VFLW Match Report: Round 9 vs Western Bulldogs

23/06/2025

The Zebras have defeated the Western Bulldogs by 29 points at Mission Whitten Oval, maintaining their spot in the top four in the Rebel VFLW season.

We dominated possession, 57 per cent to the Bulldogs’ 43 per cent. We also did a great job hand-balling the footy, 95-57.

Photography by Jake Phillips & Anthony Vella

Zebras secure sixth win of season 2025 over Bulldogs

We controlled the opening five minutes, doing most of the attacking towards the footy in the forward 50. Anais Everitt took some courageous marks throughout the quarter in the defensive 50 on debut.

The Bulldogs came back hard, lifting their work rate for the remainder of the quarter, kicking a goal late in the first to give them an eight-point lead at quarter time.

Q1: Sandringham 0.1 (1) Western Bulldogs 1.3 (9)

We kick started the second quarter with a much-needed goal in the early stages. Ash Patton had great positioning in the forward 50, finding open space in front of goal.

We dominated the territory, not allowing the Bulldogs to have any easy opportunities inside the forward 50, whilst our midfield found their flow and got the ball down into our forward 50.

Isobel Hartog and Zoe Barbakos combined well, finding each other in open space. Sophie Locke then kicked our second goal of the match, before linking up with Tayla Kearns who kicked our third goal of the quarter, extending the margin to 10 points at half time.

Q2: Zebras 3.2 (20) Bulldogs 1.4 (10)

In the early stages of the third quarter, both teams went coast to coast, the Bulldogs looking dangerous with their ball movement.

Chloe Saultry and Barbakos were instrumental in our defensive 50, going for the ball and settling the team down, winning the ball back.

Makhaela Bluhm had some brilliant impact throughout the quarter on the wing, taking some courageous marks.

Stacey Livingstone used her experience, taking some strong marks and reading the ball well from the Bulldogs forwards.

Patton kicked her second goal for the match, the only goal in the quarter, extending the margin to 15 points at the three-quarter time break.

Q3: Zebras 4.3 (26) Bulldogs 1.6 (12)

In the final term, we continued to build our lead, kicking two goals. Sophie Locke had a beautiful passage of play, getting the ball to ground, turning to goal and kicking the first goal of the last quarter.

Abbey Tregellis worked well with Saultry, taking a strong mark and finishing with a goal.

We continued applying our defensive pressure, giving multiple options towards the ball and not allowing the Bulldogs to score another major, ultimately winning by 29 points at the final siren.

Full Time: 

Sandringham Zebras:      0.1   3.2   4.3   6.6   (42)

Western Bulldogs:             1.3   1.4   1.6   1.7   (13)

Goalkickers: Sophie Locke (2), Ash Patton, Tayla Kearns, Chloe Saultry

Best Players: Sophie Locke, Ash Patton, Deanna Jolliffe, Natasha Entwistle, Chloe Saultry, Abbey Tregellis

Visit the VFL/W website for full stats. 

The Zebs will take on Darebin at Genis Steel Oval on Saturday 28th June at 10:35am. 

Written by Elly Kirlis- Sandringham FC Media