THIS weekend’s VFL Women’s finals action kicks off with a do-or-die semi-final.

The ramifications for this clash are pretty simple. Whoever wins will move onto a preliminary final next weekend for a spot in the grand final, while it is season over for the loser.

SEMI-FINAL ONE

Western Bulldogs vs Port Melbourne
1pm
Whitten Oval

RECENT FORM

The Western Bulldogs had been one of the most consistent sides in the regular season and had only lost one game since Round 5 heading into the finals. However last week they were unable to keep up with Williamstown in the qualifying final and faded away in the second half.

Port Melbourne on the other hand have had an up-and-down back end of their premiership defence season, but will take a lot of confidence from the way the Borough were able to win last weekend. They really made the most of their chances and consistently kept the pressure on the Hawks.

HEAD TO HEAD

Today’s clash is the fifth time these two sides have met.

Port Melbourne leads the head-to-head count four to one, but crucially the sides have never met at the Whitten Oval.

LAST TIME THEY MET

Last time these two met was back in Round 8, and that particular day the Bulldogs came away with a 33-point win.

It was tight at quarter time, but the Bulldogs kicked away in the second term and that was the difference as the Borough never really got going.

Crucially for the Bulldogs, they had a duo of AFLW stars kick a pair of majors each that day, but will not have access to their services this afternoon.

CHANGES FROM LAST WEEK’S SIDES

Western Bulldogs:

In: Jorja Livingstone
Out: Jaime Henry

Port Melbourne:

In: Ava Seton, Abbigail Rabot and Georgie Pruden
Out: Courtney Bromage, Jessie Williams and Emily Harley (all injured)

KEY PLAYERS

For the Bulldogs, their tall targets up forward are daunting, but struggled to really get involved in the game last week. If the likes of Mia-Rae Clifford, Imogen Milford and Jaimi Tabb can get more involved in the match than they did last week, they could prove a problem for the Borough.

Speaking of Port Melbourne, the Borough are missing some key players this week, with last week’s top goal scorer Jessie Williams and key midfield Emily Harley both out with injury. They do however still have Lauren Caruso and regain Ava Seton this week from suspension, so there is still a lot of strength in there.