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Dogs star destroys record; statement in GF rematch: AFLW Wrap The Western Bulldogs have grabbed a gutsy 11-point win on the back of a record-breaking performance from captain Isabelle Pritchard. Watch every match of AFLW LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The Dogs held off multiple late charges against a resilient Tigers side on Saturday afternoon at EJ Whitten Oval to maintain their perfect start to the season. Pritchard annihilated the Dogs’ club disposals record, one which she already held, racking up 36 touches complimented by eight score involvements and a goal. The captain set the standard early, with 12 disposals in the first quarter alone as the Dogs entered the first break with a lead that proved to be a match. The Bulldogs won the game from the stoppage, with Pritchard supported in midfield by handy performances from teammate Jess Fitzgerald. Young Bulldogs key-forward Emma McDonald was also a notable standout, grabbing three goals all in the first-half. The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season and first under new head coach Jarrad Donders while the Dogs shot up temporarily to the top of the ladder with a healthy percentage of 172.5. Saturday snipes The Whitten Oval crowd were treated to two second-quarter snipes, with either side exchanging a memorable long-range blow each. Bulldogs forward Amaia Wain kicked the madness off as she unloaded off a step from just inside the arc of the 50m mark, with the ball floating through for a stunning goal. “When in doubt just bang it long, Wain, a moment to savour,” Kelli Underwood told Fox Footy. Stunningly, just a minute later, Tigers forward Caitlin Greiser matched the effort from 40m out, launching the ball through the big sticks on a slight angle. “Just trading blow for blow at the moment,” Underwood said Can’t keep Conti down Tigers star midfielder Monique Conti seemed to be receiving some extra attention early after her blistering start to the season last week. She copped a ferocious tag from Dominique Carruthers in what initially looked to be a coaching masterclass from Dogs boss Tamara Hyett, with Conti held to just four disposals in the first quarter, a measly effort by her elite standards. Conti emerged from the quarter-time break unfazed, being easily the best of an outgunned Tigers midfield and finishing with 26 disposals and 7 score involvements. STATEMENT IN GF REMATCH North Melbourne’s AFLW premiership class was evident in withstanding a second-half Brisbane fightback to beat the Lions by 11 points on Saturday night. In the latest grand final rematch between the competition’s two best teams, the Kangaroos maintained their recent dominance over the Lions with a 6.8 (44) to 5.3 (33) win. The visitors seemed to be coasting to victory at half-time when they led 23-1 in heavy conditions. However, the Lions rose to the occasion in the third-quarter to reduce the margin to just three points at the final break. With an undefeated run stretching back to the start of the 2024 season under threat, the Kangaroos lifted, kicking the first three goals of the final quarter, including two from Bella Eddey, to regather control and end the Lions’ hopes of gaining revenge for losing the past two grand finals to North Melbourne. “They definitely did give us a little fright, but credit to them, Brisbane are such a strong side,” Eddey told Fox Footy. “It was nice to be challenged and for the girls to stay calm and collected, and just get the job done. “It shows really good signs for our system and the way we back it in when we get challenged.” Ash Riddell was superb for the winners with a game-high 42 possessions. Veteran sets early standard In her first game of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury, veteran Kangaroos midfielder Emma Kearney was an early standout. Called into the team at the expense of Emma King, 36-year-old Kearney didn’t disappoint as North took control of the contest after initial pressure from Brisbane that amounted to nothing on the scoreboard. Kearney had eight disposals in the first-quarter, with the Kangaroos having already secured 88 possessions to the Lions’ 54 by quarter-time “That’s just testament to her professionalism,” Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker said. “When she was laid up with her injury, she just kept working really hard and that’s why she can come out and perform that way.” “Inspiring” quarter The Lions finally kicked their first goal of the match in the fifth minute of the third quarter through Ruby Svarc. It was the start of a Brisbane surge, with the Lions kicking three goals to the Kangaroos’ nil in the third term to trail by only three points at the final break. The comeback came after the Lions finally gained control of the midfield and dominated clearances. “(There was) a bit of a sense that there’s something on the end of this. That was probably the driving force,” Lions coach Craig Starcevich said at three-quarter time. “Everything’s hard tonight. The ground’s as wet as hell, everything’s difficult, but I just thought there was some real drive to do something that people didn’t think you could do. “It’s pretty inspiring actually.”