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NAB AFL Women’s Competition / JLT Community Series double header JLT Community Series – Week 1 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne VU Whitten Oval Saturday 18 February, 4.40pm EDT NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 3 Western Bulldogs v Melbourne VU Whitten Oval Saturday 18 February, 7.40pm EDT Gates Gates will open at 2.30pm for the men’s JLT Community Series match commencing at 4.40pm. Access and Ticketing AFL and Club access members have free general admission entry to the men’s JLT Community Series match. However, as access to the venue is subject to capacity and not guaranteed, the AFL strongly recommends that members wishing to watch either game upgrade their membership to a reserved seat or register for a general admission ticket to guarantee entry on the day. Upgrade HERE. Subject to capacity, fans have free entry to the Western Bulldogs v Melbourne NAB AFLW match after three quarter time of the Western Bulldogs v Melbourne JLT Community Series match. The AFL advises that VU Whitten Oval has a limited capacity of 10,000 and considering anticipated demand for both matches, strongly recommends that all members and fans guarantee their entry by using their membership card to register or purchase a general admission ticket via Ticketmaster. Tickets are subject to availability on a first come, first serve basis and subject to an additional fee. Guarantee your entry now at ticketmaster.com.au Parking Limited street parking is available around the venue, however supporters are encouraged to catch public transport. Whitten Oval is a short stroll from West Footscray station - on the Sydneham/Watergardens line. Membership and Merchandise Memberships and merchandise will be available for sale from the Melbourne marquee (location and time TBC). Support the women’s team with a membership from $75! TV Times JLT Community Series match: Fox Footy – 4.30pm EDT Live NAB AFL Women’s Competition – Round 3: Channel 7 – 7.30pm EDT Live; Fox Footy – 7.30pm EDT Live Social Media Keep up-to-date on game day with our live coverage of the game on Twitter (@melbournefc) and follow the hashtag #AFLWDogsDees Get a behind-the-scenes insight into the day by following us on Instagram (@melbournefc), liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/melbournefc) and adding us as a ‘friend’ on Snapchat (melbourne_fc). Website melbournefc.com.au will also publish quarterly updates live from the games. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What a second half last week - for many reasons. Not only did we get the chocolates but we also sensationally came from behind, kept the filth´s losing streak intact and most impressively... the team clicked. It was only a matter of time before the girls stood up and really kicked into gear. The key moment for most will be our sudden burst of goals where we ran over the scumbags and kept them goalless, but for me it was seeing Daisy Pearce going absolutely hard when winning the ball. Is this the week where she unleashes and boots several sausage rolls? I won´t go on about the highlights of the game, as I´ve watched the 2nd half about 5 times now, but see below for video if interested. Err, in saying that - I will mention though that I was totally in love with Mel Hickey but Karen Paxman, Elise O´Dea and Cat Phillips have seriously challenged her for the mantle. Cat´s speed is outstanding and will likely deliver many more Jayden Hunt-like sprinting goals. O´Dea loves this club and she shows it by continuously smashing through packs alongside her superior experience/skills and of course that nice precision kick into f50 in the last moments of the game that secured our last goal from Jolly. Karen Paxman is so unassuming but runs all day, gets involved in everything, goes forward and back, plus kicked a ripper of a goal in our onslaught. Special mentions also goto Katherine Smith, Lily Mithen (Rising Star) and Laura ``Irish´´ Duryea who was terrific in defense and is doing the number 11 proud. Unfortunately, Meg Downie was knocked out in what´s known in official terms as a ´´dog act`` and has subsequently been ruled out for the rest of the season. Even though it´s still early days in the comp, Downie´s contribution on-field shouldn´t be underestimated. What is good news is that this week should see the return of Richelle ´Rocky` Cranston who´s physicality and running ability will hopefully substitute for this. At this point in the season, like most teams, we cannot afford to lose a game. If we do lose one, then we are relying on other teams to lose games as well. For once in my life, and it sickens me to say this, but I hope the filth beat Brisbane as we need to keep them at 2-1 rather than 3-0. Collingwood getting the win won´t affect our chances if we beat the Dogs and at worst if we lose, then we are even with them and will be riding on the luck of certain teams losing for us to climb the ladder. The Dogs were tipped to be flag favourites before the season started yet where taken apart last round by Adelaide. Inaccuracy in front of goal and Adelaide´s superior play was the main result of this, but it gives us a great chance. If we storm them from the start and bring it like the way we did against the filth, then I am confident that our ladies will get the win. That will automatically put us up the ladder into 4th position, and depending on percentages, could even see us jump over the Lions and get into 3rd position. Working even more in our favour is that the Dogs skipper and main goal kicker Katie Brennan was seen in the last game wearing a moon boot and is reported to have a stuffed ankle. What is also not widely known is that she was in this position a couple of years back at Darebin with a fractured foot and she still played and kicked majors to score the win for the Falcons. Not wishing injury on players, but if she remains out of the side then this makes the job significantly easier and we MUST take advantage of that. Being a Melbourne supporter, I have the other superstition in our favour being that we are going in the underdogs. God help us when we eventually become favourites. Strangely this game is on after the Men´s JLT game. If all goes well our boys will win then surely this will inspire our girls to get pumped up and finish the job. Team should be released later this evening. Side note: Was great last week to see on Jack and Todd Viney bigging up the girls on Social a Media, as well as Neita.

While it is fun to see Gold Coast currently ahead of Collingwood, and threatening to put Richmond back in 9th (all it would take is for us to give the Tigers a good thrashing on sunday... haaa ha... hrmmm), I was particularly interest to take a closer looks at the Bulldogs' situation. Same wins as us, but against a slightly better overall standard of opponent and for the most part better margins, including a very 'plucky' effort against Geelong. Minson, Cooney, Griffin, Cross, Boyd, Giansiracusa, Murphy, and Goodes all had solid or good games against Gold Coast today. Or, perhaps more accurately, they were all among the Dogs' better players on the day. More experience there than the Demon's whole team on the field, and some genuine quality amongst it. I guess all I'm saying is, given a flat choice I'd rather be a Demon's supporter for the next few years than a Bulldog. One thing you can't say about the Demon's is that they are being held together by their good stock of veterans!