Gunnedah and District Bulldogs AFL completed the regular season of their respective 2024 AFL North West competitions, with the Poochettes campaign remaining unbeaten, through another comprehensive victory against the Tamworth Swans women.
Against the same opposition, the Bulldogs men couldn’t repeat their efforts of victory from the week before, fighting valiantly, but were eventually run over the top of by the second placed Tamworth Swans men, losing by 29 points, 76-47 at Wolseley Oval.
For the Poochettes, it was once again a comprehensive victory, that of which by 50 points at 57-7.
In the men’s fixture, a first quarter feeling out period ensued, with either side unable to penetrate consistent shots on goal.
However, it was the Bulldogs who took the honours after the first quarter, kicking the only major, to head into the break ahead in a tight tussle 8-2.
But by half time, the Swans found their attacking groove, hitting back with three majors of their own for the second quarter, where conversely, the Bulldogs failed to land one for the term.
By half time, the Bulldogs were still well and truly in the contest though, albeit behind by 14 points, 24-10.
Majors were traded between the sides in the third term, as the match ebbed and flowed with both sides gaining ascendancy throughout a gripping quarter.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs though, the half time margin remained exactly that by three quarter time, with both sides trading three majors apiece for the quarter and by the final change, the Swans kept a hunting Bulldogs side at bay to lead by 14 points, 43-29.
Albeit valiant, the Swans flexed their muscle in the last term, booting five majors for the quarter, in the process breaking the game open in the final quarter, putting the Bulldogs away by an eventual, 76-47, 29 point margin.
Coach Jakob Vearing was pleased with his side post-match, stipulating his side was well and truly in the contest, against a side they have struggled to compete with all season and that of which, has played in the last three AFL North West grand finals.
“[It] was a really good day for us, everything started to come together and it was a serious contest for 4 quarters,” he said.
“I thought we dominated the contested ball and marking.”
A pivotal difference on the day though, was the lack of a key target inside the forward, attacking arc for the Bulldogs.
“Unfortunately we lacked the focal point of a full forward on the day so we were unable to score reliably,” he said.
“But overall the day was a massive success, giving the lads a massive confidence boost leading into next week,” Vearing said.
He is particularly excited for that confidence his troops are showing leading into the finals series, believing with the regular season finishing, a new competition essentially begins.
The last three performances of his side, has seen it showcase its dramatic improvement since the start of the season, something he reverberated as crucial heading into the finals series.
“I have no doubt the side has an extra gear in it for next week.
“As far as finals go, you’ve got to be in it to win it.
“And I think the boys have it in them to surprise the league in one way or another” Vearing reiterated.
Hayden Edwards continued to show his imperative influence on the side since returning from injury, slotting into the midfield for the side.
Edwards impressed in a best on ground performance, booting three majors for the match, whilst Chris Hoffman slotted two as the other multiple major kicker, combining with Boyd McCormack and rising star, Mason Louis, who both slotted one each.
For the Poochettes, their domination on the North West AFL women’s competition, since their inception into competition footy in 2020, continues to represent a juggernaut, and season 2024 has been no exception.
For the second time in four seasons, they have made their way through a regular season undefeated, an unprecedented achievement that is off the scale within the history of the Gunnedah Bulldogs club.
Lead by a key core of senior footballers, all of whom have represented the club since it’s 2020 inception such as captain Katrina Rekenow, Laura Ewington, Casey O’Connell – all of which represented the AFLNW Blue Heelers women’s side earlier in the year – and Zoe Palmer, the Poochettes have added extra layers of youth to their side.
Whilst the aforementioned form the key drivers of their successful season to date, complementing a nice blend of experience and youth has seen the side develop rapidly.
To the theme of their season, coach John Woolaston moved the magnets of his side at the weekend, representing the positive attitude of his players to perform a role for the side, on any given day or during any such match.
Again, they were represented by majors through seven different players, with small forward and winger Breanna Ward the only multiple of those, slotting two on the day.
She was assisted by Rekenow, Ewington, Lily Jenson, Chelsea Palmer, Alexa Walker and Leah Schofield, who also hit the scoreboard for solitary majors of their own.
For the match itself, the Poochettes were stringent in defence, opening up a 14 point lead at 14-0 by quarter time, and extending that to 37-1 by half time.
A formality for the result ensued in the second half, and again in the third quarter, the Poochettes kept the Swans scoreless, extending the score to 49-1 by three quarter time, in a brutal display of defence. Although finally conceding a major in the last term, the Poochettes ran out the match convincing victors by 50 points, 57-7, honouring their reward as minor premiers for season 2024, and importantly, their direct passage to the Grand Final in a fortnight.
