The Western Bulldogs have comfortably dispatched Fremantle at VU Whitten Oval, gaining not only four points but the all-important first position on the ladder.
With a percentage of 213, the Bulldogs sit well in front of Brisbane, Carlton and Melbourne, who comprise the rest of the top-four.
The clash marked the return of skipper Katie Brennan, who only managed to play two games last season due to injury.
But it appeared as if Brennan had barely skipped a beat, with an impressive 12 possessions and three goals to her name, two of which came from difficult set shots.
A flying start from the Bulldogs saw them race to 3.2 in the opening quarter, opposed to the scoreless term from Fremantle.
The combined midfield force of Emma Kearney and Ellie Blackburn – last season’s Susan Alberti award co-winners – rolled the Dockers early, and provided ample opportunities for their forwards.
The duo finished their days with 18 and 23 disposals respectively, well above the team-high 12 disposals from Fremantle midfielder Kara Donnellan.
Come half-time, the Dockers still had failed to hit the scoreboard, and had done little to minimise the Bulldog assault as they piled another 2.2 onto their total.
Yet the Dockers were able to stem the flow in the third quarter, keeping the Dogs goalless and finally impacting the scoreboard with two majors from Amy Lavell and one from Ashley Sharp.
With only 15 points separating the teams at three-quarter time, the late Dockers charge came to an end, with the Bulldogs sealing the win with a 2.1 to 0.2 term.
Three marks were taken for the Dockers inside 50 for the entire game as opposed to the Bulldogs’ 12, with two of these resulting in Brennan goals.
After finishing sixth last season with 2-5, the Bulldogs have licked their wounds and proved they too are contenders for the AFLW premiership.
The Bulldogs will face Brisbane at home following their stirring win over Adelaide, while the Dockers will be doing their best to avoid an 0-2 start against Collingwood.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 5.4 5.6 7.7 (49) FREMANTLE 0.0 0.0 3.3 3.5 (23)
GOALS Western Bulldogs: Brennan 3, Blackburn, Lochland, Toogood, O'Connor Fremantle: Lavell 2, Sharp
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Brennan, Kearney
Fremantle: Donnellan, Hooker, Lavell
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