THE Bulldogs are staring down a tough battle with the loss of star captain, Katie Brennan this week, after she went down with an ankle injury in round three. Brennan’s stellar performance in the competition so far leaves big boots to fill for debutant, Kim Rennie. The first-gamer comes from a basketball background, and is an exciting prospect for the club.

Facing the Dogs this week, Carlton have also endured a major loss to its starting line up. Star forward, Tayla Harris received a one-week suspension for striking former teammate, Leah Kaslar in a heated affair at Ikon Park last week. But coming in is Lauren Arnell, former captain of the side, who will hopefully guide the Blues to a win this week. 

On Saturday, Brisbane’s Sophie Conway will be forced to watch from the sidelines after a shin injury. The Rising Star nominee should be back next week, as it has only been declared as a minor injury. In her place, University of Queensland recruit, Gabby Collingwood will come into the side for her third game of the season.

Former Eastern Devil, Sophie Casey won’t be pulling on a black and white jumper this week, after being suspended for striking GWS’ Cora Staunton. This has left her with a one-week suspension, and has handed an opportunity to the young Holly Whitford to play her second game for Collingwood.

For the Crows, star defender, Courtney Cramey will take the field on Sunday for the first time in 2018. Cramey will be faced with the tough task of containing the in-form Phoebe McWilliams, and will need to regain her 2017 best as an All-Australian defender.

But fellow defender, Dayna Cox has been forced to take a seat on the sidelines this week, after she was suspended for striking. This looks to hinder Adelaide in their conquest against GWS this weekend.

Friday, February 23

Western Bulldogs v Carlton at VU Whitten Oval, 7.05pm AEDT

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: H.Wildes 17, L.Birch 18, N.Callinan 10
HB: H.Scott 22, B.Toogood 28, B.Lochland 1
C: E.Blackburn 2
HF: J.Bruton 35, L.Spark 11, M.Conti 8
F: K.McLeod 6, A.O’Connor 4, N.Ferres 16
Foll: T.Ernst 19, E.Kearney, 5, K.Lamb 27
I/C: A.Gogos 36, K.Rennie 24, B.Hunt 21, A.Utri 23, L.Bailey 13
In: K.McLeod, K.Rennie, L.Bailey
Out: K.Brennan (ankle), J.Anderson, D.Berry

CARLTON
B: K.Gillespie-Jones 5, D.Hardiman 31, K.Harrington 9
HB: N.Plane 32 N.Stevens 21, C.Webb 17
C: M.Gay 8
HF: K.Shierlaw 25, B.Moody 16, K.Loynes 2
F: T.Lucas-Rodd 18, D.Vescio 3, G.Pound 6
Foll: A.Downie 30, S.Hosking 10, J.Hosking 11
I/C: R.Hicks 24, S.Li 35, L.Arnell 13, M.Keryk 4, S.Audley 26
In: N.Plane, C.Webb, L.Arnell, M.Keryk
Out: L.Brazzale (shoulder), T.Harris (suspension), G.Gee (rested), K.Grieve

Saturday, February 24

Brisbane v Fremantle at South Pine Sports Complex, 3.35pm AEST

BRISBANE
B: B.Koenen 3, K.Lutkins 13, J.Stanton 17
HB: N.Exon 15, L.Kaslar 11, S.Campbell 20
C: E.Bates 1
HF: K.McCarthy 9, T.Randall 16, E.Zielke 8
F: J.Wuetschner 23, I.Ayre 2, K.Ashmore 10
Foll: S.Frederick-Traub 14, J.Zanchetta 7, A.Anderson 18
I/C: N.Hildebrand 22, A.Clarke 21, S.Webb 4, G.Collingwood 28, B.Gibson 25
In: G.Collingwood
Out: S.Conway (injured)

FREMANTLE
B: E.Antonio 12, A.Williams 9, E.Gooch 8
HB: B.Smith 18, C.Davidson 33, S.Cain 20
C: D.Hooker 17
HF: H.Miller 19, S.Barr 10, K.Donnellan 15
F: M.Caulfield 29, E.McGuire 31, A.Atkins 37
Foll: A.Janz 30, G.O’Sullivan 22, L.Webb 16
I/C: L.Mascall 14, A.Lavell 7, A.Sharp 1, J.White 11, L.Filocamo 4
In: S.Barr
Out: G.Houghton (omitted)

Melbourne v Collingwood at TIO Traeger Park, 5.40pm ACST

MELBOURNE
B: H.Cordner 21, L.Duryea 11, B.Jakobsson 7
HB: K.Smith 13, J.Grierson 19, A.Guest 17
C: E.O’Dea 5
HF: R.Cranston 30, L.Mithen 14, S.Scott 12
F: K.Hore 10, T.Cunningham 1, A.Newman 16
Foll: E.Hoare 46, K.Paxman 4, D.Pearce 6
I/C: M.Hickey 18, B.Patterson 24, A.Mifsud 9, M.Downie 2, C.Phillips 35
In: H.Cordner, A.Mifsud
Out: E.Humphries, L.Pearce

COLLINGWOOD
B: E.Grant 5, R.Schleicher 18, I.Ross 21
HB: C.Molloy 2, C.McIntosh 20, M.Kuys 9
C: A.Barden 38
HF: S.D’Arcy 4, J.Garner 43, S.Chiocci 17
F: M.Hutchins 25, M.Hope 23, C.Bernardi 6
Foll: E.King 60, J.Lambert 13, B.Bonnici 8
I/C: H.Whitford 28, S.Dargan 46, L.Tesoriero 7, J.Duffin 27, C.Edwards 1
In: S.D’Arcy, H.Whitford, S.Dargan
Out: T.Morgan, S.Casey (Suspension), B.White

Sunday, February 25

Greater Western Sydney v Adelaide at Blacktown International Sportspark, 4.35pm AEDT

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: A.Farrugia 18, T.Hetherington 9, R.Forth 27
HB: N.Barr 8, P.Monahan 28, E.Brush 10
C: A.Eva 2
HF: J.Dal Pos 7, P.McWilliams 3 J.Hicks 5
F: J.Barclay 34, C.Staunton 13 R.Beeson 6
Foll: E.McKinnon 23, C.Gum 26 E.Swanson 17
I/C: M.Freckelton 20, M.Collier 14, P.Smyth 15, A.Schmidt 11, E.Bennetts 22, B.Tully 16, P.Randall 21

In: M.Freckelton, M.Collier, P.Smyth
Out: L.Stephenson (Omitted)

ADELAIDE
B: S.Thompson 14, S.Allan 39, M.Rajcic 32
HB: A.Foley 3, J.Hewett 20, C.Cramey 22
C: E.Phillips 13
HF: D.Varnhagen 9, S.Perkins 28, J.McCormick 5
F: R.Wallace 15, J.Allan 25, J.Sedunary 17
Foll: R.Metcalfe 11, C.Randall, 26, E.Marinoff 10
I/C: S.Armitstead 16, A.Holmes 1, E.Jones 2, J.Mules 23, R.Killian 7, A.Hatchard 33, G.Bevan 4

In: A.Foley, C.Cramey, S.Armitstead, A.Hatchard
Out: D.Cox (suspension), R.Lugg (injured)