Euro-Yroke is out of finals contention after falling on the wrong side of a heartbreaking one-point result against the Western Bulldogs.

Jesse Wardlaw and Tyanna were awarded free kicks inside the final 90 seconds, but both failed to score as the Saints fell to a 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35) defeat in Ballarat on Sunday.

After a promising 3-0 start, Nick Dal Santo's side has lost six of its past seven games.

It means it will miss the top eight and is still searching for its first finals appearance after five seasons in the competition.

The Bulldogs are also well out of the hunt for a finals berth this year, but they have registered consecutive victories over the past two rounds after a horror 2-6 start.

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 9

Jessica Fitzgerald starred for the Dogs, celebrating her 50-game milestone with 26 disposals, six clearances and a goal.

Captain Deanna Berry also shone with 21 touches and five clearances. She also kicked one of the goals of the season with a brilliant snap from hard up against the boundary line under pressure from two opponents.

Nat Exon and Ashleigh Richards kicked two goals each for Euro-Yroke, which led throughout the first half and stretched its lead to 14 points early in the third quarter.

Round 9 v Western Bulldogs
  • 10:10

    RD9 | Mini-Match: Western Bulldogs v Euro-Yroke

    Extended highlights of the Bulldogs and Saints clash in week nine of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season.

    AFLW
    Video
  • 04:00

    RD9 | 'We lost our opportunity': Dal Santo post-game

    Watch Euro-Yroke's press conference after week nine’s match against Western Bulldogs.

    AFLW
    Press Conference
  • 04:15

    RD9 | Highlights v Western Bulldogs

    The Bulldogs and Saints clash in week nine of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season.

    AFLW
  • 00:38

    RD9 | Saints begin second half in style

    Euro-Yroke takes no time to regain control with Ashleigh Richards drilling through an awesome goal to cap off an amazing team play.

    AFLW
    Video
  • 00:36

    RD9 | Electric Exon sets standard early

    Nat Exon nails the opening blow after laying a great tackle to receive a holding the ball free kick.

    AFLW
    Video
  • 03:11

    'I'm proud': Anderson on footy, family and Nicky Winmar

    J'Noemi Anderson, St Kilda’s first Indigenous AFLW player, shares how football runs through her veins and her journey from Darwin to Melbourne so far.

    AFLW
    Video

But the Bulldogs kicked the next three goals and led by one point at the 10-minute mark of the final term through a behind to Heidi Woodley, which was the final score of the game.

Wardlaw (18 disposals, 11 hitouts) impressed in the ruck and was gifted a chance to win the game through a free kick paid against Alice Edmonds.

She sprayed the shot badly from just inside 50 metres.

Euro-Yroke had one last chance when Elisabeth Georgostathis was penalised for deliberate out of bounds, but Smith put her shot out on the full and the Bulldogs hung on.

WESTERN BULLDOGS  0.1  2.1  4.5  5.6 (36)
EURO-YROKE  1.2  3.3  4.5  5.5 (35)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: McKee, Hartwig, Fitzgerald, Carruthers, Berry
Euro-Yroke: Richards 2, Exon 2, McDonald

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Fitzgerald, Berry, Pritchard, Carruthers, Edmonds
Euro-Yroke: Richards, Watson, Lambert, Wardlaw, McDonald

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Euro-Yroke: Jakobsson (knee)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Mars Stadium

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