5.6 7.8 (50)
BULLDOGS | 2.0 5.1. 7.4. 11.5 (71)
Goals: 2 Williams, Sheerin, 1 Mitchell, D'arcy, Bannan
Key Players: 17 Macdonald, Jatczak, 15 Fairchild, Casey, 14 Phillips, Burn
Next Game: Saturday 6 April, Arden Street Oval
