2025 AFLW Team Preview: Western Bulldogs
A YOUNG side with plenty of future scope, the Western Bulldogs began to come out of their shell last season and show potential for the coming seasons. Adding some fresh faces to the mix, the Dogs were largely stable over the off-season and will look to further build on the in-roads made in 2024.
LAST SEASON IN A NUTSHELL
Position: 12th
Wins: 4
Losses: 7
B&F: Isabelle Pritchard
Leading Goalkicker: Sarah Hartwig (8 goals)
OFF-SEASON MOVES
Ins: Lou Stephenson (Hawthorn), Keeley Hardingham (Geelong VFLW/AFLW Draft), Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers/AFLW Draft), Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chragers/AFLW Draft)
Outs: Eleanor Brown (GWS), Jorja Borg, Keely Coyne, Bree McFarlane, Aurora Smith, Elizabeth Snell (delisted)
2025 TEAM LIST
#1 Sarah Poustie
#2 Ellie Blackburn
#3 Isabella Grant
#4 Isabelle Pritchard
#5 Elaine Grigg
#6 Maggie Gorham
#7 Deanna Berry
#8 Dominique Carruthers
#9 Emma McDonald
#10 Jasmyn Smith
#11 Elle Bennetts
#12 Brooke Barwick
#13 Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner
#14 Louise Stephenson
#15 Sarah Hartwig
#16 Naomi Ferres
#17 Elisabeth Georgostathis
#18 Britney Gutknecht
#19 Heidi Woodley
#20 Cleo Buttifant
#21 Zimmorlei Farquharson
#23 Jess Fitzgerald
#24 Keeley Hardingham
#25 Ellie Gavalas
#26 Analea McKee
#27 Lauren Ahrens
#28 Kaylee Kimber
#32 Vaomua Laloifi
#33 Alice Edmonds
#37 Rylie Wilcox
*inactive/self-delisted
+ injury replacement
ONES TO WATCH
Key Player: Ellie Blackburn
Breakout Potential: Brooke Barwick
New Recruit: Emma McDonald
Star midfielder and AFLW champion Ellie Blackburn has been one of the most loyal players to The Kennel considering she has seen the highs and lows of the club. With growing young talent around her, she will have even more support in 2025, as Tasmanian young gun Brooke Barwick will only benefit from another preseason. Up forward, Emma McDonald looms as a fresh target who can do a lot of damage on the scoreboard, particularly from long-range.
2025 FIXTURE
Round 1: vs. Melbourne | Sat Aug 16 @ Whitten Oval, 7:35pm
Round 2: vs. Richmond | Sun Aug 24 @ Ikon Park, 12:35pm
Round 3: vs. Hawthorn | Sat Aug 30 @ Whitten Oval, 7:15pm
Round 4: vs. Carlton | Sat Sep 6 @ Ikon Park, 3:05pm
Round 5: vs. GWS Giants | Sat Sep 13 @ Manuka Oval, 4:35pm
Round 6: vs. Brisbane | Sun Sep 21 @ Whitten Oval, 3:05pm
Round 7: vs. Collingwood | Fri Sep 26 @ Whitten Oval, 7:15pm
Round 8: vs. Port Adelaide | Sat Oct 4 @ Alberton Oval, 7:15pm
Round 9: vs. Essendon | Fri Oct 10 @ Whitten Oval 7:15pm
Round 10: vs. Gold Coast | Sun Oct 19 @ Great Barrier Reef Arena, 5:05pm
Round 11: vs. Geelong | Sun Oct 26 @ Mars Stadium, 1:05pm
Round 12: vs. St Kilda | TBC @ RSEA Park
PREDICTION
The Western Bulldogs have been rebuilding the last few seasons and 2024 showed the first major sign of improvement. Expected to finish near the, if not bottom last year, the Dogs surprised a number of sides to end up 12th with four wins. Further improvement should have them improving that total and while finals might still be beyond them, they can aim to push some of the stronger sides.
2025 AFLW Team Preview: Western Bulldogs
A YOUNG side with plenty of future scope, the Western Bulldogs began to come out of their shell last season and show potential for the coming seasons. Adding some fresh faces to the mix, the Dogs were largely stable over the off-season and will look to further build on the in-roads made in 2024. LAST […]
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