Women's AFL North West: Gunnedah Bulldogs pip Tamworth Swans by three points

Down by four points at the final break, the Bulldogs kicked two goals to the Swans' one to sneak home 3.9 (27) to 3.6 (24).

Their 11^th win of the season, it was their toughest.

"It was really tough, I think they really brought it to us and I think we really had to dig deep to get that win," captain for the day Kyra Carlyon said.

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Having up until Saturday won all of their games by at least 30 points or more, Carlyon said it was a bit of wake-up call for them, and one they probably needed.

"Definitely coming into next week we're going to work a lot harder and try and fix up those things we kind of picked up in the game," she said post-match.

There's a few little things they need to work on. By the same token she thought their talk was a lot better on Saturday and they were a lot more physical than they had been in recent games.

They did lose gun Alice Mitchell at half-time after she landed on her wrist "a bit funny", which was a blow. But Carlyon said it was good to see other players step up in her absence.

She thought the backline were great for them as was Katrina Rekunow.

"She was everywhere and really put in 110 per cent," she said.

Swans coach Andrew Donohue was delighted with his sides performance.

"Down on numbers and to still to put on a show like that - very impressive," he said.

He praised the way the first season players, or 'newbies', are continually stepping up.

"I find out new things about some of the news girls every week and they're all up for a challenge," he said.

"A couple of them played out of position today but took on the new position in leaps and bounds."

He said they had their chances to win it, a couple of little skill errors just letting them down.

Beaten by 81 and 32 points in their two previous meetings with the Bulldogs, Donohue felt the difference on Saturday was more a culmination of their improvement than anything specific.

"They've just been stepping up at training, everyone's learning the game a bit little more, we're holding more structure, my match-ups are better and the girls are really starting to click," he said.

"That's three weeks in-a-row now we've sort of looked better, we're actually playing as a team and everyone's gelling."

He thought Danielle Hand playing in the midfield for the first time really stood up there

"Ella Mitchell played on the wing for the first time and really dug deep, contested hard," he said.

Then there was captain Jess Hall.

"The grit that woman has got is just unbelievable," Donohue said.

Drawing inspiration from her, he had no doubt the occasion of being Indigenous Round lifted the side.

In the other games, the Kangaroos had a seven point win over the New England Nomads 3.5 (23) to 2.3 (15) while the Inverell Saints accounted for the Moree Suns 5.12 (42) to 1.6 (12).

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