IN this week’s match of the round in the VFLW, Geelong snapped a three game losing streak by defeating the Western Bulldogs by 38 points.

It was tight, contested footy in the opening minutes, but eventually the Cats did get an inside 50 and were able to convert through Danielle Higgins.

The Cats then spent about the next 10-13 minutes peppering away at the goal but just unable to convert. The Bulldogs’ defence held up really went in the face of mounting and relentless pressure. They bided their time, and eventually they were able to string a chain of passes together and before anyone knew it, it was the Bulldogs having the shot at goal, but ultimately it missed and trickled through for a behind. They were then able to lock it in their fifty for the remainder of the term, so at quarter time the margin was only five points in favour of the Cats.

The first five minutes of the second quarter was much like the majority of the first term. The ball was locked in Geelong’s forward line with Geelong peppering the goals for no reward on the scoreboard. It took almost seven and a half minutes for Geelong to finally get another goal on the board, when Mia Skinner converted from a penalty.

Geelong then got the next centre clearance, but after a wayward handball the Bulldogs were able to pounce and work it forward and converted through Madison Katerelos to bring the margin back to a goal. The celebrations were short lived for the Dogs though as Skinner got her second only minutes later to stretch the margin back out again. That would be the last of the scoring for the second term, so as the teams went into the major break the margin still sat at two goals.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs things started to fall apart after that. It took only a couple of minutes into the third for Skinner to have her third goal and the margin was out to three goals and slipping away from the Dogs. The scoring did then dry up for both sides though. No one managed to put any score on the board got over 10 minutes before Melissa Bragg finally slotted another through for the Cats with just over three minutes to go in the term. That would be the last score of the term, and as the sides turned for home, the margin sat at 25 points.

Conditions briefly deteriorated in the last term, with the rain making this more difficult for all involved. The Cats scored two more goals in the last through Lauren Gibbs and Paige Sheppard to heap one last bit of pain on the Bulldogs. Alongside Skinner who was impressive in front of goal, Rene Caris’ ruck work was also impressive.

Although they lost, the Bulldogs can take away the positive that they conceded one of their lowest scores they have conceded all season. Skipper Riley Christgoergl really stood up in defence for the Bulldogs and her defensive work was very impressive.

In other results:

• Casey’s undefeated run continued, this time defeating Collingwood by seven points.

Casey led all afternoon, and although Collingwood came back at the Dees in the last term, the Magpies could not run over the top of the ladder leaders. It did not help Collingwood that they were very inaccurate, kicking 11 behinds in the match. Brenna Tarrant staked her claim for a spot in the Dees Grand Final team, finishing with 26 touches, while Joanna Lin had a nice return from her long term injury, finishing with 16 touches.

• Port Melbourne’s bad season continues, this time losing to the Southern Saints.

The Borough actually lead for most of the first half, but the Saints took the lead in the back end of the second quarter and never looked back. For the Saints it was Winnie Laing who topped the disposals tally with 26, while Olivia Barton finished with 17 touches for the Borough. Meanwhile on the scoreboard front Olivia Flanagan and Chanelle Slater both kicked two goals for the Saints.

• Darebin’s winning run continued, this time defeating Williamstown for the second time this season.

After a goalless opening half, the Falcons kicked the only two goals of the match in the third term, which was enough for them to take the win. For the victors, it was Nicole Callinan who topped the disposals tally with 15, while Sharnie Whiting got plenty of the ball for the Seagulls, finishing on 20.

• The Essendon juggernaut just keeps rolling on, this time defeating the hapless North Melbourne by 74 points.

The Kangaroos were never in the match as the Bombers proved to be too strong. Amelia Radford, Mia-Rae Clifford and Eloise Ashley-Cooper all had 21 touches for the Bombers, while Federica Frew and Cecilia McIntosh both kicked four for the victors. Meanwhile for the Kangaroos, Jessica Mourney picked up 20 touches in another tough afternoon for her side.

• Hawthorn had an easy afternoon at the office, downing the Blues by 51 points.

The Hawks kept the Blues scoreless for three quarters and goalless for four in the dominant win. For the Hawks, Bridget Deed and Nicole Garner finished with 24 touches, while Ashlee Thorneycroft finished with 20 touches for the Blues. Both Abbey Holmes and Sara Cameron kicked two majors for the Hawks in the win.